World history is a subject that has fascinated people for centuries. It is the study of human civilization from the earliest times to the present day.
But have you ever wondered who founded world history? Who were the first people to study and document the history of human civilization?
The answer to this question is not straightforward. World history, as we know it today, is the result of the efforts and contributions of many people over several centuries. However, there are a few individuals who can be credited with laying the foundation for the study of world history.
One such individual was Herodotus, a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BCE. He is often referred to as the “father of history” because he was one of the first people to write a comprehensive account of human civilization. His work, The Histories, chronicles major events in ancient Greece and other parts of the world, including Persia and Egypt.
Another important figure in the development of world history was Ibn Khaldun, an Arab historian who lived in North Africa during the 14th century CE. He wrote a book called The Muqaddimah, which is considered one of the most important works on historiography (the study of historical writing) ever written. In this book, Ibn Khaldun laid out his theory of cyclical history, which posits that civilizations go through cycles of growth and decline.
In addition to these individuals, there were many other historians and scholars throughout history who contributed to our understanding of world history. Some notable examples include:
– Thucydides: A Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BCE and wrote about the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
– Sima Qian: A Chinese historian who lived during the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) and wrote a comprehensive account of Chinese history.
– Edward Gibbon: An English historian who lived during the 18th century CE and wrote The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Thanks to the efforts of these historians and many others, world history has become a rich and complex field of study. Today, we continue to build on their work by exploring new areas of research and uncovering previously unknown aspects of human civilization.
In conclusion, while it is difficult to pinpoint exactly who founded world history, we can say that it was the collective effort of many individuals over several centuries. From Herodotus to Ibn Khaldun to Thucydides and beyond, each of these historians played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of human civilization.