This book is a wide ranging and stimulating synthesis of the world-systems approach and its main findings. It covers parallel social processes in various regions which convincingly makes the argument that world-systems theory is able to integrate many diverse historical specializations.

Christopher Chase-Dunn is professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University. Thomas D. Hall is Lester M. Jones Professor of Sociology at DePauw University. Christopher Chase-Dunn is professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University. Thomas D. Hall is Lester M. Jones Professor of Sociology at DePauw University.

Preface -- Introduction -- Concepts and Definitions -- A Hundred Flowers Bloom: Approaches to World-Systems -- Defining World-Systems -- Two, Three, Many World-Systems -- Explaining World-System Evolution -- New Territories: The Problem of Incorporation -- The Semiperiphery: Seedbed of Change -- Iterations and Transformations: A Theory of World-Systems Evolution -- Investigations: Cases and Comparisons -- A Very Small World-System -- The Unification of Afroeurasia: Circa 500 B.C.E.-1400 C.E. -- The Europe-Centered System -- Cross-System Comparisons: Similarities and Differences -- Conclusions -- The Transformation of World-Systems -- Conclusions, Questions, Speculations