The scope of the global history of science: an essay on James Poskett’s Horizons

This historiographic review poses a reflection on the exciting field of the global history of science, and its methods and theory. We use the reading of Horizons: a global history of science, by James Poskett, as an exercise to ponder the scope and limitations of this historiographic approach. The analysis focuses on the concepts of otherness, globality, and circulation, three major transversal and interrelated themes treated in the book. These issues come to light through the author’s narrative analysis, and we consider that any writing about global history should deeply reflect upon such themes.