Great Leaps Forward: Modernizers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America

by Cyrus Veeser

Part of the Key Themes in World History series, this book presents students and general readers with a brief, accessible, but scholarly overview of the nationalist movements that sought to transform less-developed societies in response to the rapid rise of the West after 1820.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Monica Bond-Lamberty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty engaging read with enough information so I am somewhat knowledgable, but not too much so that I am left with an interest that can be pursued via the bibliography provided in the areas that interested me the most (probably Menelik). The final chapter while a nice comparison, tried to sum up a lot of historiography with not enough to explain to the uninitiated or why certain theories might have fallen out of favor (not sure all would agree).

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school.

[Rebecca Kuhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise explorations of four of modern World History's modern reformers. I knew some info from teaching AP World History, but much of the story was filled in for me. I will teach Diaz, Ataturk, Sun Yatsen, and Menelik better next year because of this gem.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

About how Mexico, Ethiopia, China, and Turkey went about attempting Western modernization. Overall, interesting and an easy read.