Architects of World History

Architects of World History presents an innovative collection of original essays by leading scholars associated with World History, exploring through intellectual autobiography the ideas, challenges, and inspirations that are shaping the field Features original, accessible contributions from pioneering scholars in the field Offers insights into the process of developing a workable world history research topic and the experience of professional life as a world historian. Points to methodological challenges; the scholar’s current research agenda in relation to the development of world history; and future directions anticipated for key areas within world history

Notes on Contributors vii 1 Architects of World History 1 Kenneth R. Curtis 2 En Route to World Environmental History 30 J.R. McNeill 3 Gender Intersections 56 Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks 4 No Great Divergence? Reaching World History Through East Asian Studies 81 Kenneth Pomeranz 5 Cultural and Religious Exchanges 108 Dominic Sachsenmaier 6 Law and World History 134 Lauren Benton 7 Africa in the World: From National Histories to Global Connections 159 Kerry Ward 8 Big History 190 David Christian 9 In Search of a Global Cultural History 215 Jerry H. Bentley and Karen Louise Jolly, foreword by Alan Karras Index 238