This article examines a sample of comparative-historical literature to assess when convincing generalizations are made and when they are not. Although a variety of factors can affect the potential for generalization, the focus here is on the difference between diachronic and synchronic generalizations. Separate sections are devoted to synchronic-idiographic, synchronic-nomothetic, diachronic-idiographic, and diachronic-nomothetic analysis and research. Evidence is presented to demonstrate that synchronic generalizations are common in comparative history. The most attention in the article is, however, given to the challenges faced when generalizing diachronically and especially when generalizing sequentially. The article ends with a discussion of the effects of inter-societal forces on comparative-historical generalization and with a conclusion outlining when comparative-historical generalizations seem to be more or less successful.

本文研究了比较历史文献样本，以评估何时进行令人信服的概括，以及何时不进行概括。尽管各种因素都可能影响泛化的可能性，但这里的重点是历时泛化和同步泛化之间的差异。单独的部分专门用于共时性，共时性，历时性和历时性分析和研究。证据表明共时概括在比较历史中很常见。但是，本文中最受关注的是历时概括，尤其是顺序概括时所面临的挑战。