A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSAL HISTORY
In its modern form, the systematic study of World History began in the 1720s, when a group of Englishmen undertook an enormous publication based on what they took to be the British public's newfound interest in far-flung places around the world. This publication gave the peoples of the world their first historical identity, at least in the English language. As the Age of Exploration opened the European mind to the world in its vast extent, the publishers called this work the "Universal History." At 64 volumes, it is still the largest history set ever published, and took the greater part of the 18th Century to finish (1728-1766). One by one the volumes arrived to the subscriber's house like a newspaper or monthly magazine. Suffice to say, not many complete sets still exist, and probably no one currently alive has actually red the whole thing (but that may change- as the Google search engine company is digitizing it!). Hey, at least its not microfishe!
The first 20 volumes of the 64 volume "Universal History"
250 years ago, this enormous set satisfied a need to know. See more about it here. Its sheer bulk made it hard to pass around, of course, but the idea caught on. Soon, smaller and more readable 'universal histories' appeared. After the French and American Revolutions, in the early 1800s, nationalism and romantic ideas stuck a cord, leading to further interest about who the peoples of the world are and what they are like.
"Learning about the world is fun! Visit your public library, you'll be amazed at the great things you find there. See ya next time!"
