Product Description

This authoritative reference book brings world history to life, from early humans to the current war on terror. Along the way, it reveals riveting facts on the founding of the great Roman Empire, the revolution that changed France forever, the war between the North and South that unified America, the start of World War I and the Great Depression that followed, the first moon landing, and the end of apartheid in South Africa.

The encyclopedia is organized chronologically and then thematically within each time period. A timeline runs across the top of each page. Each section includes biographies of important people and features on art, architecture, and technology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #183762 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-09
• Released on: 2004-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 491 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-A broad, illustrated look at the history of humanity. The book is divided into 10 sections, each representing a different time period from 40,000 B.C.E. to the present. All of them begin with a "Glance" at the world for the given dates. Following these brief overviews, double and single-page spreads subdivide the eras into smaller time segments covering topics such as "The Gupta Dynasty A.D. 321-510," "East India Companies 1600-1700," and "Benin and Zimbabwe 1100-1480." The spreads contain a few bite-sized paragraphs of facts, informative captions, and, often, an inset of "Key Dates." They are profusely illustrated with quality black-and-white and full-color photographs, drawings, reproductions, and maps, and feature a helpful time line running across the tops of the pages. Information on art, architecture, and science and technology concludes each section. "Ready Reference" lists the names and dates of the rulers of the major powers throughout history, popes, and major wars. The 12-page index covers the textual material but does not always offer access to captioned information. Although the book will answer some reference questions, its strength lies in its potential to spark interest in any number of subjects among browsers.
Priscilla Bennett, State University of West Georgia, Carrollton
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Designed to help students ages 8-14 with homework or a school project, this revised and updated book is also an interesting and enjoyable resource to browse. Organized chronologically and then thematically, the encyclopedia divides history into 10 time periods, from "The Ancient World 40,000-500 B.C." to "The Modern World 1950-Present Day." This last section concludes with the "War on Terror" and has information current to 2003.

Each section begins with a two-page spread showing "The World at a Glance," a map, and brief text highlighting events that were occurring on each continent during the period. This is followed by approximately 20 one- or two-page topical entries. Non-Western cultures are represented. For example, "The Renaissance" includes entries on the Aztecs, Safavid Persia, Japan and China, and the Songhay Empire. In addition to text, entries have boxes showing key dates, a running time line at the top of each page, maps, and numerous illustrations, almost all of them in color. Each large chronological section concludes with a series of pages that give overviews of the arts, architecture, and science and technology. A highly useful ready-reference section at the end of the volume provides the names and dates of a variety of rulers (for example, Roman emperors, popes, kings and queens, presidents, prime ministers) and ancient Egyptian and Chinese dynasties. A list of major wars and a brief listing of Web sites are also provided.

Students will find this tool useful and engaging, and adults will enjoy browsing through it as well. School and public libraries will want to purchase this update and circulate older editions. Shauna Yusko
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
Publishers Weekly
High-quality photographs depict subjects as diverse as China's Great Wall and Mayan stone carvings from the Yucat n Peninsula; these, along with maps and illustrations complement the meaty text. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.  Children's Literature
With 3,500 indexed references and 2,000 full-color illustrations The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia is a good school or home purchase and a great gift for students and anyone with a thirst for knowledge.

Customer Reviews

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
We're using this for our 5th grade History studies and the level of the test is well suited to the 10-11 year old capacity for detail. I like how each time period is started with a 2page spread of a world map and a general summery of what was going on everywhere. THe time line that runs across the top of the book is aso a helpful item.
We are homeschoolers, using this as a base textbook but could see it as helpful for any young student trying to pull together all the diffrent ideas and events from arroung the world that they have heard about up untill now.

Great
I love this book. I am a homeschool mom who is using this for a history spine for our world history studies. This book is packed full of information with colorful photos. Each topic has two page spread. Timelines are made very easily with this book.

disappointment
Do not...I repeat do not waste your money on this book. The information in it is so sparse, it's hardly worth opening the pages.