ABSTRACT

Western civilization and world history are often seen as different, or even mutually exclusive, routes into historical studies. This volume shows that they can be successfully linked, providing a tool to see each subject in the context of the other, identifying influences and connections.

Western Civilization in World History takes up the recent debates about the merits of the well-established 'Western civ' approach versus the newer field of world history. Peter N. Stearns outlines key aspects of Western civilization - often assumed rather than analyzed - and reviews them in a global context.

chapter 1|6 pages

Introduction: Why Western civ?

part |2 pages

PART I The Western civ tradition

part |2 pages

PART II Getting Western civilization started

chapter 4|4 pages

Defining civilizations

chapter 5|16 pages

When in the world is Western civilization?

chapter 6|6 pages

The West in the world

part |2 pages

PART III The rise of the West, 1450–1850

chapter 7|10 pages

Causes of a new global role

chapter 8|14 pages

Transformations of the West

part |2 pages

PART IV The West in the contemporary world

chapter 11|11 pages

Disruptions of the twentieth century

chapter 12|12 pages

The West in a globalized world