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6th out of 61 books
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6 voters
The Origins of the Modern World: A Global and Ecological Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century
This clearly written and engrossing book presents a global narrative of the origins of the modern world from 1400 to the present. Unlike most studies, which assume that the "rise of the West" is the story of the coming of the modern world, this history, drawing upon new scholarship on Asia, Africa, and the New World, constructs a story in which those parts of the world pla...more
Paperback, 221 pages
Published
July 27th 2006
by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
(first published February 25th 2002)
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In the preface to his book, Robert Marks notes that he has “no intention of providing a balanced story, one that spends an equal amount of time (or ink) on anything and everything.” And, indeed, he doesn't. Though Marks is, unlike Geoffrey Parker, upfront in noting the limitations of his short survey, I am not convinced that this declaration afforded him the right to gloss over quite so much material as he does in his short history on the origins of the "modern world".
First, It seemed to me th...more
First, It seemed to me th...more
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Jan 02, 2010
Dan Kearns
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history,
history-sub-global-history
This is a fantastic synthetic summary of the new global history. I prefer Peter Stearns or William McNeill myself, but this one would work just fine too in trying to show someone how the "Rise of the West" understanding of world history might be better replaced with the new global paradigm.
BUT. Professor Marks has a strong politically correct, lefty tendency that shows up in everything he discusses. It can be looked past for the most part and understood as just part of how that angle of vision s...more
BUT. Professor Marks has a strong politically correct, lefty tendency that shows up in everything he discusses. It can be looked past for the most part and understood as just part of how that angle of vision s...more
This book serves its purpose perfectly well, it just isn't something to really recommend as a read. This is for assigning to undergrads and grad students as the first reading in a world or global history class. Marks is attempting to get away from a Euro-centric model of recounting world history; he wants to re-orient world history to the...orient...sort of. He basically is arguing that the Indian Ocean world was the first place where all kinds of cultures came together to trade, and this is whe...more
My first question when I put it down was "Why didn't I have to read this in high school?" Clear, easy to read overview of often under-taught [or in US public schools, at least, taught from a perspective that leaves out a lot] parts of world history.
This clearly written and engrossing book presents a global narrative of the origins of the modern world from 1400 to the present. Unlike most studies, which assume that the "rise of the West" is the story of the coming of the modern world, this history, drawing upon new scholarship on Asia, Africa, and the New World, constructs a story in which those parts of the world play major roles. Robert B. Marks defines the modern world as one marked by industry, the nation state, interstate warfare, a la...more
Okay so I read this book again in 2009. The most obvious "review" sort of thing I can say is that it really trails off halfway through. When it gets into the 20th century the author ceases to offer anything new or interesting.
Otherwise, it still is pretty effective at getting its point across that China, India, and Europe all basically were at parity in 1700 and only began to diverge from there. He also really doesn't like the British.
I think some of his numbers may be a bit curious, including t...more
Otherwise, it still is pretty effective at getting its point across that China, India, and Europe all basically were at parity in 1700 and only began to diverge from there. He also really doesn't like the British.
I think some of his numbers may be a bit curious, including t...more
This book is amazing. It is the first time that I was exposed to the whole world outlook on the coming of the modern age, something I have been needing for my next book. Prof. Marks is expert in China and has revealed more about the coming of the modern age than any other author I have read.
Interesting insights though not nuanced enough to definitively debunk Eurocentrism...
Clear, easy to read. Perfect accompaniment to first year history!
This book was irritating because he spends a lot of time talking about how the world would be different today if a number of coincidences would have not all come together in the 1400's to the 1800's. I agreed with him, but things happened the way they did so who cares?
1 like · like · see review
This book isn't that great for World history. It's short, takes a Eurocentric view most of the time, and isn't very detailed. You're better off getting a World history perspective and knowledge reading the McNeill's The Human Web.
it was somewhat interesting in the end, but i found i would get lost several times throughout the rest of the book
but this isn't my sort of book any way (school reading)
but this isn't my sort of book any way (school reading)
I had to read this for school during a period of three days- not cool. I t was hard to follow and only recommended if you have time to take it all in.
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