Western Civilization in World History

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 Historytakes 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. Subjects covered include: How did the tradition of teaching 'Western civ' evolve? When did Western Civilization begin and what areas does it span? What distinguishes the West from the rest of the world? What is the place of Western Civilization in today's globalized world? This is an essential guide for students and teachers of both Western civilizationand world history which points to a more integrated, comparative way of studying history.

Peter N. Stearns is Provost and Professor of History at George Mason University.