History of the World

Fülszöveg

From the evolution of Homo sapiens to the exploration of space, the vast landscape of human history appears in J.M. Roberts's deftly written and evocatively illustrated History of the World, an outstanding one-volume survey of the major events, developments, and personalities of the known past.
In a truly remarkable work of compression and synthesis, Roberts explores thousands of years of history, weaving the stories of empires, arts, religion, economics, and science into his lucid narrative. Beginning with the early hominids, he swiftly and authoritatively brings the story up through the emergence of Mesopotamian civilizations and ancient Egypt. Here, too, is comprehensive coverage of the Indian and Chinese civilizations ("For two and a half thousand years," he points out, "there has been a Chinese nation using a Chinese language"), as well as developments in Africa and South America. Aided by photographs of key archaeological finds (such as monumental Egyptian statues, Peruvian... Tovább

Fülszöveg

From the evolution of Homo sapiens to the exploration of space, the vast landscape of human history appears in J.M. Roberts's deftly written and evocatively illustrated History of the World, an outstanding one-volume survey of the major events, developments, and personalities of the known past.
In a truly remarkable work of compression and synthesis, Roberts explores thousands of years of history, weaving the stories of empires, arts, religion, economics, and science into his lucid narrative. Beginning with the early hominids, he swiftly and authoritatively brings the story up through the emergence of Mesopotamian civilizations and ancient Egypt. Here, too, is comprehensive coverage of the Indian and Chinese civilizations ("For two and a half thousand years," he points out, "there has been a Chinese nation using a Chinese language"), as well as developments in Africa and South America. Aided by photographs of key archaeological finds (such as monumental Egyptian statues, Peruvian medallions, and Celtic jewelry), Roberts clearly explains early arts, engineering, and religion. He also carefully ties in changing economics—evolving trade routes, developments in agriculture and manufacturing— making clear their importance for the history of politics and changing societies. The story leaps ahead, through the Roman Empire, the explosive arrival of Islam, the rise and fall of samurai rule in Japan, the medieval kingdoms of sub-Saharan Africa, the Mongol conquests, and the early modern European outflow across the globe. American independence, the French Revolution, the colonial empires, Japan's startling modernization, and the World Wars follow in turn, accompanied by discussions of scientific and technical breakthroughs.
With informative maps, photographs, and reproductions of important artwork
(some in full color), Roberts clearly explains the impact of key individuals and the major influences on history the world over, down to the era of an integrated global economy and the fall of the U.S.S.R. Vividly written and beautifully illustrated. History ofthe World oiitis the finest, most readable one-volume survey available today.
About the Author
J.M. Roberts is Warden at Merton College, Oxford University. He is General Editor of The Short Oxford History of the Modern World and The New Oxford History of England, and author of many other books. Vissza