History of the World
This updated version of a 1994 title follows the typical DK graphic-intense format: full-color photographs, illustrations, maps, drawings, and reproductions spill across pages, curling around brief text entries. Every page is splashed with numerous pictorial presentations of artifacts, individuals, and events deemed representative of historic periods, civilizations, and cultures. Coverage begins in the Cambrian era, 570 million years ago, and is current through 2004. The volume divides history into 20 chronological chapters, beginning with "Early People" and moving through such sections as "Traders and Warriors," "Monks and Invaders," "Commerce and Colonies," "The World Goes to War," and, finally, "One World." Each chapter begins with a two-page spread of a map of the world that provides a quick visual summary of major developments. The next two pages feature time lines of specific events, sorted into five geographic areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Subsequent pages discuss these events in more detail, adding background images representing aspects of daily life: decorative arts, cultural and religious artifacts, portraits of influential people, and so on. Detailed captions effectively relate these illustrations to the text. A final section, "Reference Pages," offers several summaries of various aspects of human development: time lines of empires, inventions, diseases, disasters, and medical advances; lists of U.S. presidents, Russian and Soviet leaders, and international organizations; charts of city population growth and religious affiliation; and maps of population density, political assassinations, and drinking and driving age requirements. A four-page chronology of the British Isles is followed by a glossary and detailed index. Intended for general audiences, the text and maps use modern or commonly known country names and terms, English versions of proper names, and U.S. measures. Although perhaps not a first-priority purchase for the reference collection, this visually enticing compilation will prove irresistible to browsers and offers a wealth of support material to student researchers. The first edition was extremely popular. Public- and secondary-school collections will probably want to update and might want to consider circulating copies as well.Kathleen McBroomCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved