Kenneth L Campbell, PhD
PhD, University of Delaware
Office: Howard Hall, Room 343
Web site: Kenneth Campbell
Regularly Taught Courses:
Western Civilization in World Perspective I and II
History of the British Isles I and II
History of Ireland
Medieval Europe I and II
Power and Enlightenment: Europe 1648--1789
Philosophy of History
A specialist in English history, Professor Campbell is the author of Ireland's History: Prehistory to the Present (2014), Windows into Men's Souls: Religious Nonconformity in Tudor and Early Stuart England (2012), Western Civilization: A Global and Comparative Approach, Volume I: To 1715 and Volume II: Since 1600 (2012), and The Intellectual Struggle of the English Papists in the Seventeenth Century (1986). His two-volume anthology, Western Civilization in a Global Context (Volume I: Prehistory to the Enlightenment: Sources and Documents; Volume II: The Modern Age: Sources and Documents) will be available in March 2015. He has been invited to present scholarly papers at numerous academic conferences and was awarded the Monmouth University Distinguished Teacher Award in 1995. He is currently working on a history of the British Isles.
Western Civilization in a Global Context
is a source collection that introduces a comparative element to the study of Western civilization, offering students an opportunity to explore non-Western perspectives. An interesting and provocative set of readings are included, from a range of primary sources, including official documents, historical writings, literary sources, letters, speeches, interviews as well as visual sources. These different sources are carefully selected with a view to generating class discussion and to provide students with a sense of the different approaches historians might take to understanding the past.
Volume I covers prehistory to the Enlightenment, including sources that offer insight into the political, social, religious, cultural and intellectual history of this period. Topics covered include:
- The Rise of Rome
- Byzantine Civilization
- The Renaissance in Europe and China
- Religious Reformation
- European Expansion
- The Scientific Revolution
Volume II covers the modern period, from the Enlightenment to the 21st century, including sources that help gain insight into the political, social, religious, cultural and intellectual history of this period. Topics covered include:
- The American and French Revolutions
- The Age of Nationalism
- The New Imperialism
- Two World Wars and the Interwar Crisis
- The Cold War
To aid student engagement and understanding, the book begins with a guide to using primary sources, includes questions for discussion throughout and concludes with a glossary of key terms.
Western Civilization in a Global Context
is the ideal companion for students who want to explore the contribution of non-Western cultures, and gain a more thorough understand the complex history of the world as a result.
Praise for Ireland’s History: From Prehistory to the Present
"Campbell has produced a masterly synthesis of recent scholarship to present a balanced history of Ireland from pre-history to the present. His clear and vibrant writing style and nuanced interpretation of the past makes Ireland's History both a "good read" and essential to an understanding of Ireland today" - Thomas Callahan, Jr., Professor of History, Rider University
"At last, a book that treats the whole of Irish history comprehensively and concisely. Every important topic, from ancient megaliths to the Celtic Tiger, is thoroughly covered with reference to the latest scholarship. Ireland's History will be the core text of my Irish history classes from now on." - Jennifer Paxton, Clinical Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Praise for Western Civilization: A Global and Comparative Approach: Volume I: To 1715
"Kenneth Campbell, a professor of History at Monmouth University in New Jersey, has written an appealing, thoughtful, and much needed comparative history text, which would work well in any first-year college-level history course on Western Civilization. To fit 5,000 years of history into a scant 496 pages is an enormous (and perhaps impossible) task, yet Campbell convincingly succeeds in his synthesis, and he does so with elegance. The work is masterly and thought provoking, without lapsing into the encyclopedic blandness of many history textbooks." – Matthew Maher, Metropolitan State University Denver, from Teaching History
and WesternCivilization: A Global and Comparative Approach: Volume II: Since 1600.
"With a multitude of texts available, Kenneth Campbell offers a refreshing and new approach to his subject in Western Civilization: A Global and Comparative Approach. Campbell does not attempt to give the reader a laundry list of names, dates, and facts, but offers a narrative interpretation of what is both successful and what has failed in the past. The text guides the readers to where we are today, encouraging them to analyze past methodology while concurrently giving them the tools to informatively evaluate the collective "global future."
The book is a pleasure to read with a clear and concise single-voice narrative that avoids academic jargon and exhibits a consistent writing style. It does not limit its focus to politics and the military, but offers a broader, balanced examination with the inclusion of social, cultural, intellectual, economic, and religious history… The author does a solid job of laying ideas and building blocks in early chapters that are revisited later in the text, leading to a continuity of facts." – Toni Nicholas, Red Rocks Community College, from Teaching History
and for both volumes:
"This text holds particular appeal due to its excellent readability, context and coverage for today’s college history teacher. It stands out among the many textbook options for college instructors, and provides an excellent blend of social, political and cultural history with the historical context necessary to make the human story relevant." – Jane Scimeca, Brookdale Community College
Praise for Windows into Men’s Souls: ReligiousNonconformity in Tudor and Early Stuart England
"This is an excellent exploration of early modern English religious nonconformity, scholarly yet accessible. It would make a great addition to any undergraduate or graduate course." - Sharon Arnoult, Midwestern State University
This is a richly textured study of religious nonconformity and separatism in sixteenth and early seventeenth century England. The monograph explores the definition and development of religious identity as well as the contests over religious truth in England and internationally. Campbell analyzes early modern religious and political thought in the context of recent scholarly interpretation and debate in an engaging and accessible manner. His study will benefit early modern specialists as well as those new to the field. - Nicole Greenspan, Hampden-Sydney College