5 volumes, 2,500 pages
January 2005

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Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History, First Edition
Article List | Awards | Contributors | Reviews | Sample Pages
Senior Editor William McNeill, University of Chicago,
Editors: Jerry Bentley, University of Hawaii, Manoa, David Christian, Macquarie University; Ewha Womans University, David Levinson, Independent Scholar, John McNeill, Georgetown University, Heidi Roupp, World History Center, Judith Zinsser, Miami University,
Editorial Board: Ross Dunn, San Diego State University, Ryba Epstein, Rich East High School, Brian Fagan, University of California, Santa Barbara, Daniel Headrick, Roosevelt University, Kailai Huang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Marnie Hughes-Warrington, Macquarie University, Tom Laichas, Crossroads School, Craig Lockard, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, Pamela McVay, Ursuline College, Carl Nightingale, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Patrick O'Brien, London School of Economics and Political Science, Hugh Page, Jr., University of Notre Dame, Paul Philip, Lancaster High School, Mrinalini Sinha, Pennsylvania State University, Peer Vries, Leiden University

“A masterful title that weaves together social, scientific, anthropological, and geographical influences on world history, this set will be the benchmark against which future history encyclopedias are compared… and belongs on the shelves of all high-school, public, and academic libraries. In short: buy it. Now.”

--BOOKLIST Starred Review, January 2005

"This pioneering Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History is designed to help both beginners and experts to sample the best contemporary efforts to make sense of the human past by connecting particular and local histories with larger patterns of world history."
--William H. McNeill, author of The Rise of the
West and The Human Web

The Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History is the first true encyclopedic reference on world history. It is designed to meet the needs of students, teachers, and scholars who seek to explore -- and understand -- the panorama of our shared history of humans. Anyone who loves history -- including those who are making history today -- will find this work an endless source of fascinating, thought-provoking coverage of events, people, patterns, and processes.

The encyclopedia was developed by an editorial team of over 30 leading scholars and educators, led by William H. McNeill, Jerry H. Bentley, David Christian, David Levinson, J. R. McNeill, Heidi Roupp, and Judith Zinsser. Its 550 articles were written by a team of 330 historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, sociologists, geographers and other experts from around the world. The first copies arrived on 31 October 2004, the 87th birthday of senior editor Bill McNeill.

Watch an interview with Bill McNeill and David Christian.

The encyclopedia takes a dynamic world history perspective, showing connections and interactions and change over time and place. Major articles by leading scholars, including Martin Marty and Immanuel Wallerstein, examine essential themes and patterns such as Art, Disease, Government, Religion, Science, and War and Peace. Branching out from these overviews are hundreds of articles on processes, movements, places, events, and people. Students and teachers at the high school and college levels, as well as scholars and professionals, will turn to this definitive work for a connected, holistic, view of world history -- the story of humans and their place in the universe.

Unique Features

In-depth coverage of 250,000 years of human existence
Synthesis of knowledge from paleoanthropology, archaeology, geology, and geography
Emphasis on cultural contact and social change over time and place
Comparisons across time and place
Resource for AP World History classes and exam
Extensive coverage of arts, literature, religion, and science
Biographies of 100 leaders who shaped world history
Preface and major articles by senior editor William H. McNeill
"Book-within-a-Book" survey of Foraging, Agrarian, and Modern Eras by editor David Christian

Content

Five volumes; 2,500 pages
550 signed articles by 330 scholars
Overviews of core topics
550 primary text sidebars
500 illustrations and photos
60 original maps; 30 historical maps
Preface and articles by William H. McNeill
Topical outline and comprehensive index

Over 330 eminent contributors

Michael Adas, Rutgers University
Al Andrea, University of Vermont
L. Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Stanford University
Mark Cohen, State University of New York, Plattsburgh
Ralph Croizier, University of Victoria
Alfred Crosby, University of Texas, Austin
Derek Davis, Baylor University
Ross Dunn, San Diego State University
Reuben Firestone, Hebrew Union College
Donna Gabaccia, University of Pittsburgh
Marnie Hughes-Warrington, Macquarie University, Australia
Martin Marty, University of Chicago
John Mears, Southern Methodist University
Kenneth Pomeranz, University of California-Irvine
Andrew Sherratt, Oxford University
Peter Stearns, George Mason University
Ian Tattersall, American Museum of Natural History
Norman Yoffee, University of Michigan
Immanuel Wallerstein, Yale University
Bin Wong, University of California, Los Angeles

Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Volume 01


Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Volume 02


Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Volume 03


Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Volume 04


Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Volume 05