This lecture discusses the evolution of world history as a field of study. Initially absent from elite universities, it arose from a demand for diverse curricula in K-12 education. The initial Eurocentric approach was challenged, leading to a "provincializing" of Europe and the US in textbooks. The lecture critiques the resulting narratives, highlighting their compromises and the power of textbook publishers. It proposes a three-level approach: a textbook narrative, critical lectures deconstructing it, and thematic section discussions. The speaker questions traditional starting points for history (e.g., the Neolithic Revolution) and emphasizes common denominators across cultures, such as environment/technology and diversity/dominance. The lecture concludes by suggesting that world history, while currently a US peculiarity, may become a globally influential field.