Overview

Humanity and Society is unlike most other “world” histories, as it does not reflect a world dominated by Europe and the United States with a supporting cast of superficially-treated, peripheral countries. Rather, this book seeks to present a non-Eurocentric, balanced account of human history, one that is not merely a survey of kings, parliaments, and wars, but a portrait of the major developments and integrations of social and cultural movements. The  emphasis is on the “larger social matters: the conditions of labor (slavery, serfdom), the social status of women, war, economic history, and political structures”. It provides an account that, while richly detailed, remains highly readable, and successfully meets the colossal challenge that the undertaking of a world history presents.

Kenneth Neill Cameronwas professor of English at New York University.