Craig Benjamin is a professor of history emeritus at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, where he taught big history and ancient world history. He is the author of many chapters and articles as well as numerous books, including The First Silk Roads Era, 100 BCE – 250 CE; Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past; and The Battle for Inner Asia: Contesting Control of the Silk Roads c. 400-1000. Craig has also recorded three courses for The Great Courses: Foundations of Eastern Civilization, Big History of Civilization, and The Mongol Empire. 

For many years, Craig served as 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 was an executive officer on the board of the International Big History Association from 2011 to 2018. He was also a member of the advisory board for the Bill Gates One World History Project until 2020.

Before becoming a historian, Craig was a professional jazz musician in his native Australia for 25 years.  An adventurer for much of his life, he has trekked and climbed in most of the great mountain ranges on the planet.