Gain a crucial understanding of how history itself was conceptualized as a goal-directed process. This scholarly exploration delves into historical teleologies, examining their pervasive influence on philosophy, political thought, colonialism, and the shaping of modernity across Europe and beyond. By integrating diverse Western and non-Western histories, it challenges singular narratives of progress and revises our grasp of global intellectual history and historicity. Essential for students and researchers focused on modern history, it offers vital perspectives for understanding the modern world.