World in Motion: A Dynamic History of Humankind

"As a two-volume World History textbook, World in Motion seeks to offer a presentation of World History through the use of three key methodological perspectives, each of which relates to the concept of motion itself: (1) everything moves, (2) layered worlds, layered identities, and (3) our very understanding of world history has been and continues to be in motion. World in Motion seeks to get students to look at history differently. In particular, by complicating existing geographical and civilization models of organization, this text seeks to get you, the student, to question your own perspectives on geographical, cultural, social, and racial divisions in history. Further, by drawing upon anthropological, archaeological, scientific, and oral sources of historical data, rather than emphasizing only written sources, World in Motion's interdisciplinary approach seeks to avoid many of the Eurocentric pitfalls so common to some previous World History texts. Additionally, rather than providing students with simple descriptions of "what happened where and when," World in Motion seeks to highlight the fact that World History is full of "grey areas" - areas where it is up to students to decide for themselves the significance of historical events. Finally, World in Motion hopes to share with students some of the fun of doing history. For those open to the majesty, disappointment, horror, and humor that is the human story, World History is a vast museum of humanity. Nothing represents the best and worst of human beings better than the story of our triumphs, transformations, and failures on the grandest of scales. And few things tell us more about ourselves than how we view our past. It is an epic journey, and we hope that taking it will transform not only the way you see history, but also your perspective on the world around you. We often forget that we, like those who came before us, are living in historic times. To be aware of the depth and complexity of the events that seem to swirl around us is to have a level of insight that is deeply empowering"--