The origins of the human race, and its development over thousands of years, presents an enthralling story. But much more than this, it also enables us to understand who we are and gives us clues to our future as we embark on a new era of history. World history encompasses an eclectic mix of scintillating achievement and catastrophic failure; it can be interpreted both as a celebration and a warning.
This book investigates the most important events and contexts that inform humanity's collective legacy. Seven thematic chapters cover the main areas of human interest and development - including war, politics, science, religion and exploration - putting each event into the framework of its contemporary affairs.
Within these chapters, each spread offers a chronological progression of events such as the rise and abolition of slavery or the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution; a series of thematic threads allow the reader to identify and trace entries of particular interest, and Triumphs & Tragedies features emphasise incidents that had an especially significant impact both at the time and in shaping the future, from the invention of the wheel to the first space-walk.
This comprehensive and authoritative guide offers an essential understanding of the world in which we live today, and vividly relates the story of the endlessly fascinating journey through our past.
