E. H. Carr once wrote that history is a dialogue between the present and the past. It is this, but also much more. It can be a dialogue between those of different cultures and societies. For if we are to any extent the product of who our ancestors once were then we can understand others, within limits, by their history.

It is axiomatic that as the world is made smaller by high-speed transportation, international trade, and ubiquitous communications devices that we will need to abandon the standard provincialism of national history. Yet, the deconstruction of our national history, which is ultimately an extension of our psyches, does not necessarily mean the destruction of our identity. It means simply the creation of a history that not only fulfills our need for place and purpose but that also allows us to appreciate the shared attributes of the human race.

In modern world history emphasis should be placed on the contact between Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The dramatis personae of history must be seen in their own time and place, pursuing their own basic needs—and wants. There are few real villains in history, still fewer true enemies of mankind. There are only people trying to make the best of certain situations.

If one accepts the above proposition, then it logically follows that a comparative approach to history is the best approach. For example, Sanjay Subrahmanyam has attempted to shift the focus of Asian history away from its Eurocentric tradition. In doing this he has not minimized the impact of European expansion into Asia, but has rather re-discovered the agency of the indigenous people, which has been masked by centuries of European chauvinism. Subrahmanyam has made European contact with Asia richer by exploding the myth of European superiority and the myth of native acquiescence.

My approach to modern world history is a comparative one. Although my starting point is early modern Europe—the antecedents of Protestant reform, the growth of the Enlightenment, the development of absolute monarchy, etc.—I quickly fan out to explore European expansion from the native perspective. I also emphasize the many ways in which this expansion re-shaped European society.

It is my ultimate hope that each student will leave my class with a wider view of their world, that each of them will have a better understanding of themselves and others. I can think of no better purpose for the teaching of history.

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