In The World from 1450 to 1700, historian John Wills takes a fresh look at one of the most fascinating and tumultuous periods in world history. Assuming a global perspective, rather than the traditional Eurocentric view, Wills traces the interwoven changes that led from the world of Columbus, Luther, and the Mughal emperor Babur to the world of Locke, Louis XIV, and the Kangxi emperor. The book's multi-centered approach explores historical events not in isolation but rather in a dynamic nexus of connections ranging from the Italian Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation to the Sikh, Hindu, and Confucian revivals; from the transformation of Japan in 1600 to the forced migrations of millions of African slaves; from the English Civil War and expanding Qing and Muscovite empires in Asia to new forms of scientific knowledge and parliamentary democracy in Europe. It is an interlocking world of change and movement, innovation and conquest, and Wills marshals his extraordinary narrative skill and breadth of learning to bring this period vibrantly to life.
This book, the sixth volume in the chronological set of the world history series, traces the interwoven changes that led from the world of Columbus, Luther, and the Mughal emperor Babur to the world of Locke, Louis XIV, and the Kangxi Emperor. Wills encourages his readers to think about the origins of our modern world in ways that acknowledge the special features of the European experience and achievement but do not present Europe as essentially the only source ofthe modern.
As a text for the classroom, Wills' work has several merits. The prose is lively and direct, and is written by one who is fully in command of his multiple and interweaving stories.
