Concise Atlas of World History FROM THE PUBLISHER
Published on the eve of the third millennium, this is the first major new history atlas produced in the English language for more than 20 years. Its timing is no coincidence, for never has a truly international history been more needed. As the gathering pace of "globalization" demands a greater awareness of "whole world" history than ever before, a wealth of courses in world history are being taught in schools and colleges across the English-speaking world. And an explosion of new research on history beyond the Western world has left existing history atlases and reference books increasingly out of date.
Oxford's Atlas of World History is the result of more than three years' intensive work by a specialized team of scholars, editors, and cartographers. It presents the story of humanity in its physical setting, from the evolution of Homo sapiens through the last year of the 20th century. Truly international in its approach, the atlas incorporates the latest research on Asian, African, and Latin American history, as well as the traditional core of European and North American events.
The atlas is divided into six parts. The first five deal with the eras studied by world historians today: The Ancient World, The Medieval World, The Early Modern World, The Age of Revolutions, and The Twentieth Century. Each part opens with an introduction highlighting the main themes of the period, followed by individual spreads covering specific regions and events with maps, text, illustrations, and captions.
The sixth and final part is a reference section containing a wealth of additional information. The Timecharts list events by region from pre-history to the present day, and the gazetteer of Events, People, and Places provides more than 600 concise encyclopedic entries. A comprehensive index of more than 8,000 entries includes numerous alternative name forms used over the centuries. The atlas closes with a Bibliography that provides a book list for suggested further reading.
The atlas contains some 450 specially created color maps illustrating the major themes and events of world history, 100 photographs, 60 diagrams, and 200,000 words of explanatory text. Uniquely for such an atlas, the entire work is thoroughly cross-referenced, allowing the reader to move backwards and forwards in time or across the world from region to region, following themes or lines of inquiry both in the maps and the gazetteer.
SYNOPSIS
Featuring 135 two-page spreads that highlight key moments in world history, this major new history atlas includes a skillful blend of maps, text, and illustrations to explain major events—from the origins of civilization to the dawn of the third millennium. Unique for its multicultural approach, the atlas draws on the latest research into Asian, African, and South American history and incorporates the expertise of specialist experts to examine specific eras—from the ancient world to the 20th century. Among the topics addressed are early civilizations, the Silk Road, and classical history; Islam, the Vikings, and the Incan and Aztec empires; the Age of Exploration, the Reformation, and the scientific revolution; the Age of Revolutions; and the Great Depression, the Second World War, and America after 1945. 9 3/4" x 13".
FROM THE CRITICS
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. (Nov.) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
A synopsis of the world's political, social, and economic history, this title contains 450 color maps, as well as some other photographs and illustrations. Each of the five major chapters-"Ancient World," "Medieval World," "Early Modern World," "Age of Revolutions," and "Twentieth Century"-begins with a general introduction, followed by two-page segments summarizing different geographic regions and major trends or events. The book ends with an extensive index and a bibliography. The maps illustrate battles, conquests and exploration, trade, agriculture and industry, political boundaries, conflicts and colonies, urbanization and migration, and the spread of languages and religions. Given its tremendous scope, the text functions primarily as an overview, with the maps providing the real value. Therefore, it is puzzling that maps are not listed; a subject classification of maps would have greatly enhanced the book's usability. Despite the air of objectivity, certain omissions are noteworthy, e.g., in the segment on Latin America since 1945, the Cuban Revolution is relegated to an image caption, and mention of Colombia is curiously missing in the map on U.S. intervention in the region. Likewise, U.S. political intervention to further its economic objectives in the Middle East is altogether omitted, while the "War on Terrorism" and the events of 9/11 receive marked attention. Suitable for high schools, this may be too simplistic for students on the university level.-Anna Youssefi, Rice Univ. Lib., Houston, TX Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 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, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Booknews
This reference presents the story of humanity as it evolved in its physical setting. From the first homo sapiens to the present, it presents the latest research into Asian, African, South and North American and European history. Each section deals with a particular era (the ancient, medieval, and early modern worlds; the age of revolutions; and the 20th century) and begins an introduction pointing out the main themes of the period, followed by coverage of the specific regions and events with maps, text, illustrations, and captions. Contains cross-references, and about 600 illustrations (color maps, photographs, and diagrams). Oversize: 9x11.5. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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