Education
He was educated at the California Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 1963) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (Mississippi in History and Economics, Doctor of Philosophy in History 1969).
He was educated at the California Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 1963) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (Mississippi in History and Economics, Doctor of Philosophy in History 1969).
He is also president of the World History Network, Incorporated., a nonprofit corporation fostering research in world history. A specialist in world history and African history, his current research addresses global historiography, early human history, migration in world history, the African diaspora, and the demography of African slavery. He was trained as a specialist in the economic history of Africa, and went on to explore demographic, social, and cultural patterns in Africa and the African diaspora.
Manning taught at Northeastern University, 1984–2006, where he directed the World History Center.
He served as Vice President of the Teaching Division of the American Historical Association, 2004-2006.