Early Modern World Bibliography

The following bibliography should be regarded as a work in progress. It is uneven in its global coverage, and even many "classics" are sure to be missing. It does not on the whole include sources or source collections; in the future, particularly useful collections would improve the list. I have also not included general surveys (such as the "Cambridge Histories", with some exceptions) or textbooks.

Instead, our primary goal has been to list works that either are explicitly comparative or interregional in their focus, or which approach particular regions or situations from a global perspective. This includes, for example, works that focus on moments of culture contact between distant strangers, work that discusses changes in everyday life brought about by large-scale developments, and works in which agents from multiple social, economic or cultural systems are observed interacting.

The editor of these webpages wishes to thank the many colleagues who have contributed to the bibliographies found here, including: students in History 207 at the University of California, Riverside, in past years, Lynda Bell, Piya Chatterjee, Lucille Chia, Andre Gunder Frank, Stephen Homick, Ray Kea, Rebecca "Monte" Kugel, Joseph Miller, Robert Patch, M. N. Pearson, Christopher Sleeper, Clifford Trafzer, Jason Young, and others.

Further suggestions and additions welcome!


Overview of bibliographies: Two versions of the comprehensive bibliography are available: 1) the primary and most current version is an online database. This version allows user-defined searches, and contains the latest entries. This online database may not be available at all times, and is offered with no guarantee of smooth or fast operation; access requires a Java-capable browser. 2) The text version, current to July 1997, serves as a backup, and may be useful to those who want a printable list..

1. To access the online version, please contact Randy Head to arrange to have the server available! Once the server is up, enter your search terms from the first screen you reach. When logon information is requested, please use the name "guest" and the password "guest".

2. Access the text version

 
The online version currently offers the following search categories, in addition to author and title keyword searches. Like most subject-oriented systems, these categories are neither wholly coherent nor comprehensively attached to every item in the bibliography. Most entries have a geographical category or are listed as Theoretical; topical categories are more unevenly applied. Suggestions for further search categories are welcome.
 
Categories currently in use:

(General categories):

Theoretical and Comparative

(Regional categories):

East Asia
South Asia
Africa
Europe
Eurasia
Latin America
North America
Oceania
(Metaregional categories):
Maritime and Interregional
Atlantic
Islamic World
Mediterranean
(Topical categories):
Global Commodities
Economic
Diasporas and Migration
First Contact
Labor Systems
Precious Metals and Currencies
Women and Gender


2. The text version of the comprehensive bibliography is current only until June 1997, thus lacking many recent entries.


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Thanks to David Marshall and Christopher Sleeper, my research assistants on this project.

Suggestions for books, articles or review essays that would improve this bibliography are extremely welcome from all quarters. I will also be happy to interpolate complete bibliographies and add your name to the heading of this document. Please email randolph.head@ucr.edu or send references to:
Randolph C. Head
Dept. of History
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA, 92521-0204