New world history

A fascinating topic! New World History is a relatively recent approach to understanding the past, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of global events and the experiences of diverse cultures and societies. Here's an overview:

Key features:

  1. Global perspective: New World History looks at the world as a single, interconnected system, rather than focusing on individual regions or nations.
  2. Non-Eurocentric: It challenges traditional Western-centric narratives by incorporating the perspectives and experiences of non-Western cultures and societies.
  3. Long-term perspective: New World History often takes a long-term view, examining the development of global systems and processes over centuries or even millennia.
  4. Interconnectedness: It highlights the complex relationships and interactions between different cultures, societies, and environments.

Some key themes and topics:

  1. Globalization: The rise of global trade networks, cultural exchange, and the spread of ideas across the world.
  2. Empires and imperialism: The expansion and impact of empires, such as the Roman, Mongol, and British empires, on global politics and societies.
  3. Environmental history: The relationship between human societies and the natural environment, including climate change, deforestation, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems.
  4. Migration and diaspora: The movement of people across the world, including forced migrations, voluntary migrations, and the experiences of diaspora communities.
  5. Cultural exchange and transfer: The exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices between different societies and civilizations.
  6. Global inequality and power dynamics: The unequal distribution of power, resources, and opportunities across the world, and the ways in which this has shaped global history.

Some influential scholars and works:

  1. Bryant and Mardon (1995): "The New World History: A Field of Study" - a foundational article that helped establish the field of New World History.
  2. J.H. Bentley (1996): "Shapes of World History in Twentieth-Century Scholarship" - a influential book that explored the development of world history as a field of study.
  3. Patrick Manning (2010): "Migration in World History" - a comprehensive study of migration and its impact on global history.
  4. Kenneth Pomeranz (2000): "The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy" - a influential book that explored the economic and environmental factors that contributed to the rise of Europe and the decline of China.

Some popular books and resources:

  1. "A History of the World in 100 Objects" by Neil MacGregor: A BBC Radio 4 series and book that explores the history of the world through 100 objects.
  2. "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari: A popular book that covers the entire history of humankind from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to the present day.
  3. "The Silk Roads: A New History of the World" by Peter Frankopan: A book that explores the history of the world through the lens of the Silk Roads, the network of trade routes that connected Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  4. "The World History Project": A digital platform that provides interactive maps, timelines, and articles on world history.

These are just a few examples of the many resources available for exploring New World History. I hope this helps you get started on your journey!