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A Brief History of the World: A Comprehensive Guide
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, Professor of History, University of Oxford. Dr. Vance specializes in global history and has authored several acclaimed books, including The Shifting Sands of Power and Global Interactions: A Concise History.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, a leading academic publisher with a long-standing reputation for high-quality historical scholarship. OUP has a vast catalog of books and journals covering all aspects of world history.
Editor: Professor Arthur Davies, Head of the History Department, King's College London. Professor Davies is an expert in historical methodology and has extensive experience editing academic publications.
Keywords: a brief history of world, world history, global history, history timeline, historical events, major civilizations, ancient history, medieval history, modern history, contemporary history.
Summary: This guide provides a structured overview of "a brief history of the world," navigating its complexities from prehistory to the modern era. It explores key historical periods, significant civilizations, and influential events, highlighting the interconnectedness of global history while acknowledging the limitations of brevity and offering best practices for further study. The guide addresses common pitfalls in understanding world history and emphasizes the importance of nuanced interpretation.
Introduction: Charting the Course of "A Brief History of the World"
Attempting "a brief history of the world" is, inherently, a daunting task. The sheer scope of human history, encompassing millennia and billions of lives, necessitates significant simplification. This guide aims to provide a structured framework for understanding the major trends and turning points in global history, acknowledging its limitations and potential biases. We will journey through prehistory, explore the rise and fall of empires, examine major technological and social shifts, and analyze the interconnectedness of global events. This journey will highlight the importance of critical thinking and the complexities inherent in interpreting the past.
Part 1: Prehistory and the Dawn of Civilization (c. 3 million BCE – 3000 BCE)
This section covers the emergence of homo sapiens, the development of early tools and technologies, the Neolithic Revolution (the shift to agriculture), and the rise of the first civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley. Understanding this period requires engaging with archaeological evidence and grappling with the challenges of interpreting pre-literate societies. A key pitfall is eurocentrism: recognizing that significant civilizations developed independently across the globe is crucial to a balanced "a brief history of the world".
Part 2: Classical Civilizations (c. 3000 BCE – 500 CE)
Here, we examine the flourishing of classical civilizations, including ancient Greece, Rome, Persia, China, and India. This period is characterized by advancements in philosophy, science, art, and political organization. Analyzing this era requires understanding the interactions and conflicts between these powerful societies. Overemphasis on Western civilizations is a common pitfall; understanding the simultaneous development and interconnectedness of diverse civilizations is vital for a comprehensive "a brief history of the world".
Part 3: The Medieval World (c. 500 CE – 1500 CE)
This section explores the medieval period in Europe, the Islamic Golden Age, and the flourishing of various Asian empires. Key themes include the spread of religions, technological innovations (e.g., the printing press), and the rise and fall of empires like the Byzantine Empire and the Mongol Empire. A common pitfall is viewing this era as a period of stagnation; recognizing the significant developments and cultural exchanges is crucial for a balanced "a brief history of the world".
Part 4: The Early Modern World (c. 1500 CE – 1800 CE)
The early modern era witnessed the Age of Exploration, the Scientific Revolution, and the emergence of global trade networks. The rise of powerful European empires, the transatlantic slave trade, and the beginnings of globalization are key aspects of this period. Understanding the interconnectedness of events across the globe and the impact of colonialism are vital to avoiding the pitfall of focusing solely on European developments in "a brief history of the world".
Part 5: The Modern World (c. 1800 CE – Present)
The modern era is defined by industrialization, revolutions (e.g., the American and French Revolutions), imperialism, world wars, and the Cold War. This period also witnessed unprecedented technological advancements, globalization, and the rise of new global powers. Analyzing this period requires careful consideration of the complexities of nationalism, ideologies, and the ongoing impact of colonialism. A common pitfall is a lack of nuance in interpreting these complex events; understanding multiple perspectives is crucial for a balanced "a brief history of the world".
Conclusion
Comprehending "a brief history of the world" requires recognizing the interconnectedness of events, the limitations of any simplified narrative, and the importance of diverse perspectives. This guide has provided a skeletal framework, highlighting major trends and turning points. Further exploration through dedicated study and diverse sources is crucial to developing a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the richness and complexity of human history.
FAQs
1. What are the most significant turning points in world history? The Neolithic Revolution, the rise of classical civilizations, the Black Death, the Age of Exploration, and the Industrial Revolution are among the most significant.
2. How can I avoid Eurocentrism when studying world history? Actively seek out sources and perspectives from non-European cultures and civilizations.
3. What are the limitations of a "brief" history of the world? Brevity necessitates simplification, potentially overlooking important details and nuances.
4. How does globalization impact our understanding of world history? Globalization highlights the interconnectedness of events and the increasing flow of information and people.
5. What role do primary sources play in studying world history? Primary sources provide direct evidence from the past, allowing for a more accurate and nuanced understanding.
6. What are some common misconceptions about world history? Common misconceptions include linear progress, the dominance of Western civilizations, and the oversimplification of complex events.
7. How can I further my knowledge of world history? Read books, articles, and academic journals; visit museums and historical sites; and engage with documentaries and podcasts.
8. What is the importance of understanding different historical perspectives? Understanding diverse perspectives provides a more complete and nuanced understanding of past events.
9. How can I critically evaluate historical sources? Consider the author's background, the source's context, and potential biases.
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1. The Neolithic Revolution: A Turning Point in Human History: Explores the agricultural revolution and its impact on societal development.
2. The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire: A detailed examination of the Roman Empire's political, social, and economic history.
3. The Silk Road: Connecting East and West: Explores the cultural and economic exchange facilitated by the Silk Road.
4. The Black Death: A Global Catastrophe: Examines the impact of the plague on global demographics and societies.
5. The Age of Exploration: A New Era of Global Interaction: Explores the expansion of European empires and their impact on the world.
6. The Industrial Revolution: Transforming Society and the World: Discusses the profound impact of industrialization on global economies and societies.
7. World War I: The Great War and its Consequences: Explores the causes, course, and consequences of World War I.
8. The Cold War: A Global Struggle for Power: Examines the ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.
9. Globalization and its Impacts on the 21st Century: Analyzes the contemporary impacts of globalization on the world's economies and societies.
| a brief history of world: Reflections on the History of Art Ernst Hans Gombrich, 1987-01-01 Essays discuss Greek and Chineese art, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dutch genre painting, Rubens, Rembrandt, art collecting, museums, and Freud's aesthetics |
| a brief history of world: A Short History of the World Geoffrey Blainey, 2003-03-08 A superb history of the world's people during the last four million years, beginning before the human race moved out of Africa to explore and settle the other continents. Mr. Blainey explores the development of technology and skills, the rise of major religions, and the role of geography, considering both the larger patterns and the individual nature of history. A delightful read, gracefully written, and full of odd and interesting pieces of information as well as thoughtful comparisons that span both time and space. —William L. O'Neill |
| a brief history of world: Short History of the World Ruth Brocklehurst, Ruth Brook H. Brocklehurst, 2018 Friends, Romans, citizens of the world - do you want to take a fast-paced trip through time? All of human history is here, from hunter-gatherers in the Ice Age to technological innovators in modern times. With bitesize narrative accounts, lively illustrations, timelines, maps and links to specially selected websites to bring history alive. |
| a brief history of world: A Short History of the World Herbert George Wells, 1922 A Short History of the World is a period-piece non-fictional historic work by English author H. G. Wells. The book was largely inspired by Wells's earlier 1919 work The Outline of History. |
| a brief history of world: A Little History of the World E. H. Gombrich, 2014-10-01 E. H. Gombrich's Little History of the World, though written in 1935, has become one of the treasures of historical writing since its first publication in English in 2005. The Yale edition alone has now sold over half a million copies, and the book is available worldwide in almost thirty languages. Gombrich was of course the best-known art historian of his time, and his text suggests illustrations on every page. This illustrated edition of the Little History brings together the pellucid humanity of his narrative with the images that may well have been in his mind's eye as he wrote the book. The two hundred illustrations—most of them in full color—are not simple embellishments, though they are beautiful. They emerge from the text, enrich the author's intention, and deepen the pleasure of reading this remarkable work. For this edition the text is reset in a spacious format, flowing around illustrations that range from paintings to line drawings, emblems, motifs, and symbols. The book incorporates freshly drawn maps, a revised preface, and a new index. Blending high-grade design, fine paper, and classic binding, this is both a sumptuous gift book and an enhanced edition of a timeless account of human history. |
| a brief history of world: A Short History of World War II. James L. Stokesbury, 1982 |
| a brief history of world: World War One Norman Stone, 2009-04-28 After the unprecedented destruction of the Great War, the world longed for a lasting peace. The victors, however, valued vengeance even more than stability and demanded a massive indemnity from Germany in order to keep it from rearming. The results, as eminent historian Norman Stone describes in this authoritative history, were disastrous. In World War Two, Stone provides a remarkably concise account of the deadliest war of human history, showing how the conflict roared to life from the ashes of World War One. Adolf Hitler rode a tide of popular desperation and resentment to power in Germany, promptly making good on his promise to return the nation to its former economic and military strength. He bullied Europe into giving him his way, and in so doing backed the victors of the Great War into a corner. Following the invasion of Poland in 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany -- a decision that, Stone argues, was utterly irrational. Yet Hitler had driven the world mad, and the rekindling of European hostilities soon grew to a conflagration that spread across the globe, fanned by political and racial ideologies more poisonous -- and weaponry more destructive -- than the world had ever seen. With commanding expertise, Stone leads readers through the escalation, climax, and mournful denouement of this sprawling conflict. World War Two is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the twentieth century and its defining struggle. |
| a brief history of world: A History of the World Andrew Marr, 2012-09-27 Fresh, exciting and vividly readable, this is popular history at its very best. Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey, political journalist Andrew Marr revisits some of the traditional epic stories, from classical Greece and Rome to the rise of Napoleon, but surrounds them with less familiar material, from Peru to the Ukraine, China to the Caribbean. He looks at cultures that have failed and vanished, as well as the origins of today’s superpowers, and finds surprising echoes and parallels across vast distances and epochs. A History of the World is a book about the great change-makers of history and their times, people such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo and Mao, but it is also a book about us. For ‘the better we understand how rulers lose touch with reality, or why revolutions produce dictators more often than they produce happiness, or why some parts of the world are richer than others, the easier it is to understand our own times.’ |
| a brief history of world: The History of the World John Morris Roberts, Odd Arne Westad, 2013 A survey of the major events, developments, and personalities that have shaped human history. |
| a brief history of world: A Brief History of Art Camilla De la Bédoyère, 2006 The World's Greatest Art series has been hugely successful on the back of the best-selling bigger book The World's Greatest Art. Now, to fit in with the series as a whole we've introduced this Brief History of Art which covers popular art from 1200. |
| a brief history of world: A Brief History of Everything Wireless Petri Launiainen, 2018-06-06 Since the discovery of electromagnetic waves less than 150 years ago, the application of wireless communications technology has not only revolutionized our daily lives, but also fundamentally changed the course of world history. A Brief History of Everything Wireless charts the fascinating story of wireless communications. The book leads the reader on an intriguing journey of personal triumphs and stinging defeats, relating the prominent events, individuals and companies involved in each progressive leap in technology, with a particular focus on the phenomenal impact of each new invention on society. Beginning at the early days of spark-gap transmitters, this tale touches on the emergence of radio and television broadcasting, as well as radio navigation and radar, before moving on to the rise of satellite, near-field and light-based communications. Finally, the development of wireless home networks and the explosive growth of modern cellular technologies are revealed, complete with a captivating account of their corresponding company histories and behind-the-scenes battles over standards. For those wishing to peek behind the magic curtain of friendly user interfaces and clever engineering, and delve further into various processes underlying the ubiquitous technology we depend upon yet take for granted, the book also contains special “TechTalk” chapters that explain the theoretical basics in an intuitive way. |
| a brief history of world: The History of the World in Bite-Sized Chunks Emma Marriott, 2012-09-20 Here's your chance to introduce yourself to the full spectrum of world history. |
| a brief history of world: The Complete Book of World History School Specialty Publishing, Vincent Douglas, 2001-02-09 A comprehensive history of our world, from the dawn of human history to the present day. |
| a brief history of world: A Short History of the World John Morris Roberts, 1997 Chronologically discusses the events of history beginning with the evolution of man and ending with the restructuring of Western Europe in 1993. |
| a brief history of world: A Brief History of the Future Jacques Attali, 2011-07-01 What will planet Earth be like in twenty years? At mid-century? In the year 2100? Prescient and convincing, this book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future. Never has the world offered more promise for the future and been more fraught with dangers. Attali anticipates an unraveling of American hegemony as transnational corporations sever the ties linking free enterprise to democracy. World tensions will be primed for horrific warfare for resources and dominance. The ultimate question is: Will we leave our children and grandchildren a world that is not only viable but better, or in this nuclear world bequeath to them a planet that will be a living hell? Either way, he warns, the time to act is now. |
| a brief history of world: The Infographic History of the World Valentina D'Efilippo, James Ball, 2016 Updated to reflect our rapidly changing world. |
| a brief history of world: The World Simon Sebag Montefiore, 2023-05-16 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A magisterial world history unlike any other that tells the story of humanity through the one thing we all have in common: families • From the author of The Romanovs “Succession meets Game of Thrones.” —The Spectator • “The author brings his cast of dynastic titans, rogues and psychopaths to life...An epic that both entertains and informs.” —The Economist, Best Books of the Year Around 950,000 years ago, a family of five walked along the beach and left behind the oldest family footprints ever discovered. For award-winning historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, these poignant, familiar fossils serve as an inspiration for a new kind of world history, one that is genuinely global, spans all eras and all continents, and focuses on the family ties that connect every one of us. In this epic, ever-surprising book, Montefiore chronicles the world’s great dynasties across human history through palace intrigues, love affairs, and family lives, linking grand themes of war, migration, plague, religion, and technology to the people at the heart of the human drama. It features a cast of extraordinary diversity: in addition to rulers and conquerors, there are priests, charlatans, artists, scientists, tycoons, gangsters, lovers, husbands, wives, and children. There is Hongwu, the beggar who founded the Ming dynasty; Ewuare, the Leopard-King of Benin; Henry Christophe, King of Haiti; Kamehameha, the conqueror of Hawaii; Zenobia, the Arab empress who defied Rome; Lady Murasaki, the first female novelist; Sayyida al-Hurra, the Moroccan pirate-queen. Here too are moderns such as Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky. Here are the Caesars, Medicis and Incas, Ottomans and Mughals, Bonapartes, Habsburgs and Zulus, Rothschilds, Rockefellers and Krupps, Churchills, Kennedys, Castros, Nehrus, Pahlavis and Kenyattas, Saudis, Kims and Assads. These powerful families represent the breadth of human endeavor, with bloody succession battles, treacherous conspiracies, and shocking megalomania alongside flourishing culture, moving romances, and enlightened benevolence. A dazzling achievement as spellbinding as fiction, The World captures the whole human story in a single, masterful narrative. |
| a brief history of world: World War I Tammy M. Proctor, 2017-10-05 A lively, engaging history of The Great War written for a new generation of readers In recent years, scholarship on World War I has turned from a fairly narrow focus on military tactics, weaponry, and diplomacy to incorporate considerations of empire, globalism, and social and cultural history. This concise history of the first modern, global war helps to further broaden the focus typically provided in World War I surveys by challenging popular myths and stereotypes to provide a new, engaging account of The Great War. The conventional World War I narrative that has evolved over the past century is that of an inevitable but useless war, where men were needlessly slaughtered due to poor decisions by hidebound officers. This characterization developed out of a narrow focus on the Western Front promulgated mainly by British historians. In this book, Professor Proctor provides a broader, more multifaceted historical narrative including perspectives from other fronts and spheres of interest and a wider range of participants. She also draws on recent scholarship to consider the gendered aspect of war and the ways in which social class, religion, and cultural factors shaped experiences and memories of the war. Structured chronologically to help convey a sense of how the conflict evolved Each chapter considers a key interpretive question, encouraging readers to examine the extent to which the war was total, modern, and global Challenges outdated stereotypes created through a focus on the Western Front Considers the war in light of recent scholarship on empire, global history, gender, and culture Explores ways in which the war and the terms of peace shaped the course of the 20th century World War I: A Short History is sure to become required reading in undergraduate survey courses on WWI, as well as courses in military history, the 20th century world, or the era of the World Wars. |
| a brief history of world: The Second World Wars Victor Davis Hanson, 2017-10-17 A breathtakingly magisterial account of World War II by America's preeminent military historian (Wall Street Journal) World War II was the most lethal conflict in human history. Never before had a war been fought on so many diverse landscapes and in so many different ways, from rocket attacks in London to jungle fighting in Burma to armor strikes in Libya. The Second World Wars examines how combat unfolded in the air, at sea, and on land to show how distinct conflicts among disparate combatants coalesced into one interconnected global war. Drawing on 3,000 years of military history, bestselling author Victor Davis Hanson argues that despite its novel industrial barbarity, neither the war's origins nor its geography were unusual. Nor was its ultimate outcome surprising. The Axis powers were well prepared to win limited border conflicts, but once they blundered into global war, they had no hope of victory. An authoritative new history of astonishing breadth, The Second World Wars offers a stunning reinterpretation of history's deadliest conflict. |
| a brief history of world: History of the World in 1000 Objects DK, 2020-09-15 Discover how humans created their world from the objects they left behind - from the US Constitution to the first iPhone - in DK's latest history book. From the beginning of human history, the one thing that has defined us is our talent for making things, from basic technology and everyday objects, such as bowls and hand axes, to high-tech inventions, such as supersonic aircraft, smart devices, and Mars rovers. Objects speak volumes about a civilization, telling us how our ancestors lived - as well as what they believed in and valued. A bronze cat mummy shows us how highly the ancient Egyptians valued their feline companions, while a mechanical tiger toy tells the story of rising tensions between an Indian sultan and European colonizers. With stunning, exclusive photography, History of the World in 1000 Objects shows you the objects that our ancestors treasured - from the jewelry worn by the Mesopotamians to the prized ritual vessels used by the people of the Shang Dynasty - and gives you insight into what gave each culture its own identity. From astrolabes and airplanes to vacuum cleaners and X-rays, DK uses its hallmark visual style to weave the extraordinary legacy of our creativity into a unique view of world history that will change the way you see the objects all around us. |
| a brief history of world: World History Philip Parker, 2017-10-03 Take a trip through the defining moments of our global story and see the thinkers, leaders, ideas, and inventions that have shaped the world. Presented in a beautiful slipcase, World History is an essential guide for anyone who loves history or wants to broaden their knowledge. This accessible book covers over 350 of the world's most important turning points, from our earliest human ancestors of prehistory to political events of the modern world. Follow detailed maps showing the continuous movement of humans across the Earth, and examine fascinating paintings illustrating the events and individuals that took them there. Beautiful photography throughout the book will carry you back in time to see the people and places of the stories - along with stunning artifacts from every historical period. From magnificent buildings like the Colosseum to magnificent words like I have a dream!, this guide brings history's most significant events to life for every reader to discover and enjoy. |
| a brief history of world: The World Is Flat [Further Updated and Expanded; Release 3.0] Thomas L. Friedman, 2007-08-07 Explores globalization, its opportunities for individual empowerment, its achievements at lifting millions out of poverty, and its drawbacks--environmental, social, and political. |
| a brief history of world: The World Richard Haass, 2020-05-12 The New York Times bestseller “A clear and concise account of the history, diplomacy, economics, and societal forces that have molded the modern global system.” —Foreign Affairs An invaluable primer from Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, that will help anyone, expert and non-expert alike, navigate a time in which many of our biggest challenges come from the world beyond our borders. Like it or not, we live in a global era, in which what happens thousands of miles away has the ability to affect our lives. This time, it is a Coronavirus known as Covid-19, which originated in a Chinese city many had never heard of but has spread to the corners of the earth. Next time it could well be another infectious disease from somewhere else. Twenty years ago it was a group of terrorists trained in Afghanistan and armed with box-cutters who commandeered four airplanes and flew them into buildings (and in one case a field) and claimed nearly three thousand lives. Next time it could be terrorists who use a truck bomb or gain access to a weapon of mass destruction. In 2016 hackers in a nondescript office building in Russia traveled virtually in cyberspace to manipulate America's elections. Now they have burrowed into our political life. In recent years, severe hurricanes and large fires linked to climate change have ravaged parts of the earth; in the future we can anticipate even more serious natural disasters. In 2008, it was a global financial crisis caused by mortgage-backed securities in America, but one day it could well be a financial contagion originating in Europe, Asia, or Africa. This is the new normal of the 21st century. The World is designed to provide readers of any age and experience with the essential background and building blocks they need to make sense of this complicated and interconnected world. It will empower them to manage the flood of daily news. Readers will become more informed, discerning citizens, better able to arrive at sound, independent judgments. While it is impossible to predict what the next crisis will be or where it will originate, those who read The World will have what they need to understand its basics and the principal choices for how to respond. In short, this book will make readers more globally literate and put them in a position to make sense of this era. Global literacy--knowing how the world works—is a must, as what goes on outside a country matters enormously to what happens inside. Although the United States is bordered by two oceans, those oceans are not moats. And the so-called Vegas rule—what happens there stays there—does not apply in today's world to anyone anywhere. U.S. foreign policy is uniquely American, but the world Americans seek to shape is not. Globalization can be both good and bad, but it is not something that individuals or countries can opt out of. Even if we want to ignore the world, it will not ignore us. The choice we face is how to respond. We are connected to this world in all sorts of ways. We need to better understand it, both its promise and its threats, in order to make informed choices, be it as students, citizens, voters, parents, employees, or investors. To help readers do just that, The World focuses on essential history, what makes each region of the world tick, the many challenges globalization presents, and the most influential countries, events, and ideas. Explaining complex ideas with wisdom and clarity, Richard Haass's The World is an evergreen book that will remain relevant and useful as history continues to unfold. |
| a brief history of world: A Concise History of the World Merry Wiesner-Hanks, 2015-09-23 This book tells the story of humankind as producers and reproducers from the Paleolithic to the present. Renowned social and cultural historian Merry Wiesner-Hanks brings a new perspective to world history by examining social and cultural developments across the globe, including families and kin groups, social and gender hierarchies, sexuality, race and ethnicity, labor, religion, consumption, and material culture. She examines how these structures and activities changed over time through local processes and interactions with other cultures, highlighting key developments that defined particular eras such as the growth of cities or the creation of a global trading network. Incorporating foragers, farmers and factory workers along with shamans, scribes and secretaries, the book widens and lengthens human history. It makes comparisons and generalizations, but also notes diversities and particularities, as it examines the social and cultural matters that are at the heart of big questions in world history today. |
| a brief history of world: World History Eugene Berger, Brian Parkinson, Larry Israel, Charlotte Miller, Andrew Reeves, Nadejda Williams, 2014 Annotation World History: Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500 offers a comprehensive introduction to the history of humankind from prehistory to 1500. Authored by six USG faculty members with advance degrees in History, this textbook offers up-to-date original scholarship. It covers such cultures, states, and societies as Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Israel, Dynastic Egypt, India's Classical Age, the Dynasties of China, Archaic Greece, the Roman Empire, Islam, Medieval Africa, the Americas, and the Khanates of Central Asia. It includes 350 high-quality images and maps, chronologies, and learning questions to help guide student learning. Its digital nature allows students to follow links to applicable sources and videos, expanding their educational experience beyond the textbook. It provides a new and free alternative to traditional textbooks, making World History an invaluable resource in our modern age of technology and advancement. |
| a brief history of world: A Brief History of Justice David Johnston, 2011-03-08 A Brief History of Justice traces the development of the idea of justice from the ancient world until the present day, with special attention to the emergence of the modern idea of social justice. An accessible introduction to the history of ideas about justice Shows how complex ideas are anchored in ordinary intuitions about justice Traces the emergence of the idea of social justice Identifies connections as well as differences between distributive and corrective justice Offers accessible, concise introductions to the thought of several leading figures and schools of thought in the history of philosophy |
| a brief history of world: The First World War Susan R. Grayzel, 2020-10-02 A brief but thorough collection, Susan Grayzel’s new revision of The First World War document reader allows students to experience this historical turning point through various sources from the period and the scholarship tied to them. |
| a brief history of world: A Short History of the World's Shipping Industry C. Ernest Fayle, 2006 First Published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| a brief history of world: Sapiens Yuval Noah Harari, 2015-02-10 New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century New York Times Bestseller A Summer Reading Pick for President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.” One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas. Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become? Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem. |
| a brief history of world: The Discovery of Global Warming Spencer R. Weart, 2003 In 2001 a panel representing virtually all the world's governments and climate scientists announced that they had reached a consensus: the world was warming at a rate without precedent during at least the last ten millennia, and that warming was caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases from human activity. The consensus itself was at least a century in the making. The story of how scientists reached their conclusion--by way of unexpected twists and turns and in the face of formidable intellectual, financial, and political obstacles--is told for the first time in The Discovery of Global Warming. Spencer R. Weart lucidly explains the emerging science, introduces us to the major players, and shows us how the Earth's irreducibly complicated climate system was mirrored by the global scientific community that studied it. Unlike familiar tales of Science Triumphant, this book portrays scientists working on bits and pieces of a topic so complex that they could never achieve full certainty--yet so important to human survival that provisional answers were essential. Weart unsparingly depicts the conflicts and mistakes, and how they sometimes led to fruitful results. His book reminds us that scientists do not work in isolation, but interact in crucial ways with the political system and with the general public. The book not only reveals the history of global warming, but also analyzes the nature of modern scientific work as it confronts the most difficult questions about the Earth's future. Table of Contents: Preface 1. How Could Climate Change? 2. Discovering a Possibility 3. A Delicate System 4. A Visible Threat 5. Public Warnings 6. The Erratic Beast 7. Breaking into Politics 8. The Discovery Confirmed Reflections Milestones Notes Further Reading Index Reviews of this book: A soberly written synthesis of science and politics. --Gilbert Taylor, Booklist Reviews of this book: Charting the evolution and confirmation of the theory [of global warming], Spencer R. Weart, director of the Center for the History of Physics of the American Institute of Physics, dissects the interwoven threads of research and reveals the political and societal subtexts that colored scientists' views and the public reception their work received. --Andrew C. Revkin, New York Times Book Review Reviews of this book: It took a century for scientists to agree that gases produced by human activity were causing the world to warm up. Now, in an engaging book that reads like a detective story, physicist Weart reports the history of global warming theory, including the internal conflicts plaguing the research community and the role government has had in promoting climate studies. --Publishers Weekly Reviews of this book: It is almost two centuries since the French mathematician Jean Baptiste Fourier discovered that the Earth was far warmer than it had any right to be, given its distance from the Sun...Spencer Weart's book about how Fourier's initially inconsequential discovery finally triggered urgent debate about the future habitability of the Earth is lucid, painstaking and commendably brief, packing everything into 200 pages. --Fred Pearce, The Independent Reviews of this book: [The Discovery of Global Warming] is a well-written, well-researched and well-balanced account of the issues involved...This is not a sermon for the faithful, or verses from Revelation for the evangelicals, but a serious summary for those who like reasoned argument. Read it--and be converted. --John Emsley, Times Literary Supplement Reviews of this book: This is a terrific book...Perhaps the finest compliment I could give this book is to report that I intend to use it instead of my own book...for my climate class. The Discovery of Global Warming is more up-to-date, better balanced historically, beautifully written and, not least important, short and to the point. I think the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] needs to enlist a few good historians like Weart for its next assessment. --Stephen H. Schneider, Nature Reviews of this book: This short, well-written book by a science historian at the American Institute of Physics adds a serious voice to the overheated debate about global warming and would serve as a great starting point for anyone who wants to better understand the issue. --Maureen Christie, American Scientist Reviews of this book: I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Spencer Weart's account provides much valuable and interesting material about how the discipline developed--not just from the perspective of climate science but also within the context of the field's relation to other scientific disciplines, the media, political trends, and even 20th-century history (particularly the Cold War). In addition, Weart has done a valuable service by recording for posterity background information on some of the key discoveries and historical figures who contributed to our present understanding of the global warming problem. --Thomas J. Crowley, Science Reviews of this book: Weart has done us all a service by bringing the discovery of global warming into a short, compendious and persuasive book for a general readership. He is especially strong on the early days and the scientific background. --Crispin Tickell, Times Higher Education Supplement A Capricious Beast Ever since the days when he had trudged around fossil lake basins in Nevada for his doctoral thesis, Wally Broecker had been interested in sudden climate shifts. The reported sudden jumps of CO2 in Greenland ice cores stimulated him to put this interest into conjunction with his oceanographic interests. The result was a surprising and important calculation. The key was what Broecker later described as a great conveyor belt'of seawater carrying heat northward. . . . The energy carried to the neighborhood of Iceland was staggering, Broecker realized, nearly a third as much as the Sun sheds upon the entire North Atlantic. If something were to shut down the conveyor, climate would change across much of the Northern Hemisphere' There was reason to believe a shutdown could happen swiftly. In many regions the consequences for climate would be spectacular. Broecker was foremost in taking this disagreeable news to the public. In 1987 he wrote that we had been treating the greenhouse effect as a 'cocktail hour curiosity,' but now 'we must view it as a threat to human beings and wildlife.' The climate system was a capricious beast, he said, and we were poking it with a sharp stick. I found the book enjoyable, thoughtful, and an excellent introduction to the history of what may be one of the most important subjects of the next one hundred years. --Clark Miller, University of Wisconsin The Discovery of Global Warming raises important scientific issues and topics and includes essential detail. Readers should be able to follow the discussion and emerge at the end with a good understanding of how scientists have developed a consensus on global warming, what it is, and what issues now face human society. --Thomas R. Dunlap, Texas A&M University |
| a brief history of world: The Cambridge History of World Literature Debjani Ganguly, 2021-09-09 World Literature is a vital part of twentieth-first century critical and comparative literary studies. As a field that engages seriously with function of literary studies in our global era, the study of World literature requires new approaches. The Cambridge History of World Literature is founded on the assumption that World Literature is not all literatures of the world nor a canonical set of globally successful literary works. It highlights scholarship on literary works that focus on the logics of circulation drawn from multiple literary cultures and technologies of the textual. While not rejecting the nation as a site of analysis, these volumes will offer insights into new cartographies – the hemispheric, the oceanic, the transregional, the archipelagic, the multilingual local – that better reflect the multi-scalar and spatially dispersed nature of literary production. It will interrogate existing historical, methodological and cartographic boundaries, and showcase humanistic and literary endeavors in the face of world scale environmental and humanitarian catastrophes. |
| a brief history of world: The World Felipe Fernández-Armesto, 2007-11-02 The World: A Brief History gives students the whole story. Prentice Hall is proud to offer The World: A Brief History the new brief version of The World: A History adapted by author Felipe Fern�ndez-Armesto himself. The use of The World: A Brief History offers added flexibility in teaching World History, allowing instructors to supplement the text with additional readers or other material of their choice. And because the brief text was written by Fern�ndez-Armesto himself, it continues to offer the holistic, narrative approach to history that has made the comprehensive text successful at schools across the nation. |
| a brief history of world: A New World Begins Jeremy Popkin, 2019-12-10 From an award-winning historian, a “vivid” (Wall Street Journal) account of the revolution that created the modern world The French Revolution’s principles of liberty and equality still shape our ideas of a just society—even if, after more than two hundred years, their meaning is more contested than ever before. In A New World Begins, Jeremy D. Popkin offers a riveting account of the revolution that puts the reader in the thick of the debates and the violence that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a new society. We meet Mirabeau, Robespierre, and Danton, in all their brilliance and vengefulness; we witness the failed escape and execution of Louis XVI; we see women demanding equal rights and Black slaves wresting freedom from revolutionaries who hesitated to act on their own principles; and we follow the rise of Napoleon out of the ashes of the Reign of Terror. Based on decades of scholarship, A New World Begins will stand as the definitive treatment of the French Revolution. |
| a brief history of world: A Political History of the World Jonathan Holslag, 2018-10-25 A three-thousand year history of the world that examines the causes of war and the search for peace In three thousand years of history, China has spent at least eleven centuries at war. The Roman Empire was in conflict during at least 50 per cent of its lifetime. Since 1776, the United States has spent over one hundred years at war. The dream of peace has been universal in the history of humanity. So why have we so rarely been able to achieve it? In A Political History of the World, Jonathan Holslag has produced a sweeping history of the world, from the Iron Age to the present, that investigates the causes of conflict between empires, nations and peoples and the attempts at diplomacy and cosmopolitanism. A birds-eye view of three thousand years of history, the book illuminates the forces shaping world politics from Ancient Egypt to the Han Dynasty, the Pax Romana to the rise of Islam, the Peace of Westphalia to the creation of the United Nations. This truly global approach enables Holslag to search for patterns across different eras and regions, and explore larger questions about war, diplomacy, and power. Has trade fostered peace? What are the limits of diplomacy? How does environmental change affect stability? Is war a universal sin of power? At a time when the threat of nuclear war looms again, this is a much-needed history intended for students of international politics, and anyone looking for a background on current events. |
| a brief history of world: The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome Susan Wise Bauer, 2007-03-17 A lively and engaging narrative history showing the common threads in the cultures that gave birth to our own. This is the first volume in a bold series that tells the stories of all peoples, connecting historical events from Europe to the Middle East to the far coast of China, while still giving weight to the characteristics of each country. Susan Wise Bauer provides both sweeping scope and vivid attention to the individual lives that give flesh to abstract assertions about human history. Dozens of maps provide a clear geography of great events, while timelines give the reader an ongoing sense of the passage of years and cultural interconnection. This old-fashioned narrative history employs the methods of “history from beneath”—literature, epic traditions, private letters and accounts—to connect kings and leaders with the lives of those they ruled. The result is an engrossing tapestry of human behavior from which we may draw conclusions about the direction of world events and the causes behind them. |
| a brief history of world: A Brief History of Universities John C. Moore, 2018-10-10 In this book, John C. Moore surveys the history of universities, from their origin in the Middle Ages to the present. Universities have survived the disruptive power of the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific, French, and Industrial Revolutions, and the turmoil of two world wars—and they have been exported to every continent through Western imperialism. Moore deftly tells this story in a series of chronological chapters, covering major developments such as the rise of literary humanism and the printing press, the “Berlin model” of universities as research institutions, the growing importance of science and technology, and the global wave of campus activism that rocked the twentieth century. Focusing on significant individuals and global contexts, he highlights how the university has absorbed influences without losing its central traditions. Today, Moore argues, as universities seek corporate solutions to twenty-first-century problems, we must renew our commitment to a higher education that produces not only technicians, but citizens. |
| a brief history of world: The World Factbook 2003 United States. Central Intelligence Agency, 2003 By intelligence officials for intelligent people |
| a brief history of world: A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things Raj Patel, Jason W. Moore, 2018-05-22 Nature, money, work, care, food, energy, and lives: these are the seven things that have made our world and will shape its future. In making these things cheap, modern commerce has transformed, governed, and devastated Earth. In A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things, Raj Patel and Jason W. Moore present a new approach to analyzing today's planetary emergencies. Bringing the latest ecological research together with histories of colonialism, indigenous struggles, slave revolts, and other rebellions and uprisings, Patel and Moore demonstrate that throughout history, crises have always prompted fresh strategies to make the world cheap and safe for capitalism. At a time of crisis in all seven cheap things, innovative and systemic thinking is urgently required. This book proposes a radical new way of understanding-and reclaiming-the planet in the turbulent twenty-first century. |
| a brief history of world: A Short History of the First World War Gary Sheffield, 2014-09-04 The First World War was a watershed in world history. Tragic but far from futile, its origins, events and legacy have roused impassioned debate, creating multiple interpretations and confusion for those encountering the period for the first time. Synthesising the latest scholarship, acclaimed historian Gary Sheffield cuts to the heart of the conflict. He explores such key issues as: - the causes of war- the great battles on land, sea and in the air- the search for the peace and peace settlements- the political, social and economic consequences- the impact of 'total war' on the belligerents and the individual- and the place of the Great War in the history of warfare Accessible and authoritative, this is the ultimate introduction for anyone wanting a clear understanding of what happened and why. |
| a brief history of world: A History of the First World War B. H. Liddell Hart, 2014-09-01 Liddell Hart's History of the First World War first appeared in 1930 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most cogent accounts of the conflict ever published. A leading military strategist and historian who fought on the Western Front, Liddell Hart combines astute tactical analysis with compassion for those who lost their lives on the battlefield. He provides a vivid and fascinating picture of all the major campaigns, balancing documentary evidence with the testimony of personal witnesses to expose the mistakes that were made and why. From the political and cultural origins of war to the twists and turns of battle, to the critical decisions that resulted in such devastating losses and to the impact on modern nations, this magnificent history covers four brutal years in one volume and is a true military classic. |
BRIEF Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of BRIEF is short in duration, extent, or length. How to use brief in a sentence.
BRIEF | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
BRIEF definition: 1. lasting only a short time or containing few words: 2. used to express how quickly time goes…. Learn more.
Brief scrap crossword clue - LATSolver.com
1 day ago · While searching our database we found 1 possible solution for the: Brief scrap crossword clue. This crossword clue was last seen on June 15 2025 LA Times Crossword …
Brief - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Something brief is short and to the point. If you make a brief visit, you don't stay long. If you make a brief statement, you use few words. If you wear brief shorts, you are showing a little too …
Brief - definition of brief by The Free Dictionary
1. short in duration: a brief holiday. 2. short in length or extent; scanty: a brief bikini. 3. abrupt in manner; brusque: the professor was brief with me this morning. 4. terse or concise; containing …
BRIEF definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
A brief speech or piece of writing does not contain too many words or details. In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs. Write a very brief description of a typical …
brief adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...
Definition of brief adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Brief vs. Debrief – What’s the Difference? - Writing Explained
As a noun, brief means a summary or short statement. “Did everyone read the brief I sent out via email?” asked the manager. As a verb , brief means to prepare someone by informing him or …
What does brief mean? - Definitions.net
What does brief mean? This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word brief. An attorney's legal argument in written form …
brief - definition and meaning - Wordnik
Apr 8, 2014 · adjective Short in time, duration, length, or extent. adjective Succinct; concise. adjective Curt; abrupt. noun A short, succinct statement. noun A condensation or an abstract …
BRIEF Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of BRIEF is short in duration, extent, or length. How to use brief in a sentence.
BRIEF | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
BRIEF definition: 1. lasting only a short time or containing few words: 2. used to express how quickly time goes…. Learn more.
Brief scrap crossword clue - LATSolver.com
1 day ago · While searching our database we found 1 possible solution for the: Brief scrap crossword clue. This crossword clue was last seen on June 15 2025 LA Times Crossword puzzle. …
Brief - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Something brief is short and to the point. If you make a brief visit, you don't stay long. If you make a brief statement, you use few words. If you wear brief shorts, you are showing a little too much …
Brief - definition of brief by The Free Dictionary
1. short in duration: a brief holiday. 2. short in length or extent; scanty: a brief bikini. 3. abrupt in manner; brusque: the professor was brief with me this morning. 4. terse or concise; containing …
BRIEF definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
A brief speech or piece of writing does not contain too many words or details. In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs. Write a very brief description of a typical problem.
brief adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...
Definition of brief adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Brief vs. Debrief – What’s the Difference? - Writing Explained
As a noun, brief means a summary or short statement. “Did everyone read the brief I sent out via email?” asked the manager. As a verb , brief means to prepare someone by informing him or her …
What does brief mean? - Definitions.net
What does brief mean? This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word brief. An attorney's legal argument in written form for …
brief - definition and meaning - Wordnik
Apr 8, 2014 · adjective Short in time, duration, length, or extent. adjective Succinct; concise. adjective Curt; abrupt. noun A short, succinct statement. noun A condensation or an abstract of a …
