National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line [Hardcover]

Neil Kagan (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Timeline | Publication Date: October 24, 2006

From the dawn of humankind to today's global complexities, this monumental volume presents world history from an original perspective that provides fresh insights with every colorful spread. Few references are as invaluable, all-inclusive, and satisfying to browse. For readers of all ages, world history is easily accessible, depicted as never before—so that events occurring simultaneously around the world can be viewed at-a-glance together. For example, Texas Instruments launched the pocket calculator the same year the Soviet Union launched the first manned space station, in 1971. Columbus sailed from Spain the year Martin Behaim constructed a terrestrial globe in Nuremberg. The California Gold Rush followed the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, and the Greek dictatorship of Papadopoulos is overthrown the same year Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is deposed and U.S. president Nixon resigns, in 1974. The book's innovative time line truly sets it apart, allowing readers to scan across a spread and explore a single area or compare contemporary societies across the globe.

This remarkable resource also contains dozens of maps; scores of sidebars; hundreds of illustrations; and thousands of events, milestones, personalities, ideas, and inventions. Throughout, vivid illustrations depict artworks, artifacts, portraits and dramatic scenes, while sidebar topics range from local customs and lifestyles to the effect of climate change on human migration. Drawing on National Geographic's vast resources, this concise yet comprehensive, one-of-a-kind work is as rewarding as it is compulsively readable.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Neil Kagan, formerly publisher of Time-Life Books, now heads Kagan & Associates, creators of innovative illustrated books. Over his 30-year career he has developed such award-winning book series as Voices of the Civil War, What Life Was Like, Our American Century, and the Time-Life Student Library.

Jerry H. Bentley, head of The Concise History's advisory board is Professor of History at the University of Hawaii, editor of the Journal of World History, and an expert in the history of cross-cultural interactions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (October 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792283643
• ISBN-13: 978-0792283645
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.2 x 11.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Oceans & Seas > Oceanography

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning combination of art, timeline charts and written history, December 13, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line (Hardcover)

Both public libraries and high school to college-level collections will find much to appreciate in National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line. Its organization is geared to show historical connections between continents, cultures and nations over the centuries, and allows readers to draw important connections between events around the world. There are other books of timeline history on the market today; but National Geographic uses a stunning combination of art, timeline charts and written history to great effect, here.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding work!, November 14, 2007

By 

Brian Kerecz (PA, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line (Hardcover)

This reference book is precisely what its title says it is, in that it is a concise view of history. Very concise. If you want detail, this is certainly not the book to get, as this book covers thousands of years. Sidebars give more a little detail on specified subjects, but even these do not delve too deeply into the subject matter.

That being said, National Geographic has done an admirable job of putting together history on a visual timeline which makes the book very accessible, and easy to pick up for any casual reader. Optimally, this book would be used in conjunction with a more detailed book on history or archaeology, or something such as The Encyclopedia of World History or The Oxford Companion to Archaeology.

Admittedly, it is not perfect, as the (re)discovering of Machu Piccu in Peru in 1911 by Hiram Bingham is not on the timeline of the Americas. And it mentions the first year for cartoons in newspapers, but mentions neither the newspaper or the city in which they were published. Even given these provisos, this is a remarkable and highly visual book which is a great reference and should have a place on your bookshelf.

**** 1/2 stars.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars birds-eye view, April 5, 2007

By 

Miles Scribe (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line (Hardcover)

This is an excellent source for obtaining a quick, clear, and coherent context for an event or a period. For example, if you want to know what the rest of the world was doing when the Conquistadors sailed onto the shores of South America, this book is the best first step in your research. The entries are concise and the layout is attractive.