The Times Complete History of the World
- 416 pages
- 15 hours of reading
One of the great works of historical reference - Niall Ferguson. Comprehensive and utterly accessible - Jon Snow.






One of the great works of historical reference - Niall Ferguson. Comprehensive and utterly accessible - Jon Snow.
Originally published in 1982, this atlas of world history - like its parent volume, 'The Times' Atlas of World History - combines original maps with text, and offers a comprehensive view of the story of humanity. From the emergence of the first hominids five million years ago to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the full sweep of human history is covered. This atlas makes a companion for anyone who seeks to understand the past, and is useful as a reference for all who study and enjoy history.
"The history of the world is replete with conflict, change, revolution and innovation. Yet, there are points in history at which we can draw close parallels between our past and present. Our history shapes the way we live today, even as we might strive to break away from the bounds of the past." "With a narrative scope beginning with human origins around 5 million years ago, and ending with global communications and the economy and environment in the modern age, The Times History of the World is a superb accomplishment. The body of the text is a chronological sweep across the history of the world, split geographically and thematically." "In addition, historian Richard Overy gives us his opinions in an exclusive extended article which enables him to freely explore the lessons the world has learnt from history, as well as the ways in which the world is constantly changing. He shows how the world has in a sense, become smaller, as communications and technology become more and more prevalent, but how wars and conflicts, poverty and religion, can still drive us apart. Concluding with thoughts on what will be the dominant factors driving the world in the future, Richard Overy gives us a rare opportunity to consider world history in one magnificent sweep."--Jacket.
"Professor Barraclough treats the medieval papacy as an historical phenomenon developing and changing in response to changing historical circumstances. Contents: Foreword; The Medieval Papacy; I Beginnings; II The Rise of the Medieval Papacy; III The Age of Reform; IV The Papal Monarchy; V The Papacy at the Dawn of a New Age; Bibliographical Notes; List of Illustrations; Index.
Prehistory to the Renaissance - This edition produced exclusively for WHSMITH
Traces the history of humanity up to the sixteenth century and examines the contributions of Western and Eastern civilizations
Provides accounts of the civilizations of Asia, Africa, and the Americans. Contains 320 maps with accompanying text.
"No one is likely to underrate the importance for the rest of Europe--and, indeed, for world history--of the German reaction, beginning in the days of Bismarck, to the crisis of modern industrial capitalism," writes Professor Barraclough, "but the peculiar character of that reaction is only comprehensible in the light of Germany's past. Factors deeply rooted in German history . . . constituted an iron framework, a mold within which were cast all German efforts, from 1870 to 1939, to cope with the problems of modern capitalist society."
The literature of European Unity is large and unwieldy and the conflict of views about European integration has grown, rather than diminished,since the rejection of the British application for membership of E.E.C. Geoffrey Barraclough here surveys the question simply and dispassionately as a continuing problem of European history.