These days, it’s chiefly nonhistorians like Jared Diamond and Tim Flannery who seek to trace the long arc of the species and write macrohistory in a scientific key.

On the petition of the scholars of the grammar school of Cupar, on 6th August 1678, for a vacance, in order that they may 'recreate' themselves, and visit their friends, the council allow them a holiday till 23d September next.

Here we came into the part of Syria, which was the ancient Phœnicia, a country always remarkable for its commerce, the inhabitants of which went out in many colonies, and peopled Carthage, Sicily, and ſeveral other countries.

If you could just put yourself in his shoes for a moment, perhaps you would understand why it is not as easy as you seem to think.