Craig Benjamin

Craig Benjamin is a Professor of History Emeritus at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, where he taught big history and ancient world history.  Craig is the author of several books and numerous chapters and articles on world history.

Craig has recorded three courses for the Great Courses company – Foundations of Eastern Civilization, Big History of Civilization, and the Mongol Empire.  He served for many years as a member and Chair of the College Board’s Advanced Placement and SAT World History exam committees.  He is a Past-President of the World History Association (2014/15) and served as an executive officer on the Board of the International Big History Association from 2011 to 2018, and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Bill Gates One World History Project until 2020. Craig has more than 12 years’ experience as Destination Speaker on luxury cruise ships all over the world, including for the Smithsonian Institute. 

Craig has considerable expertise in the history and culture of Indonesia. He has undertaken several research trips to Komodo and nearby islands in the Komodo National Park, explored the great Buddhist temple of Borobudur in the Kedu Plain of Java, the heartland of the powerful Sailendra dynasty, and traveled extensively through various other regions of the country.  Several of his books explore the role Indonesia has played in transregional trade over many centuries.  Before becoming a historian, Craig was a professional jazz musician in his native Australia for 25 years.  Craig has also been an adventurer for much of his life and has trekked and climbed in most of the great mountain ranges on the planet.  

 

Language spoken : English