This introductory chapter presents the underlying rationale for the study of the history of International Business as an academic field of study which motivated us to write this book. It refers to benefits gained via the observation of long-term dynamics contextualized in time that a historical study offers. It also discusses the benefits of comparisons across time and the ability to observe cumulative, path-dependent dynamics and establish causal inferences among them enabled via historical analysis. The chapter then proceeds to describe international business as a field of study, referring to the three dimensions of fields of study, namely knowledge (theory), teaching, and institutions. It concludes by briefly presenting the contents of the book in chronicling and analyzing the history of international business thought, teaching, and institutions.