William Hardy McNeill

William Hardy McNeill ( born October 31, 1917 in Vancouver ) is an American historian of Canadian descent.

Life

William McNeill, son of theologian John T. McNeill, graduated from the University of Chicago, where in 1938 the bachelor's and master's degrees earned in 1939. In 1947 he completed his dissertation at Cornell University successfully completed (PhD). Until 2006 he was Professor of History at the University of Chicago, since he is professor emeritus. In February 2010, McNeill was given by U.S. President Barack Obama awarded the National Humanities Medal, for his life's work as a professor and author of more than twenty influential books on history and civilization.

Research

McNeill is one of the most important researchers and authors in the field of world history (English " world history " ), is characterized in terms of an interdependent world, of interacting civilizations or cultures. He also published works on the rise of western civilization, where he also their - outlining immense impact on the rest of the world - in his eyes. His most famous works are " The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community " (1963), for him the U.S. National Book Award was awarded in the category " History and Biography " in 1964 and " Plagues and Peoples " a history of epidemics in human history (1976). He also wrote a biography of the famous English historian Arnold J. Toynbee and philosopher of history (1989).

He is the father of John Robert McNeill (born 1954 ), a historian who is since 1985 professor of history at Georgetown University.

Works (selection)

In German have been published:

  • War and power, Munich: Beck, 1984
  • The great epidemics, Bergisch Gladbach: Luebbe, 1983
  • Epidemics make history, Munich: Pfriemer, 1978
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