Eastern Asia and Classical Greece (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 2) [Hardcover]

J. M. Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2002

The Illustrated History of the World is a lavishly illustrated edition of J. M. Roberts's bestselling History of the World. Now completely revised and updated, each volume of this comprehensive reference work traces the tumultuous story of humankind from prehistory to the end of the 20th century. The rise and fall of civilizations; the impact of powerful individuals on world events; the interplay of state and religion; the social and economic factors that influence societies--these are some of the themes of this masterful, sweeping narrative. Over 2,000 photographs in color and black-and-white present a unique visual panoply of the march of history. In addition, more than 200 maps and artworks in full color underscore important events. Fully integrated sidebars and feature boxes narrow in on key themes, providing an additional layer of interest. Each volume also contains a double-page, illustrated chronology of major events, plus a bibliography and detailed index. Authoritative, brilliantly written, and superbly illustrated, this outstanding and popular work of scholarship makes the whole sweep of history vivid and accessible as never before.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195215206
• ISBN-13: 978-0195215205
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,357,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-Written and Beautifully Illustrated Introduction, January 27, 2002

By 

F. Orion Pozo "Orion Pozo" (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eastern Asia and Classical Greece (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 2) (Hardcover)

This is volume two of a ten volume series called The Illustrated History of the World. The first volume covered the origins of the human race through the first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. This second volume in the series is in two parts. The first part reviews the early cultures of India and China and the second part moves on to discuss Greek civilization. Each part stands alone being a section of the ten-volume work, and are included together just to make up a book-length unit.

The book is filled with beautiful color illustrations. Every page has at least one and most are photographs of artifacts, art works, or scenes. The text is well written and emphasizes broad summaries rather than scholarly examination. This makes it a good basic introduction and outline, but may be less useful to someone who wants to look at these subjects in greater depth. The lack of any bibliography of further readings is also a drawback for those wanting to seek more information. A two-page time chart of the period helps to put events in perspective. The chapter contents are confusingly placed at the end of the book, but they are well done and helpful for getting an overview of the author's approach. A two page listing of all the books in the series with their section and chapter titles helps to put the material into the broader view of all world history.

The type face is large and the lines are amply spaced. Couple this with the copious illustrations and the book is actually a very quick read for its size and length. It is a few steps above the approach of Dorling Kindersley books that are predominately illustrations with supporting text. With Roberts, the text is the major part, but the illustrations are definitely more than an after thought. This is a good introduction for the general reader. It is not going to be a lasting reference book that you will turn to again and again. Read it once and move on.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice addition to a wonderful series, April 26, 2003

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eastern Asia and Classical Greece (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 2) (Hardcover)

This book is the second volume in the wonderful Illustrated History of the World Series. This one quickly covers the ancient world up to the rise of the Persian Empire. After that, the book launches into a wonderful, in-depth look at ancient Greece from earliest history to the Hellenic Empire. Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful maps and pictures, and interesting sidebars.

This book is very good, and a nice addition to a wonderful series. I found the book to be very informative and quite interesting. Overall, I liked the book, and highly recommend it as an introduction to Classical Greece.