Abstract
World history in the hands of a master such as Fernandez Armesto is superb, but these two books are rather rambling essays reflecting the thoughts on history of a scholar towards the end of his working life. Originality is not their strong point. Modernization in the shape of the ‘Forces of Modernity’ is a central theme and the key element is ‘declinist’. A downward vicious circle, cultural catastrophe and such like are the themes. There is some discussion of cultural comparison but the insights of recent scholarship in world history are not adequately incorporated. Nor are anthropological perspectives, or environmental counterparts. The need for different cultures to cooperate while preserving their own identity is a theme. Disappointing.