A blog devoted to research and teaching in the history of humanity.
Examples of past (and current) global protests show how people in different nations—and with differing political views—come together to make a statement about human values. Such global activism is powerful; it may even have an impact in reshaping the United Nations.
Environmental degradation continues to outpace reform. What are the key factors driving this crisis and humanity’s understanding of it? And what might offer the best chance of limiting environmental collapse?
Climate and the environment are top policy issues today. In this blog post—the first in a two-part series—I trace the history of these topics. I… Read More »A Timeline of the Rise of Environmentalism: 1940s–1970s
Early Modern History, a subfield of World History, explores the centuries before 1800 CE. The Journal of Early Modern History, since 1997, has shown the… Read More »Early Modern History: Porcelain and the Yellow River in China
The 2024 V-Dem report on global democracy seeks to explain the rise in autocracy around the world. I explore this report through comparisons of global politics at different levels—and consider what effect international organizations may have on democracy.
The campaign to reform the United Nations Security Council may indeed come to a head at the Summit of the Future in September. What are the key aspects of this debate? What might happen if the campaign succeeds? Or if it fails?
If the United Nations and its members can resolve the current crisis in Gaza—by ending the war and moving toward the recognition of a Palestinian state—U.S. officials will likely learn to pay more attention to the UN, its significance, and its structures.
Exploring the subfields of history is not only valid but valuable. Understanding these topics generates new ideas and perspectives about world history—and reveals important connections, causation, and interactions.
The G7 nations or Western powers remain wealthy, but other nations are becoming their equals. Here are four chapters on significant trends and events that continue to shape the future of the G7 nations—and the world order.
As a reminder of the value and the practical usability of language evidence for human history, here is a set of four case studies of the distribution and migration of language communities and the associated social change.