The Essential World History, Volume II [Paperback]

William J. Duiker (Author), Jackson J. Spielvogel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0495902926 | ISBN-13: 978-0495902928 | Publication Date: February 19, 2010 | Edition: 6

Explore common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and identify key global patterns over time with THE ESSENTIAL WORLD HISTORY, 6e. This brief overview of world history covers political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history integrated into a chronologically ordered synthesis to help you gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society. You can use the book's global approach and its emphasis on analytical comparisons between cultures to link events together in a broad comparative and global framework that places the contemporary world in a more meaningful historical context.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This text is very readable, even for the student who knows very little history and is not a strong reader. However, the text is not "watered-down." It still provides the critical information that all of the students need; it is simply stated in language that all of our students can read and understand. … Our previous text was full of facts and in-depth discussions. However, the chapters were long and dry, and the students simply would not read it! This text is short enough that the single mom with four kids who has gone back to school after fifteen years can actually find the time to read the chapters. I do not need a text that contains all of the information about a particular subject. Instead, I need a text that gives a general overview, and I can then elaborate on selected topics and fill in the gaps through lecture and other activities."

"I was looking for a concise, visually engaging, and comprehensive (more global) text. These are strengths of [Duiker and Spielvogel]."

"[Strengths:] Breadth of coverage, primary source inclusion, and Internet supplement."

"I think that thematic approaches to world history are becoming more and more common. … There are certainly certain themes--role of women, literacy and development of writing, changes in technology, role of the environment, role of religion in society--that would be very interesting. Indeed, my colleagues and I are using this approach already and so it would be nice to have a book that meets these needs."

"I think this is a great plan. I am more likely to re-adopt the book in a 3rd edition with these changes." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

William J. Duiker is a liberal arts professor emeritus of East Asian studies at The Pennsylvania State University. A former U.S. diplomat with service in Taiwan, South Vietnam, and Washington, D.C., he received his doctorate in Far Eastern history from Georgetown University in 1968, where his dissertation dealt with the Chinese educator and reformer Cai Yuanpei. At Penn State, he has written widely on the history of Vietnam and modern China, including the widely acclaimed THE COMMUNIST ROAD TO POWER IN VIETNAM (revised edition, Westview Press, 1996), which was selected for a Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award in 1982-1983 and 1996-1997. Other recent books are CHINA AND VIETNAM: THE ROOTS OF CONFLICT (Berkeley, 1987) and SACRED WAR: NATIONALISM AND REVOLUTION IN A DIVIDED VIETNAM (McGraw-Hill, 1995). His biography of the revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, HO CHI MINH: A LIFE, was published by Hyperion Press in the fall of 2000. While his research specialization is in the field of nationalism and Asian revolutions, his intellectual interests are considerably more diverse. He has traveled widely and has taught courses on the History of Communism and non-Western civilizations at Penn State, where he was awarded a Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the spring of 1996. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 6 edition (February 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0495902926
• ISBN-13: 978-0495902928
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Kindle edition sucks!!!, January 24, 2012

By 

krysjr - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential World History, Volume II, 6th Edition: 2 (Kindle Edition)

Rented this through kindle for my iPad to save money but there were no page numbers. If you have ever taken a class before you understand how important page numbers are when your professor says read page 375!!!!! I do not recommend the kindle version.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best., January 14, 2012

By 

Sam (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential World History, Volume II (Paperback)

This book was required for my Intro to World History class. My advice to teachers: please please please don't choose this book. Yes, it contains a lot of good information, but also too much information for a simple survey course on history in addition to being incredibly verbose & repetitive. I recommend A History of World Societies, Volume 2: Since 1500 as a much much better alternative to this mind-numbing text.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, May 12, 2011

By 

Taylor C - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential World History, Volume II (Paperback)

Great textbook! I would have loved a little more detail, but the book was great when it came to helping me with my online course