Precis: West and the World Preface

Historians in the past have mostly focused on the history of their own society or culture. They studied societies through the lens of their own society. Most modern historians focused on the European nation states' fight between each other for dominance over Europe. In the 1700s (if not sooner) Europe became the predominant power over the world. It had defeated every other society for dominance over the world (even though the Europeans also fought amongst each other). World history can be broken down into three periods: the Preagricultural, the agricultural, and the modern. Curtin describes the progress of man through the lens of technology. The Preagricultural technology changed relatively slowly because intercommunication hadn't become an option. Small hunter/gatherer groups did not communicate between each other and share technology. Eventually the world entered the agricultural period. Not all at the same time, but it did eventually involve everybody. With the agricultural age came, “arable farming, urbanization, literacy, and an increased pace of technological change” (Curtin IX) Then in about 1700 the world entered a new era: the modern age. The modern age, marked by the industrial revolution, creased the productivity per capita enormously. As the West entered this stage before everybody else it had very few problems defeating other societies with its new technology and production power. The essays that Curtin presents focus on the changing relations between the west and the rest of the world. He analyzes these relations through case studies rather then through the use of theory. As historians never fully have 100% of the facts, they are forced to ask questions. Enough questions can lead to a better understanding of that history. The essays presented ask many questions about the relations of the west and world in order to better understand the bond that connects the two. Also focusing primarily on the civilizations which have been ignored by the usual historians, they make sure to delve deeply into culture,“a people's whole way of life” ( Curtin XII) The first three chapters focus on the construction of the Euro Empire and other empires around the world. The second three chapters focus on the deal with the culture of civilizations of non-western people under Euro dominance. The Third part deals with non-western people not under Euro Dominance but still threatened by it. The last chapter explores the change in culture for countries abandoned by the European empire.
Could Curtin conceive in his mind that maybe the dominance of some countries over others is necessary for the world to function? Does Curtin take an ethical standpoint when studying these countries? If historians only focus on the west, why focus on "the world" through the western lens?