The Harper Atlas of World History

"Full of facts, interpretation, and explanation, The Harper Atlas of World History follows the history of mankind through the ages and through-out the world. From the appearance of prehistoric Homo habilis to the Middle Eastern wars of the late twentieth century, from the building of the first Egyptian pyramids to the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, the atlas traces the history of the world through individual cultures, political systems, and societies. Each double-page spread is devoted to a specific trend or event in world history, presented from four different viewpoints: Maps that depict a particular aspect of a society--including frontiers, conquests, natural resources, and geographic and demographic evolution--at a given moment ; Text that describes the patterns of an era or a society. A single entry includes everything from political evolution, population expansion, and prosperity to war, economic crises, and political, economic, and societal reform ; Chronology that indicates the important dates and events of the period under consideration ; Full-color illustrations portraying the art and architecture of the time, as well as photographs of the people, places, and events of the later eras."--book jacket.