History of World Civilization, Volume II

Author: Philip L. Ralph
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1999-03-01
Features: The World's Civilizations is a highly influential work written by the renowned American historian Edward Burns and others. It was first published in 1955 and has been revised and reprinted multiple times, with a total of eight editions by 1991. In the mid-1980s, our library published the 1974 fifth edition of the book (the Chinese edition is divided into four volumes), which garnered significant attention in the academic community and was even included in The Family Bookshelf. This time, the library purchased the Chinese copyright of the newest eighth edition and organized a fresh translation and publication. The new edition briefly examines the evolution of human civilization from ancient times to the early 1990s, covering major regions and countries. It retains the fundamental features of the fifth edition, such as its focus on humanity's achievements in culture, thought, institutions, and knowledge. When narrating political history, it emphasizes the connections between political developments and cultural, social, and economic progress. It highlights the inheritance of human civilization and the unique contributions of different civilizations while also revealing their limitations. The book is richly illustrated and closely coordinated with the text. Like the fifth edition, the new edition prioritizes Western civilization, though it addresses issues in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, it remains influenced by a Western cultural-centric perspective. However, unlike the fifth edition, the new edition places greater emphasis on the mutual benefit and interdependence among various civilizations and nations. Building on the latest academic research, it has undergone a thorough revision and expansion, with over 80% of the content rewritten. It can be said that this is a completely new work.