Global History Defined

Consider these facts: (1) More than 10,000 years ago, global warming raised ocean levels hundreds of feet, thereby isolating landmasses in the Eastern Hemisphere vis-à-vis landmasses in the Western Hemisphere; (2) Evolutionary divergence in evolution of flora, fauna, and epidemiology resulted; (3) Sixteenth century integration of dissimilar Hemispheres reconfigured human history, including depopulation of the New World; (4) Introduction of Old World animals and crops (Columbian Exchange) fundamentally altered American landscapes; (5) New World plants (via Columbian/Magellan Exchanges) fundamentally altered Old World landscapes; (6) Ecological transfers yielded population explosions worldwide over later centuries; (7) Initiated by global silver trade, numerous commodities subsequently entered global trade, with complex ecological and cultural implications still unfolding today.
Attacks upon Eurocentric “Early Modern Period” terminology are justified. One can reference an “Early Global” period, in contrast, without sense of superiority. The Industrial Revolution might fit within “Middle Global” periodization. Given focus upon the past century, “Transnational History” and “Late Global” could be synonyms. “World History” spans thousands of years (billions for Big Historians) because global connectivity is not a prerequisite. World, Global, and Transnational Historical periods coexist within a fact-based taxonomy that emphasizes connections – along with comparisons – across an increasingly complex global system.