He held to this approach to world history all his life with some alterations, evident in his last effort at global history, the human web 2003, coauthored with j. Mcneill, canadian american historian who promoted an expansive view of the history of human civilization that enlarged the traditional approach to the subject, most notably in his seminal work the rise of the west 1963. Mcneill developed his concept of world history in the rise of the west. Mcneills version of world history, to me, is one of continual human interaction. Mcneil provides a brilliant narrative chronology of the development of western civilization, representing its sociopolitical as well as cultural aspects. In it, mcneill challenges the spenglertoynbee view that a number of separate civilizations pursued essentially independent careers, and argues instead that human cultures interacted at every stage of their history. Reviewed by robbins burling, university of michigait when i first read the title of this book, i. Mcneill, in full william hardy mcneill, born october 31, 1917, vancouver, british columbia, canadadied july 8, 2016, torrington, connecticut, u. Mcneills book the rise of the west 1963 is the only true world history ever written and is perhaps the outstanding historical study. A history of the human community is a book by university of chicago historian william h.
If you still require much more publications a world history by william h. The rise of the west new york times the rise of the west. Though there are times when the paths have closed, the interchange begins again once the old road or new roads are discovered. William h mcneill, prizewinning world historian, dead at 98. The rise of the west, winner of the national book award for history in 1964, is famous for its. The first and most obvious point to make is that the meaning of the west is a function of who is using the word. A history of the human community 1963 which won the national book award in 1964. And then interacting, overlapping zones, and movement of ideas back and forth, of technologies back and forth, and skills and organization back and forth. Explaining what william mcneill called the rise of the west has become the central problem in the study of global history.
With the rise of newly emerging viruses like ebola, hiv, mad cow disease, and the like, historian william h. Mcneills landmark book on how infectious disease has impacted and even altered the course of human history is now more relevant than ever. Title the rise of the west after twentyfive years created date. Mcneill s book the rise of the west 1963 is the only true world history ever written and is perhaps the outstanding historical study. An invaluable tool for the study of western civilization, the handbook is an essential complement. You will certainly locate even more great deals publications a world history by william h. A history of the human community mcneill 1963, at williams college, where i was visiting professor in 1988. A history of human community, which won the national book award in 1964.
Eric ej407703 the rise of the west after twentyfive. Goal 4 the rise of the west and populism flashcards quizlet. Mcneill as recommendations, visiting look the title and also style in this website is available. Jul, 2016 professor mcneills opus, the rise of the west.
Mcneills most notable work, the rise of the west 1963, traces the rise. Project muse world history and the rise and fall of the west. Mcneill the rise of the west explores human history in terms of the effect of different world civilizations on one another. William mcneill and the european miracle the rise of the. Millikan distinguished service professor emeritus of history at the university of chicago, where he taught from 1947 until his. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The rise of the west takes a long time to read, however the informationthough outdated in placesgives the reader a great overview of world history on every point of the globe. Well, when i wrote the rise of the west i thought in terms of separate civilizations, each with its own sphere of influence. A history of the human community 1963, took 10 years to write.
William h mcneill, prizewinning world historian, dead at 98 july 2016, by hillel italie a march 1964 file photo shows historian william h. Historians approach their subject from the moving platform of their own times, with the result that the past changes shape continually anyone. Mcneills the rise of the west is perhaps the most lucid and intelligent onevolume presentation of world history in narrative form ever written. Plagues and peoples william hardy mcneill, william mcneill.
Mcneills most notable work, the rise of the west 1963, traces the rise, development, and interrelationships of civilizations through 5,000 years of recorded history. Start studying goal 4 the rise of the west and populism. Other articles where the rise of the west is discussed. Doc the rise of the west mcneill colin mcnaull academia. Mcneill was president of the american historical association in 1985. Mcneil1 t he subject today is the meaning of the west in the sense of western civilization.
Millikan distinguished service professor emeritus in the department of history and the college at the university of chicago. Winner of the national book award in history and biography in 1964, it is surely one of the most scholarly and exciting histories of our times. Mcneill, the prizewinning scholar who wove the stories of civilizations worldwide into. Mcneills wellresearched book is not a dry read and in giving a good background on numerous civilizations giving the reader a solid foundation if they ever.
His many books include the pursuit of power, the rise of the west, and mythistory and other essays, all. But it his second book, plagues and peoples, published in 1975. Mcneill read 23 mar 1976 national book award history prize for 1964 this is a sheerly fascinating book, beginning with the first days of man, and tracing the history of civilization to the present. His many books include the pursuit of power, the rise of the west, and mythistory and other essays, all published by the university of chicago press. Contends that the book was influenced by the particular historical and political circumstances of its time. Western civ in world politics what we mean by the west by william h. Mcneill, first published in 1963 and enlarged with a retrospective preface in 1991. In the course of his career, he has published more than twenty books, inlcuding the rise of the west.
I the 1963 publication of william mcneill s the rise of the west was a great step forward for global historiography. The rise of the west, winner of the national book award for history in 1964, is famous for its ambitious scope and intellectual rigor. Mcneill, a prizewinning historian who wove the stories of civilizations into the landmark the rise of the west and helped pioneer the history of disease and epidemics in. It explores world history in terms of the effect different old world civilizations had on one another, and especially the deep influence of western. Mcneill is published by university of chicago press. Mcneill the rise of the west after twentyfive years. Plagues and peoples william hardy mcneill, william. Historian william mcneill warned in 1976 that a mutated. William hardy mcneill october 31, 1917 july 8, 2016 was a historian and author, noted for his argument that contact and exchange among civilizations is what drives human history forward, first postulated in the rise of the west 1963. The reader expecting something dramatically new in mcneills a world history will be disappointed. The pursuit of power, by william mcneill, is a big picture historical synthesis ostensibly examining the evolution of the art and science of warfare and military methods between ad and the present. Goal 4 the rise of the west and populism flashcards. The vast scope of this ambitious project forces mcneill to also explore the many fields that influence or are influenced by military development. It became a best seller, won the national book award for history and.
It was the first time i had read the book in twentyfive years, and the experience of revisiting an old friendand incubus 1 was both humbling and elevating. Dealing equally with eastern as well as western civilizations and discussing developments in africa, oceania, and precolumbian america, mcneill. Mcneills short history of mankind, the rise of the west 1963 awed by its breadth and scope. Jul 02, 1989 this historian is none other than william h. Journal of world history, v1 n1 p121 spr 1990 examines the book, the rise of the west. I the 1963 publication of william mcneills the rise of the west was a great step forward for global historiography. A history of the human community, 25 years after its publication. The rise of the west after twentyfive years civilizations and worldsystems. Its title became a buzzword in european miracle circles.
Jul 30, 2009 the rise of the west, winner of the national book award for history in 1964, is famous for its ambitious scope and intellectual rigor. William mcneill, the eminent university of chicago historian, won a national book award for his first book, rise of the west in 1964. Plagues and peoples considers the influence of infectious diseases on the course of history, and mcneill pays special attention to the black death of the th and 14th centuries, which killed millions. Mcneill assumes decent familiarity with western history, which allows describing underrated matters. World history and the rise and fall of the west william hardy mcneill. Western civ in world politics what we mean by the west. This sixth edition includes new material for the twentiethcentury period and completely revised bibliographies. Historians approach their subject from the moving platform.