Pamela Kyle Crossley

This is a useful, concise overview of the field of Global History, a genre in the historiography that in recent decades really flourished. Crossley nicely shows that the antecedents go very far back in time. In addition, she brings the great diversity in the global look at world history very well to life. And she also beautifully explores the almost insoluble problem of thinking in terms of center-periphery (and taking the West as reference point or not). But then there some minor points of criticism to make: she considers global history not really pertaining to the field of historical study (because it is not based on sources), she doesn't relate to the economical globalisation debate that has been going on since 1990, and she lets the new domain of Big History (sponsored by Bill Gates) completely out of the picture. But all in all – with some remarks – a very creditable booklet.… (mehr)