World history is the study of major civilizations over the last 3000 years or so.

World history is primarily a teaching field, rather than a research field. It

gained popularity in the United States,[52] Japan[53] and other countries after the
1980s with the realization that students need a broader exposure to the world as
globalization proceeds.

It has led to highly controversial interpretations by Oswald Spengler and Arnold J.

Toynbee, among others.

The World History Association publishes the Journal of World History every quarter
since 1990.[54] The H-World discussion list[55] serves as a network of
communication among practitioners of world history, with discussions among
scholars, announcements, syllabi, bibliographies and book reviews.