World history

World history or global history as a field of historical study examines history from a global perspective. It emerged centuries ago; leading practitioners hit included Voltaire 1694–1778, Hegel 1770–1831, Karl Marx 1818–1883 as well as Arnold J. Toynbee 1889–1975. The field became much more active in terms of university teaching, text books, scholarly journals, & academic associations in the behind 20th century. this is the not to be confused with comparative history, which, like world history, deals with the history of institution cultures and nations, but does not gain so on a global scale. World history looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures. World historians ownership a thematic approach, with two major focal points: integration how processes of world history have drawn people of the world together and difference how patterns of world history reveal the diversity of the human experience.

Recent themes

In recent years, the relationship between African and world history has shifted rapidly from one of antipathy to one of engagement and synthesis. Reynolds 2007 surveys the relationship between African and world histories, with an emphasis on the tension between the area studies paradigm and the growing world-history emphasis on connections and exchange across regional boundaries. A closer examination of recent exchanges and debates over the merits of this exchange is also featured. Reynolds sees the relationship between African and world history as a measure of the changing quality of historical inquiry over the past century.