Prelude: cosmic history and human history. -- World history: a history of the world? -- A human world: humans and humankind. -- A natural world: ecology, energy and growth. -- An agrarian world: farmers, agriculture and food. -- A political world: governance abd rulers. -- A divine world: culture, civilizations and religions. -- A divided world: The West and The Rest. -- A global world: globalization or globalizations? -- A polarized world: development, poverty and inequality. -- A fragmented world: unity and fragmentation.

1. World history