"A brilliant inquiry into culture and society over some seven centuries, Mary Evans explores the origins and trajectories of modernity from the Reformation through the Enlightenment to the contemporary period. Her intellectual control of complex ideas and diverse forms of evidence is consistently impressive. Exploring various pessimistic, dystopian strands in European perspectives on modernity by Friedrich Nietzsche, Max Weber and Theodor Adorno, she defends a balanced view of both the negative and positive consequences of modernization. This is historical sociology at its best: judicious, theoretically informed, carefully crafted, grounded in empirical research, and above all intellectually clever. A Short History of Society will prove to be a valuable companion to the student who needs a concise scholarly and sociological overview of modernity." Bryan Turner, National University of Singapore A Short History of Society is a concise account of the emergence of modern western society. It looks at how successive generations have understood and explained the world in which they lived, and examines significant events since the Enlightenment that have led to the development of society as we know it today. The book spans the period 1500 to the present day and discusses the social world in terms of both its politics and its culture. This book is ideal for undergraduate students in the social sciences who are perplexed by the myriad of events and theories with which their courses are concerned, and who need a historical perspective on the changes that shaped the contemporary world.

A Short History of Society is an account of the emergence of modern westernsociety - and how successive generations understood and explained the worldin which they lived. This multi-disciplinary text is designed for first yearuniversity students, perplexed by the myriad of events and theories withwhich their courses are concerned and often lacking any historicalperspective for the changes that shaped the contemporary world. The bookspans the period 1500- 2000 and discusses social world in terms of both itspolitics and its culture.

How did the modern world get to be the way it is? How did we come to live in a globalized, industrialized, capitalistic set of nation-states? Moving beyond Eurocentric explanations and histories that revolve around the rise of the West, distinguished historian Robert B. Marks explores the roles of Asia, Africa, and the New World in the global story. He defines the modern world as marked by industry, the nation state, interstate warfare, a large and growing gap between the wealthiest and poorest parts of the world, and an escape from environmental constraints. Bringing the saga to the present, Marks considers how and why the United States emerged as a world power in the 20th century and the sole superpower by the 21st century; the powerful resurgence of Asia; and the vastly changed relationship of humans to the environment.

In Forging the Modern World: A History, authors James Carter and Richard Warren offer an accessible explanation of key transformations in global economic, political, and ideological relationships since the sixteenth century. The book is distinct from most world history texts in three important ways. First, it explores the ways in which historians use and produce information. Each chapter delves deeply into one or two specific issues of historical inquiry related to the chapter theme, showing how new primary sources, methodologies, or intellectual trends have changed how we engage with the past. Second, it clearly explains the political, economic, and ideological concepts that students need to understand in order to compare events and trends across time and space. Finally, the chapters are organized around global historical themes, which are explored through an array of conceptual and comparative lenses. While the book chapters proceed chronologically, each chapter is written with some chronological overlap linking it to preceding and subsequent chapters. This strategy emphasizes the interconnectedness between the events and themes of one chapter and those of surrounding chapters. A companion website includes quiz questions and flash cards for each chapter and PowerPoint-based slides for instructors.

"A Short History of the World by H.G. Wells is a comprehensive and engaging survey of human history from the emergence of early humans to the end of World War I. Wells presents his interpretation of the development of civilizations, religions, and scientific discoveries, divided into four main parts covering the early world, age of expansion, middle ages, and modern world. Written in a clear and accessible style, this book offers insights into the challenges and opportunities facing humanity in the modern world and the potential for a global civilization through cooperation among nations. A must-read for anyone interested in history and the evolution of human societies." -- Back cover

Eminent historian Patricia Crone defines the common features of a wide range of pre-industrial societies, from locations as seemingly disparate as the Mongol Empire and pre-Columbian America, to cultures as diverse as the Ming Dynasty and seventeenth-century France. In a lucid exploration of the characteristics shared by these societies, the author examines such key elements as economic organization, politics, culture, and the role of religion. An essential introductory text for all students of history, Pre-Industrial Societies provides readers with all the necessary tools for gaining a substantial understanding of life in pre-modern times. In addition, as a perceptive insight into a lost world, italso acts as a starting point for anyone interested in the present possibilities and future challenges faced by our own global society.

The History of Human Society is a comprehensive guide to the development of human civilization from the earliest times to the present day. Written by Frank W. Blackmar, a prominent American historian, and sociologist, the book traces the evolution of human society across cultures, continents, and historical periods. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the origins of human society, the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, the development of religious and philosophical beliefs, the impact of technological innovations, and the emergence of modern industrial society. Blackmar's writing style is clear and engaging, making the book accessible to readers of all levels of familiarity with history and sociology. The author's emphasis on the social and cultural dimensions of history provides a nuanced understanding of the forces that have shaped human society over time.