Original: In the 19th century , the idea appeared in universities that a definitive history could be written of a major region of the world for a great span of time  in a similar manner to the way that an encyclopediawas written.
Revised: In the 19th century , the idea appeared in universities that a definitive history could be written of a major region of the world for a great span of time - in a similar manner to the way that an encyclopediawas written.
Edit intent: fluency