Postscript
Overview
History is being Made...
Our goal in writing this book was twofold. Firstly, to provide teachers and students a broad view of world history from the late 1300s-2010s in a way that was engaging and accessible. Secondly, we want to convey a sense of “how did we end up here?” Or, in simple terms, we wanted to connect the past six-hundred years of history to the present, and to show why it is significant. It is out hope that in this textbook, we have done both. And perhaps also, explained the “human story” by identifying ways in which human beings have been interconnected.
Tremendous human achievements have occurred since the 1300s. Women have obtained significant protections and rights. Indigenous peoples, likewise, have received more protections and recognition. In the 1300s, it would have been impossible for most people to travel great distances, meet people from around the world, or even know much of the world beyond their immediate homes and villages. Seven hundred years later, the world is as globalized and interconnected as it has ever been. Technological advancements in communication and transportation allow people to connect with peoples around the world with relative ease. Business and economics have drawn the world together to create an interdependent, global community.
And yet, in the 2000s, the world remains immensely polarized between the “haves” and “have nots.” Access to basic resources such as clean water and food remains a challenge for many people around the world. Likewise, there is strong disparity between the poor countries of the world, and the wealthy ones. The world’s economic inequalities have produced numerous social and political challenges in the twenty-first century. How human beings will combat these challenges remains to be seen.
While there is truth in the phrase, “history is being made,” our team of historians felt we needed to conclude our book in the 2012-2014 range. Many of the events beyond those years are still being assessed and carried out and fall into the category of “current events” more than “history.” As the years progress, this book will undoubtedly be updated to reflect events and their outcomes.