The World's History: Since 1100

by Howard Spodek

A true exploration of world history, The World's History links chronology, themes, and geography in eight units, or parts of study, each emphasizing a single theme–origins, cities, empires, religion, trade, migrations, revolutions, and technology. Geographically, each part covers the entire globe, though specific topics place greater emphasis on specific regions. Rich in primary sources–both written and visual–and in data and interpretation, the new edition addresses how historians form, debate, and revise our historical understanding of the world, shows the value of other disciplines in understanding history, and helps students begin to assess their own place in the ongoing history of the world.

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2000

About the author

Howard Spodek (November 4, 1941 – August 20, 2023) was an American world historian, a professor of history and geography and urban studies at Temple University.

Reviews

[T.J.]

This is the text I teach my tenth grade world history honors class from, and it's not perfect by any means, but its an exemplary synthesis of an incredibly difficult topic. However, Spodek is a bit too much of an economic historian, and his monetary accounts of history make for some bizarre editorial choices and the marginalization of critical historical narratives. Still, Spodek, by adopting this economic tone, manages to steer clear from teh cardinal sin of world history--making WesternCiv with blacks and women thrown in. That's never his problem. I only wish he'd covered South Africa and Ireland more in the twentieth century.

[Colin]

Although it shares all the great characteristics of the first half, it's damaged by a few problems. The text seems much rougher (repeated sentences or paragraphs in different sections, rare grammar and spelling errors). As it approaches the present it provides just enough detail to whet the appetite before moving on, and its editorial tone trends towards naive and clueless. Despite all that, it's still basically the best comprehensive overview I could imagine.