Synthesizing exceptional cartography and impeccable scholarship, the Atlas of World History traces 12,000 years of history with 450 full-color maps and over 200,000 words of text.
One of my favorite books, insofar as it quickly conveys in broad brushstrokes general information about much of recorded history. It has shortcomings, of course--but a historical atlas of all world history will lack much detail, and will suffer for what its editors elected to omit, as omit they must in a subject so broad.
I wanted something to accompany 'Dark Valley', something to add a little bit of map-content or visual of some kind, or alternately a different telling of the same content (always nice to have atleast two versions of anything). I saw this - heaven!
Each two-page spread is about some transition, period of time, or other concrete situation; and it goes from prehistoria to current. Certainly there are many choices built-in, and someone could differ with how they laid things out. But it seems to tie in well with 'Dark Valley'.
For instance, in Dark Valley, there is a section on Stalin and 1928-1933, and there is a two-page spread on exactly that. With one map showing who it was who fought against the Red Army (the White Army's generals, as well as foreign groups), where they started from and where they reached before they were stopped. Another map shows where in Europe other Communist groups existed for a while. Then, there's a great map about the industrialization that occurred, where each different kind of enterprise was situated, where the rail lines were put in. Also on that one is the different boundaries in different years during that period. Accompanying those three maps is text of the period, laying out with broad brush strokes the salient facts of the period. This book kinds of provides the pithy version, while 'Dark Valley' is more colorful, anecdotal, story-telling. Also there are different emphasis, this book doesn't emphasize nearly as much that the reason for the famine was Stalin actually taking the food away from the farmers. This one makes it seem more like it was a failure of farming structures.
So, exactly what I was looking for! Highly recommend for anyone interested in history/related subjects.
And it is *trying* to be not patriarchal, not biased, not from the point of view that White Europe = civilization; via inputs from the rest of the universe. But, of course, doesn't achieve a perspective fully separate from that, there are still blinders and all. Like on India, paraphrased: 'Although England brought many benefits to India, debate still continues on the overall legacy..' with no mention of the partition. etc.. But really does try to approach human activity from the onset of it to today, from an even-handedly global perspective. A great first go at it, for sure! Completely waylaid me tonite, was looking at Italy being in Somalia, then had to see before then, then before then.. fascinating.
Lots of skimming, in concert with 'The Dark Valley', highly recommend!
An "awesome" reference work that details the history of the world with beautiful map illustrations.
Sociological or economic history can be really dull to read in plain text which this book alleviates.
Philip's Atlas is a more advanced version of the same kind of atlases every intelligent child is supplied with by caring parents in early youth.
Seeing the patterns of history is a significant means to determine the shape of world-history in terms of vast popular movements of importance.
A fine book that is a perennial classic.
I spent a period of time poring over the maps of Jerusalem & the near east spotting hints of an invisible hand in history. An augment to my interest in Biblical studies.
Pattern in history is no doubt the case to varying degrees all over the world.
Rapid advancements in technology compose the later seasons of change in the present era. Modern pictures come into clear view when made visual or easy to understand in simple color codes.
A flip-through book that is a great coffee table addition for the aspiring geographer in the old sense.
This book is primarily interesting because it provides a British perspective on history. Accordingly, it gave the impression of a sore loser in its review of revolutionary America, and a surprisingly self-critical tone in its assessment of British imperialism in India.
On the whole, I found the book to a bit dry. Great as a reference, but not to be read for pleasure or with the hope of retaining much through mnemonics.