A history of the world, 4, An emerging modern world: 1750-1870

In: A history of the world 4

Abstract

The long century between 1750 and 1880 was a transformative period in global history. During this time, a world of connected, but essentially still separated large regions, gave way to a globally integrated world. Ever since, different parts of the world were linked not through trade and war alone. Cultural developments, political reform and social change were increasingly entangled across continents and cultures. Emerging Modernity, the fourth volume of the 6-volume series A History of the World, charts this transformative period. How did the modern world economy emerge? Why did industrialization begin in England and not in China, and were there origins of capitalist development outside of the West? What were the roles of slaves and of nomads in this integrating world? Was there a bourgeoisie outside of Euro-America? To what extent did the large empires keep the rise of nation-states in check? Was the emergence of the "Muslim world" an effect of globalization? Such issues are at the center of the four large, thematically organized chapters of the present volume.--