The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks is a summary of human history. Beginning in roughly the thirteenth century, Marks documents the important events and changes that have occurred since. Although most readers will know generally about many of the topics covered, the foreign topics are very interesting and easy to read despite their complex nature. What makes this book great for students is its clear and straight forward manner. After reading this book, it is apparent the author made a conscious effort to present history from a non-Western perspective. Throughout the book, Marks works to prove why things are the way they are without relying on the premise of Western superiority. This gives the book added dimension as readers must question what they have previously been taught. To find this book enjoyable, one must be completely open minded and without prejudice. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to get an overview on world history and the interactions between states.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
I'm curious to know what the author meant by Ecological Narrative. Did you get any sense of what he meant?
ReplyDeleteAnd, were there any points at which you disagreed with the author? Since you've mainly studied the Western perspective, did you think, at any point, that he was not treating the West fairly?
~KLM
My book was somewhat similiar in that it dealt with looking at something that shaped the modern world to what it is today: language. However yours has more to do with the history on a global level. Also, it sounds like your book was more interesting for a student of a history class than mine was.
ReplyDelete~Malcolm X