Transnational history

Transnational history is an approach in historiography that places emphasis on historical phenomena that are not shaped by nation states such as the movement of people or ideas. According to the historian Akira Iriye, "transnational history may be defined as the study of movements and forces that have cut across national boundaries" in a variety of contexts. Originating in American studies, the term has been applied by historians who seek to avoid taking national history as the "natural" frame for historical analysis but instead look at the past without the framing of the nation state. The redirection of historical studies can be seen as a reaction to the fact that the field of history was founded in the 19th century, when nationalist movements were rising in Europe. The concept has some similarities to global or world history.