Atlas of World History
- Book Review,
by Oxford University Press
From Publishers Weekly
This useful resource is also dangerously absorbing, allowing readers to pore over charts, maps and short articles on such subjects as the golden age of Athens, the 16th-century expansion of the Mughal Empire through India, the foreign policy of Mao Zedong and the break-up of the Soviet Union. This overview of human history, with 450 maps and 160 illustrations, begins with the emergence of Homo sapiens and culminates with the post-WWII era, moving among various regions of the globe in chronological order. It's divided into sections on ancient, medieval, early modern, Enlightenment and 20th century history, with easy-to-read two-page entries covering such subjects as "Barbarian Invasions of the Roman Empire, 100-500" and "The Development of Australia and New Zealand Since 1790." The section on postwar life includes charts showing migration patterns, female enfranchisement, distribution of wealth across the globe and changes in the environment. O'Brien, a professor at the London School of Economics, has done a fine job editing this concise edition, an excellent gift book for students of history. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-This well-designed atlas is divided into five parts: "The Ancient World," "The Medieval World," "The Early Modern World," "The Age of Revolutions," and "The Twentieth Century." More than 450 color maps illustrate major themes and events of history; some photographs are included. Within the separate sections, an effort has also been made to look at religion, economic welfare, trade, technology, health, and human rights. The extensive index is cross-referenced, and the four-page bibliography is organized by topic, then continent. This concise edition is exactly the same as the original publication (Oxford, 1999), minus the time charts and the encyclopedic entries for 600 significant events, people, and places. The index was not modified to reflect all these omissions. To accommodate this edition's smaller size, the font has been significantly reduced, making it difficult to read. Stick with the original.Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NYCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
O'Brien (global history, Univ. of London) headed the international scholars, editors, and cartographers, primarily from Great Britain and the United States, who have produced this handsome overview of world history, from the origins of humanity five million years ago to the present. The scope is truly international rather than reflecting the usual Eurocentric view. The progression of events, politics, and demographics is depicted in 450 easily interpreted color maps, with accompanying texts and illustrations. The atlas contains five topical subdivisions--"The Ancient World," "The Medieval World," "The Early Modern World," "The Age of Revolutions," and "The Twentieth Century"--with a final section featuring a multicultural time line; 600 encyclopedic entries for significant events, people, and places; a classified bibliography; and an extensive index--all fully cross-referenced. The Rand McNally Atlas of World History (1995) and the National Geographic Atlas of World History (1997) are less expensive but not as comprehensive. Recommended for all public and academic libraries.-Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Sys., Ft. Pierce, FL Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Covering events from approximately five million years ago to 1999, Atlas of World History is a serious competitor to the established Times Atlas of World History, which was last updated in 1994 [RBB My 15 94]. General editor O'Brien (Institute of Historical Research, University of London) claims in the foreword that "more than 20 years have passed since a major new atlas of this kind was published in the English language," referring no doubt to the first appearance of the Times Atlas. This statement is subject to debate in light of the 1998 publication of Sharpe's Complete Atlas of World History [RBB Ap 1 98], though at three volumes the Sharpe atlas can hardly be considered a handy source. Still, general historical atlases are few and far between, and the Oxford Atlas represents a welcome addition to this sparse field.Originally published in Great Britain earlier last year as Philip's Atlas of World History (to which it is still referred in the foreword), Atlas of World History has editors and contributors primarily based in educational institutions in the United Kingdom. The volume is divided into five main chronological sections, from "The Ancient World" to "The Twentieth Century." Each of these sections contains numerous two-page spreads featuring maps and accompanying essays. Following the maps are a 24-page "Timechart," a 32-page section called "Events, People and Places" that features brief entries on major subjects within the maps, a 24-page index, and a 4-page bibliography. With just over 440 maps, the Oxford atlas contains fewer maps than Times (at 600) though offsets this with lucid essays that are often longer than similar essays in Times. On the other hand, maps in Times tend to be larger.Among other differences, Times generally features more colorful maps replete with arrows virtually everywhere indicating social, political, and cultural movements. Oxford maps are a bit more traditional in nature, and although similar movement is certainly shown, it tends not to be depicted as often or with as much dramatic flair. Whether one atlas is "better" than the other is more a matter of personal choice.One area where Oxford definitively beats Times is in indexing. Oxford's concluding "Events, People and Places" appendix lists page numbers that link topics and maps, something sorely lacking in Times' similar "Glossary." A user trying to find maps depicting the movement of Christianity in Times will be frustrated; although Christianity is defined in its glossary, there are no map references, and the term isn't even listed in its index. In Oxford, the reader is treated to a brief definition with a listing of seven separate references and an even more detailed breakdown in the index. Oxford is also more up-to-date and includes a map showing the breakup of the Soviet Union, an omission RBB noted in the most recent Times.Because no single work can show all the maps needed by a patron for a given time period, public, high-school, and academic libraries can never have enough historical atlases. At a price lower than Times, Oxford's Atlas of World History is a well-written, well-illustrated work that has successfully doubled the number of "must have" general historical atlases that most libraries should own.
Nicholas Basbanes, The Orlando Sentinel, November 28, 1999
A whopper of a book with superb essays and outstanding graphics, organized on a global scale, and including more than 400 maps. The scope-from the origins of humanity to the year 2000-is equally ambitious.
Book Description
A major new work of reference, Atlas of World History charts the course of human progress around the globe, from prehistory to the present, in hundreds of full-color maps. Much like our earlier Atlas of Exploration, this attractive, large-format volume features 135 two-page spreads that highlight key moments in world history, each spread blending colorful maps and illustrations with authoritative text. For instance, for the American Revolution, readers will find three maps--British North America before the War, the Colonial economy (indicating which areas specialized in fishing, timber, tobacco, and so forth), and military movements during the War itself--plus an informative discussion of the causes and course of the Rebellion. The Atlas is divided into five sections: 1. The Ancient World (with spreads on topics such as the move from hunting to farming, the first civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, the Silk Road, and the Roman Empire); 2. The Medieval World (the spread of Islam, the Vikings, the Economy of Europe, and the Inca and Aztec Empires); 3. The Early Modern World (the European discovery of the New World, the Reformation, the growth of science); 4. The Age of Revolutions (including the Industrial Revolution, the American Civil War, and the Modernization of Japan); and 5. The Twentieth Century (the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the USA Since 1945). Including a 22-page time chart, a 20-page gazetteer of historical events, people, and places, a 20-page index, and a helpful bibliography, here is an informative blend of maps by world-renowned cartographers and text by expert academic consultants that graphically captures the flow of civilizations through time.
Book Info
Traces 12,000 years of history with 450 full color maps and over 200,000 words of text. In addition, more than 200 illustrations and tables complement the fascinating chronological narrative written by dozens premiere scholars.
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