The Rise of the Rich

A New View of Modern World History

Peter Gran

Narrated by John Skinner

Available from Audible

Book published by Syracuse University Press

"The rise of the West" has long been the accepted doctrine for framing analyses of world history. Privileging a Eurocentric approach, this traditional paradigm obscures the significance of the indigenous rich in non-Western regions and fails to recognize the contributions of the Orient. In this book, Peter Gran seeks to reframe current historical debates, presenting a model of analysis based on the rise of the rich. Gran outlines the structure of this new paradigm, building upon metanarrative concepts from Marxism to liberalism.

Rather than a history of clashing civilizations, he identifies a history of resolving conflicts through negotiations among the wealthy classes of various regions. Fundamental to his theory is evidence demonstrating the existence of non-European ruling classes with power in interregional affairs. Far-reaching in its historical scope, Gran’s work lays the foundation for a critical rethinking of world history and offers a vital contribution to the field.

Peter Gran is professor of history at Temple University. He is the author of Islamic Roots of Capitalism: Egypt, 1760-1840 and Beyond Eurocentrism: A New Modern World History.

REVIEWS:

“The breadth of discussion in the text, combined with the breadth of citations in the notes, make this a world historian’s world history.”

—Patrick Manning, author of Navigating World History