"Marks offers a new broad sweep of this period that significantly is not Eurocentric in approach. His book reflects the more recent advanced scholarship that considers the influence of Asia and departs from the traditional interpretation of the ''Rise of the West'' or the ''European Miracle'' as the foundation of the modern world. This book is extremely informative; the author delves into ecological issues that include critical contemporary questions, such as global warming, and occasionally population growths and declines, as in the horrific period appropriately labeled the ''Black Death'' in the mid-14th century, an epidemic that affected three continents. Numerous maps of the world support the book''s global theme, and Marks writes that for well over 1,000 years, the Indian Ocean ''arguably was the single most important crossroad of trade and generator of merchant wealth in the world.'' The book''s main topics are the expansion of the Russian, Chinese, and Ottoman Empires; the conquest of the Americas; the spread of Islam; the Industrial Revolution; and the rise of the US. This serious and important work, written in a historically conventional manner, is thoughtful, relevant to the present times, and well written. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.

" -- Choice Reviews "Marks is eminently well-qualified to bring Asia to the front of the story about the origins of the modern world. Inspired mostly through the work of André Gunder Frank and Ken Pomeranz, Marks writes a world history survey that is very useful for locating the place of China and India in the construction of the modern world." --Adrian Carton, Education About Asia "The Origins of the Modern World aims at the undergraduate student . but any teacher who has struggled with the question, ''When did American Civilization begin?'' will see other applications. Inexpensive enough to consider as a supplemental reading requirement in a traditional Atlantic History class or even for an American History survey, this well designed textbook will orient students toward broader awareness, both historically and within their own world." --Joe Petrulionis, U.S. Intellectual History "This is a splendid book that .

brings together the very latest scholarship to provide a highly readable and erudite account of world history over the last half a millennium. I thus thoroughly recommend this book." --James Beattie, University of Waikato, New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies "A very useful tool for world history courses, undergraduate and graduate, as well as offering new concepts for scholars still locked in rigid territorial or national studies. The composition in this concise book is clear and topics are interestingly presented, while the source references make it useful for classroom research projects. A helpful account of the principles and organization of trade in world history, written from a global perspective." --Mary Watrous-Schlesinger, World History Connected "Marks convincingly discredits the standard Eurocentric narrative of mainstream historians, replacing it with a balanced story that places Asia at the centre prior to the 1800s and Europe (then, America) at the centre thereafter. [The author uses] a cogent, accessible style grounded in key historical concepts such as contingency, conjuncture, and accident." --James L.

Huffman, Wittenberg University, Pacific Affairs "Sets out an analytical framework that is accessible to students while providing an approach to world history that aspires to be truly global. Remarkable in [its] presentation of coherent global narratives in less than two hundred pages. Marks''s book has a strong emphasis on economic factors and Western coercion and exploitation and has a clear analytical framework. Closely accompanied by lecture and discussion, it could be used to frame a world history course for the period after 1400." --David Ringrose, Journal of World History "By far the best of the current world history books on the market. Its main strengths lie in its non-Eurocentric viewpoint, its clear narrative, and its brevity. I would (and have) unreservedly recommended the book to colleagues teaching in the field, as well as to others seeking a quick introduction to the history of the world." --Sarah Kovner, Columbia University "A lucid, accessible explanation of the interaction of world regions and the construction of globalization.

A valuable work for undergraduates." --Martin Anderson, Dominican University "I love this book--and more importantly, students do as well. Nothing beats it for putting global perspectives on the table in a readable and intelligent way." --Thomas Saylor, Concordia University "In my world history class from the Mongols to the present, I use The Origins of the Modern World, which students love. They enjoy the brevity of the book, as well as its clear and provocative thesis. It''s also nice from a teaching point of view, since Marks uses footnotes and models the sort of writing we expect from students." --Bram Hubbell, Friends Seminary "The best easily readable overview of the Eurocentric vs. World History debate yet.

It should become a standard supplement in the college world history market." --Dennis O. Flynn, University of the Pacific "In a mere 218 pages of accessible prose, Robert Marks distills world history of the past six centuries to its essence. Truly global in scope, and fully attentive to environmental contexts, this book is ideal for the classroom: it will provoke both thought and discussion--and occasional disagreement." --John R. McNeill, Georgetown University "Splendid, fresh, forceful, and efficient. Marks has a clear focus on the Eurocentrism of most of the textbooks on world history and he has developed an effective, solidly grounded strategy to counter the problem. The ideas are challenging, and the prose is readable and engaging.

Ideal for introductory surveys of world history." --Edward L. Farmer, University of Minnesota "Terrific! It''s far and away the best of its type I''ve found in over thirty years of teaching. It''s clear, succinct, and yet wonderfully comprehensive. It brings together all the current thinking in world history in about as nice a package as can be imagined." --Paul Solon, Macalester College "I am delighted and excited by this book--it provides such an excellent overview of what world history is all about. The economy of the writing, the great balance the book displays in juggling an enormous agenda, and the elucidation of concepts are superb." --Ewa K.

Bacon, Lewis University "This third edition of The Origins of the Modern World accentuates the book''s strengths--especially by deepening its discussion of environmental change and of global inequality--while remaining compact, highly readable, and easy to connect with contemporary concerns. Fair-minded but not bland, it has a potential to spark classroom discussion that conventional textbooks rarely have, while providing a helpful basic narrative around which to organize an appealing world history class." --Kenneth Pomeranz, University of Chicago "The Origins of the Modern World combines two virtues that most textbooks lack: concision and an actual thesis. Rather than assuming the voice of an omniscient narrator, Marks makes a compelling argument about the multiple causes and consequences--human and ecological--of modernity. My students actually read this text, grasp its arguments, and find it stimulating." --E. Taylor Atkins, Northern Illinois University "Always the favorite when it comes to incisive world history agenda-setting, the third edition of The Origins of the Modern World has a more fully developed overview, one that is big on humans and the history of the environment and encourages critical thinking on a global scale." --Edmund Burke III, University of California at Santa Cruz.