Traditions & Encounters

Jerry H. Bentley is professor of history at the University of Hawai'i and editor of the Journal of World History. He has written extensively on the cultural history of early modern Europe and on cross-cultural interactions in world history. His research on the religious, moral, and political writings of the Renaissance led to the publication of Humanists and Holy Writ: New Testament Scholarship in the Renaissance (1983) and Politics and Culture in Renaissance Naples (1987). His more recent research has concentrated on global history and particularly on processes of cross-cultural interaction. His book Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times (1993) studies processes of cultural exchange and religious conversion before modern times, and his pamphlet Shapes of World History in Twentieth-Century Scholarship (1996) discusses the historiography of world history. His current interests include processes of cross-cultural interaction and cultural exchange in modern times.

• Part 1: The Early Complex Societies, 3500 to 500 B.C.E. Chapter 1 - Before History Chapter 2 - Early Societies in Southwest Asia and the Indo-uropean Migrations Chapter 3 - Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations Chapter 4 - Early Society in East Asia Chapter 5 - Early Society in East Asia Chapter 6 - Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania Part II: The Formation of Classical Societies, 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E. Chapter 7 - The Empires of Persia Chapter 8 - The Unification of China Chapter 9 - State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India Chapter 10 - Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase Chapter 11 - Mediterranean Society: The Roman Phase Chapter 12 - Cross-Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads Part III: The Postclassical Era, 500 to 1000 C.E. Chapter 13 - The Commonwealth of Byzantium Chapter 14 - The Expansive Realm of Islam Chapter 15 - The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia Chapter 16 - India and the Indian Ocean Basin Chapter 17 - The Foundations of Christian Society in Western Europe Part IV: An Age of Cross-Cultural Interaction, 1000 to 1500 C.E. Chapter 18 - Nomadic Empires and Eurasian Integration Chapter 19 - States and Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa Chapter 20 - Western Europe during the High Middle Ages Chapter 21 - Worlds Apart: The Americas and Oceania Chapter 22 - Reaching Out: Cross-Cultural Interactions Part V: The Origins of Global Interdependence, 1500-1800 Chapter 23- Transoceanic Encounters and Global Connections Chapter 24 - The Transformation of Europe Chapter 25 - New Worlds: The Americas and Oceania Chapter 26 - Africa and the Atlantic World Chapter 27 - Tradition and Change in East Africa Chapter 28 - The Islamic Empires Part VI: An Age of Revolution, Industry, and Empire, 1750 to 1914 Chapter 29 - Revolutions and National States in the Atlantic World Chapter 30 - The Making of Industrial Society Chapter 31 - The Americas in the Age of Independence Chapter 32 - Societies at Crossroads Chapter 33 - The Building of Global Empires Part VII: Contemporary Global Realignments, 1914 to the Present Chapter 34 - The Great War: The World in Upheaval Chapter 35 - An Age of Anxiety Chapter 36 - Nationalism and Political Identities in Asia Chapter 37 - New Conflagrations: World War II Chapter 38 - The Bipolar World Chapter 39 - The End of Empire Chapter 40 - A World without Borders