二十世纪前半期，中国的世界史的编纂，大致经历了三个时期：（一）二十世纪最初二十年，是世界史著述的萌芽与草创时期；（二）二十世纪二、三十年代，世界史著述进入发展时期。（三）二十世纪四十年代，是世界史著述继续发展时期。 二十世纪前半期，世界史编纂发展过程中，先后出现三种形式：翻译、编译和著述。世界史编纂大多采用章节体，但是表现形式多样，具体有图表、表解、讲话、大事年表、问答、大事记等。在世界史编纂的历史观念上，出现了进化史观、唯物史观、文化形态史观、革命史观、民生史观等多种历史观念。在世界史编纂的历史分期上，呈现多元化趋向，主要有三分法、四分法、五分法等具体历史分期方法。 二十世纪前半期中国的世界史著述，为世界史学科的建立，奠定了基础。同时，还出现了一些优秀的学术成果，为以后的世界史研究起到了拓荒性作用。世界史编纂也存在着诸多缺陷与不足，如受“西欧中心论”的影响，世界史编纂在结构上的不平衡，编译多于撰述，译介多于研究，优秀的著作偏少。 总之，二十世纪上半期中国的世界史著述，在发展过程中，呈现出一些复杂的特点。取得了不小的成就，同时也存在很多不足。

The first half of the 20th century, the compilation of world history in China, had gone through three important development stages: (a) the first 20 years of the twentieth century is the history of the world the seeds and putting them writing; (b) of the twentieth century, II, III ten generations into the development stage of world history writing. (C) of the twentieth century, 40's, continue to develop during the writing of world history. First half of the twentieth century, first half of the deepening of the History of the World, from the beginning stage, the gradually developing in depth, has appeared in three forms: translation, compilation and writing. In the genre, the world most used sections of the History of body, but there are many forms of specific charts, form solutions, speech, event chronology, questions and answers, memorabilia, etc.. In compiling the history of the concept of world history, including the evolutionary history viewpoint , the historical materialism viewpoint, the cultural morphology historical viewpoint,the revolution historical viewpoint, the concept of people's livelihood historical viewpoint and so on. In compiling the history of staging world history, the present trend of diversification, mainly three stages, four stages, five stages specific approach historical staging etc. The first half of the twentieth century world of the History of China, on the establishment of World History science, laid the foundation. The same time, there have been some excellent academic results, for future study of world history has played a pioneering role. Compilation of World History there are many defects and shortcomings, by "Western Europe-oriented theory" effect, the world of the History of the imbalance in the structure, compilation more than to writing, translated more than research, too few good books. In short, half of the twentieth century world history writing in China, in the development process, showing a number of complex features. Made some achievement, but there are many deficiencies.