Review (PDF) National Geographic Concise History Of The World: An Illustrated Time Line
From the dawn of humankind to today's global complexities, this monumental volume presents world history from an original perspective that provides fresh insights with every colorful spread. Few references are as invaluable, all-inclusive, and satisfying to browse. For readers of all ages, world history is easily accessible, depicted as never before—so that events occurring simultaneously around the world can be viewed at-a-glance together. For example, Texas Instruments launched the pocket calculator the same year the Soviet Union launched the first manned space station, in 1971. Columbus sailed from Spain the year Martin Behaim constructed a terrestrial globe in Nuremberg. The California Gold Rush followed the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, and the Greek dictatorship of Papadopoulos is overthrown the same year Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is deposed and U.S. president Nixon resigns, in 1974. The book's innovative time line truly sets it apart, allowing readers to scan across a spread and explore a single area or compare contemporary societies across the globe. This remarkable resource also contains dozens of maps; scores of sidebars; hundreds of illustrations; and thousands of events, milestones, personalities, ideas, and inventions. Throughout, vivid illustrations depict artworks, artifacts, portraits and dramatic scenes, while sidebar topics range from local customs and lifestyles to the effect of climate change on human migration. Drawing on National Geographic's vast resources, this concise yet comprehensive, one-of-a-kind work is as rewarding as it is compulsively readable.
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: National Geographic; Revised edition (September 3, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426211783
ISBN-13: 978-1426211782
Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.2 x 11.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #122,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #96 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > History #107 in Books > History > Historical Study & Educational Resources > Reference #4091 in Books > History > World
Both public libraries and high school to college-level collections will find much to appreciate in National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line. Its organization is geared to show historical connections between continents, cultures and nations over the centuries, and allows readers to draw important connections between events around the world. There are other books of timeline history on the market today; but National Geographic uses a stunning combination of art, timeline charts and written history to great effect, here.Diane C. DonovanCalifornia Bookwatch
It delivers, for the most part, on what it promises -- a concise, timeline-oriented "history of the world." I'm biased a bit against most run-of-the-mill History books such as this from Nat Geo. So, read my review with this in mind.Most historians these days are still reacting against a perceived Western bias in histories up until (relatively) recent times. This book from Nat Geo falls into the same category.The only essay, or mini essay, I saw about Greek culture was a sidebar about Democracy -- that it's not really a Greek invention, but an older idea from hunter-gatherer times that the Greeks simply reintroduced. Don't forget, the sidebar tells us, that women, slaves, etc. had no votes -- prodding the reader to give even less credit to the Athenians. There should have been much more about the critical contributions of the Greeks to the world -- astronomy, medicine, music, philosophy, literature, etc.Ancient Rome did get a full essay page, but it was only about Pompeii, which while certainly an interesting topic, is best served by being on the timeline or at best a sidebar. That's like a future book of World History with the only essay about America being about Albuquerque, NM.We did, however, get a full essay in the book about the scientific contributions of Islam, complete with a stirring description of "the word of Allah" as being a text with beauty that no Western translation could possibly match.We also find a full essay on the great extent of Mayan civilization and writing, finishing with a bit explaining that the insanely large amounts of human sacrifice done by Mayans was simply because their gods created the human race with their own blood.I wonder if their wives, slaves and landless masses got to vote?I have a gripe with modern historians in general and I've taken it out on this book. They've done an admirable job here. They chose their focal points, the essays, horribly.
This is an excellent source for obtaining a quick, clear, and coherent context for an event or a period. For example, if you want to know what the rest of the world was doing when the Conquistadors sailed onto the shores of South America, this book is the best first step in your research. The entries are concise and the layout is attractive.
I wasn't quite ready for the book's layout- it's written using timeline, column and rows with an occasional break to preface or highlight an era using paragraphs etc. This isn't historical fiction but then how could it be? There's far too much imformation for that- it is after all a history of the world! Once I got the hang of the layout I beggan to enjoy it reading it bit by bit. Probably best used to focus in on a particular time or culture- when backgound info is needed. This NG book will add to anyone's library- pick it up.
Absolutely love this book. I originally checked it out of the local library and decided I needed a copy of my own. I love the way the book is presented with timelines and historical snippets. Very well done.
Very explicit and easy to follow. Great for referencing your travels and world history.
I was using this as a guideline for timelines, and I started noticing discrepancies in the dates. When I checked them against other reliable sources, I found several dates/years that were incorrect. Too bad, because otherwise this is such a useful reference tool--well organized, comprehensive, and easy to use.
Great resource. A little pricey but it has served its purpose in our homeschool. We use it weekly to help us find important dates to add to our time line. Great for middle school age and up.
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