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The Origins of the Modern World
A Global and Environmental Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century
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Narrated by:
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James Anderson Foster
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By:
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Robert B. Marks
About this listen
This clearly written and engrossing book presents a global narrative of the origins of the modern world from 1400 to the present. Unlike most studies, which assume that the “rise of the West” is the story of the coming of the modern world, this history, drawing upon new scholarship on Asia, Africa, and the New World and upon the maturing field of environmental history, constructs a story in which those parts of the world play major roles, including their impacts on the environment. Robert B. Marks defines the modern world as one marked by industry, the nation state, interstate warfare, a large and growing gap between the wealthiest and poorest parts of the world, increasing inequality within the wealthiest industrialized countries, and an escape from the environmental constraints of the “biological old regime.” He explains its origins by emphasizing contingencies (such as the conquest of the New World); the broad comparability of the most advanced regions in China, India, and Europe; the reasons why England was able to escape from common ecological constraints facing all of those regions by the end of the eighteenth century; a conjuncture of human and natural forces that solidified a gap between the industrialized and non-industrialized parts of the world; the mounting environmental crisis that defines the modern world; and the ways in which the forces of globalization stress the economic and political underpinnings of the modern world.
Now in a new edition that brings the saga of the modern world to the present in an environmental context, the book considers how and why the United States emerged as a world power in the twentieth century and became the sole superpower by the twenty-first century, and why the changed relationship of humans to the environmental likely will be the hallmark of the modern era—the Anthropocene. Once again arguing that the US rise to global hegemon was contingent, not inevitable, Marks also points to the resurgence of Asia and the vastly changed relationship of humans to the environment that may in the long run overshadow any political and economic milestones of the past hundred years.
This audiobook is expertly read by James Anderson Foster, and was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont. Audio engineering by Sam Platt.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2015 The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. (P)2023 Echo Point Books & Media, LLCRelated to this topic
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What listeners say about The Origins of the Modern World
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- Dan Meckenstock
- 02-21-25
A Dangerous Attempt to Rewrite History
A Critical Review of The Origins of the Modern World by Robert B. Marks
In The Origins of the Modern World, Robert B. Marks presents a vision of world history that seems more concerned with advancing a globalist agenda than offering an honest and nuanced analysis of the forces that shaped the modern world. Marks’ attempt to dismantle Eurocentrism, religion, and nationalism reads less like an academic exploration and more like a cynical effort to replace the rich tapestry of human history with a sterile, secular vision of global governance. If you value the ideals of sovereignty, religion, and traditional values, this book offers little more than an ideological attack on everything that has made Western civilization—and indeed, civilization itself—worth preserving.
Eurocentrism Is Not a Myth, It's Reality
Marks’ dismissal of Eurocentrism as a "myth" is perhaps his most glaring failure. Eurocentrism—while certainly a concept that deserves critique—is not the conspiracy he makes it out to be. The historical reality is that European civilizations, through their unique blend of Judeo-Christian values, individualism, and capitalism, provided the foundation for the Industrial Revolution and the rapid advancement of science, technology, and economic systems that have shaped the modern world. The contributions of Europe’s past, for all their flaws, cannot be dismissed so easily. Yet Marks, in his rush to promote a global state, seeks to diminish the very ideas that fueled European progress, pushing the reader toward an amorphous, collective vision of a world ruled by elites.
The Destructive Assault on Religion
Marks’ dismissal of religion—particularly Christianity—as a force in history is not only naive, but dangerous. To claim that religion is irrelevant to understanding history is to ignore the central role that faith has played in shaping the moral framework, institutions, and values that undergird much of the modern world. Marks’ secularism is not a thoughtful critique of religion’s role in shaping society—it is an attack on the very concept of faith and spiritual guidance. His narrow, atheistic viewpoint fails to recognize the human need for meaning, which religion provides. Instead, he presents the global state as the only logical alternative to the chaos of individual belief systems—a truly terrifying vision for those who cherish personal faith.
Nationalism Is Not the Enemy, But the Cornerstone of Identity
Marks' apparent disdain for nationalism is another troubling aspect of his argument. He views nationalism as a dangerous force that hinders global cooperation, but this reflects a profound misunderstanding of the importance of national sovereignty and cultural identity. Nationalism is not a force of division—it is a natural expression of a people’s right to self-determination. The importance of national identity cannot be understated. It is what binds people together in common cause, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging. Globalism, as Marks envisions it, would strip away these identities in favor of a one-size-fits-all system, where the common man is nothing more than a cog in a bureaucratic machine controlled by distant elites.
The Globalist Vision: A Nightmare of Elite Control
The most insidious aspect of Marks' book is his implicit endorsement of a global state—a world order where the common man is placed at the mercy of a global elite. Marks suggests that the ordinary person is too ignorant to make decisions for themselves and that only the elite can guide humanity to a better future. This dangerous, elitist view underestimates the wisdom and resilience of the common man and, more troublingly, erodes the very idea of democracy. In Marks' vision, we are asked to surrender our national sovereignty, our religious convictions, and our personal liberties in exchange for a global system run by bureaucrats and technocrats who have little regard for the people they claim to serve.
Conclusion: A Globalist Fantasy at the Expense of Human Freedom
In the end, The Origins of the Modern World is less a historical analysis than a manifesto for a secular, globalist future—one where individual nations, cultures, and beliefs are subsumed under the weight of a single, homogenized global order. Marks' attempt to rewrite history by dismissing Eurocentrism, religion, and nationalism undermines the values that have given shape to the modern world. If you believe in the importance of personal sovereignty, religious freedom, and cultural identity, Marks’ vision is not just misguided; it is a dangerous fantasy that threatens to strip humanity of its diversity, its agency, and its dignity. If this is the future Marks envisions, it is one where the common man is left powerless, at the mercy of an elitist cabal that cares little for his well-being.
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