西方通史类全球史编纂中的历史分期研究

Periodization in Western Global History

历史分期是历史编纂的核心问题之一。一些西方学者如巴勒克拉夫、麦克尼尔、斯塔夫里阿诺斯、斯特恩斯、本特利等,在通史类全球史编纂实践中尝试以全球各文明发展的总形势为依据来划分历史阶段。从他们对世界历史的分期可以看出,20世纪中期以来,与西方传统世界史研究相比,上述学者对人类历史整体及阶段发展的理解和认识更加科学,对世界史编纂中根深蒂固的"欧洲中心论"传统有一定程度的突破,但仍未能完全摆脱其束缚。目前,西方通史类全球史研究对各文明社会内部发展的考察特别是发展动力的研究暴露出明显的不足,这已经成为西方通史类全球史进一步发展的瓶颈。

Periodization is one of the central issues in historiography.Some scholars,such as Geoffrey Barraclough,William H.McNeill,Leften Stavros Stavrianos,Peter N.Stearns and Jerry H.Bentley,try to periodize world history according to stages of development for various civilizations.Since the mid of the 20th century,Their researches on human history and its stages are more scientific than traditional approaches.Although they can＇t abandon Euro-centrism,efforts are made to overcome this obstacle.At present,researchers on historiography do not pay enough attention to the development stages of various civilizations and especially the impetus propelling the progress of civilization.This restricts the development of researches on global history in the west.