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History of the World
Taking a global view of history, a carefully arranged, heavily illustrated chronology opens each chapter with a world map and time chart that give readers a sense of what happened where at any given time.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 26, 2021
This was my "project book" for the year 2021. Each year I choose a book that I wouldn't just sit down and read cover to cover. I took the entire year to read it, covering just a few pages each week. A DK book such as this is always a good choice because there is so much to read, absorb, and look at in just those few pages. The book is designed as a reference book, a beautiful product to have on a coffee table to impress the guests. It's meant to dip into now and again for interest's sake or purely as a reference book. I, of course, read the whole thing from cover to cover.
As for the book itself...well it's a DK book so you know it's going to be cool with wonderfully-detailed pictures and drawings. It covers the entire history of the world (up until the mid-1990's when this version was published). Of course, no single volume book can cover all history but I think this one does a remarkable job of choosing what to cover. The topics are necessarily brief but still manage to convey the essence of the topic pretty well, in a cursory way.
It's divided into major time periods such as "570 MYA - 40,000 BC - Introduction to Human History", or "500 BC - AD1 - The Growth of Empires" or "1850-1900 - The Rise of Nationalism". The closer we get to the present day, the fewer years are covered due to the pace of change growing faster and faster as well as there is simply more known history to cover. Each chapter begins with a world map providing a visual overview of the period. It's interesting to see how these change over time. Following the map is an illustrated comparative time chart which shows the major events subdivided into major geographical regions. This makes it easy to see what is going on in Europe, for example, compared to Africa.
The bulk of each chapter is devoted to diving into details of what's covered in the time chart, with two or three pages devoted to events happening in each continent (Africa, Asia, Europe, The Americas, and Oceana). Really, this is a well-thought-out approach.
The book oozes quality, as I always expect with a DK project. This makes a good reference starting place but, of course, a researcher would need to consult other works to get a thorough understanding of the events, people, movements, wars, etc. that are depicted here. I think it would make a wonderful reference for young people.
Now...I must figure out what my 2022 project book will be. Hmmmm...
As for the book itself...well it's a DK book so you know it's going to be cool with wonderfully-detailed pictures and drawings. It covers the entire history of the world (up until the mid-1990's when this version was published). Of course, no single volume book can cover all history but I think this one does a remarkable job of choosing what to cover. The topics are necessarily brief but still manage to convey the essence of the topic pretty well, in a cursory way.
It's divided into major time periods such as "570 MYA - 40,000 BC - Introduction to Human History", or "500 BC - AD1 - The Growth of Empires" or "1850-1900 - The Rise of Nationalism". The closer we get to the present day, the fewer years are covered due to the pace of change growing faster and faster as well as there is simply more known history to cover. Each chapter begins with a world map providing a visual overview of the period. It's interesting to see how these change over time. Following the map is an illustrated comparative time chart which shows the major events subdivided into major geographical regions. This makes it easy to see what is going on in Europe, for example, compared to Africa.
The bulk of each chapter is devoted to diving into details of what's covered in the time chart, with two or three pages devoted to events happening in each continent (Africa, Asia, Europe, The Americas, and Oceana). Really, this is a well-thought-out approach.
The book oozes quality, as I always expect with a DK project. This makes a good reference starting place but, of course, a researcher would need to consult other works to get a thorough understanding of the events, people, movements, wars, etc. that are depicted here. I think it would make a wonderful reference for young people.
Now...I must figure out what my 2022 project book will be. Hmmmm...
March 24, 2016
Dorling Kindersley, aka DK, puts out excellent introductory nonfiction. This one is no exception. I'd love to have my own copy. It's a great introduction or filler-in for students of world history, or history in general, of whatever age level. Even though it's aimed at young adults (Amazon says age range is 9-17, and grade level is 4-12), I'd say it's great for adults too. Instead of just following one country or continent from beginning to the present, they cover all the major inhabited areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, Oceania in parallel so you know what's going on in other areas at the same time, at least approximately. It's not deep in any area, but it's so broad it makes up for that. Also the illustrations give a fuller picture than traditional history books do. Highly recommended to any student of history. As a minor comment: I love the author's name. He'd almost have to go into history. NOTE: Aha. He "created" the name himself, except for the Fry. He was born Peter George Robin Fry. He adopted the nickname Plantagenet in university because he favored Richard III. And he added Somerset by deed pole. Still, a great name for a historian.
Main chapters are: Introduction to Human History; Early People; The First Civilizations; Traders and Warriors; The Growth of Empires; The Decline of the Ancient World; Religious Worlds; New Nations; Monks and Invaders; Conquest and Plague; The Expansion of Knowledge; The Great Rulers; Commerce and Colonies; The Age of Inquiry; The Age of Revolution; Independence and Industry; The Rise of Nationalism; The World Goes to War; Peace and War; One World.
Main chapters are: Introduction to Human History; Early People; The First Civilizations; Traders and Warriors; The Growth of Empires; The Decline of the Ancient World; Religious Worlds; New Nations; Monks and Invaders; Conquest and Plague; The Expansion of Knowledge; The Great Rulers; Commerce and Colonies; The Age of Inquiry; The Age of Revolution; Independence and Industry; The Rise of Nationalism; The World Goes to War; Peace and War; One World.
September 13, 2025
History of The World by Plantagenet Fry
Compelling book
“Every situation is interpreted differently- for some people it will be heaven, for others it will be hell.” Or in another version: “There are people who make heaven out of hell and people who make hell out of heaven”. These are the wise words of Stuart Mill, with two different perspectives.
This goes for history: you can be awed and inspired by it, or terrified by the many atrocities.
There are some revisionist looks over history. Because there are definitely some flaws. Most of it was written by men, and it is about leaders, people at the top and less about the mere mortals.
That is changing and this Plantagenet History, with its many pictures makes it more interesting and easier to imagine what the past looked like.
You can look at maps that show you various shapes of different empires, the journey of discovery, routes taken by Alexander, Hannibal, Marco Polo, Magellan and many other great men.
We can see African, Mayan artifacts and learn the stories in the adjacent explanations.
You are thrilled and terrified quite often on the same page.
I was both sad for the fate of the native peoples of Latin America and flabbergasted by their own rituals of human sacrifice, so well depicted in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto- a wonderful historical film like Braveheart and so very different.
In school we have been taught communist history. And this other interesting fact about history- you would say that the historical facts are undisputable and you cannot change what happened.
Yet people do that all the time, if not by changing the date or result of a battle, at least by ignoring it or presenting it in the light of the class struggle, which was all that communist history did”
- Here we had peasants fighting against their landlords
- There we had oppressors torturing the poor people.
Which was stupid. Yes, there has always been injustice, but to see history only as a cold and hot war between the rich and the poor is to miss the point entirely.
Of course there can be opposing views on the same events, but very often it is a partisan, sometimes nationalistic view that seems to prevail.
In terms of our national history, the exaggerations were hilarious: Vienna and other cities in Europe are there, only because we bravely fought with the Ottomans, in a nutshell.
But mine is not the only country with such issues: Japan is antagonizing its neighbors, by insisting on commemorating those fallen in World War II, which caused millions to die and a lot of suffering throughout Asia, where Japan was the aggressor and an Evil Empire.
In the world of today, it is easy to sympathize with Japan, which has a constitution that prevents it from any form of military engagement, weirdly even in defense of its allies, albeit that was a bit twitched recently.
China is more and more aggressive and looks at history only to find pretexts to occupy more and more land and islands, be it in the Sea of Japan or the South China Sea.
In the USA, the problem of slavery and segregation, as part of history is still affecting the present: there are groups that call for compensation for the families of those who suffered in that dark part of the past.
In Canada, Australia, USA and other democracies, native peoples are belatedly being given rights to some rather large areas, which then have some special status. For instance, in Native American territory casinos can be operated and other benefits are extended to “atone „to a certain degree for the wrongdoings and even massacres endured by the ancestors of these minorities.
Gombrich makes a point when he says that history is one of the extraordinary tales,
- many aspects could hardly have been imagined
- all is true
- and many lessons can be drawn from it
Compelling book
“Every situation is interpreted differently- for some people it will be heaven, for others it will be hell.” Or in another version: “There are people who make heaven out of hell and people who make hell out of heaven”. These are the wise words of Stuart Mill, with two different perspectives.
This goes for history: you can be awed and inspired by it, or terrified by the many atrocities.
There are some revisionist looks over history. Because there are definitely some flaws. Most of it was written by men, and it is about leaders, people at the top and less about the mere mortals.
That is changing and this Plantagenet History, with its many pictures makes it more interesting and easier to imagine what the past looked like.
You can look at maps that show you various shapes of different empires, the journey of discovery, routes taken by Alexander, Hannibal, Marco Polo, Magellan and many other great men.
We can see African, Mayan artifacts and learn the stories in the adjacent explanations.
You are thrilled and terrified quite often on the same page.
I was both sad for the fate of the native peoples of Latin America and flabbergasted by their own rituals of human sacrifice, so well depicted in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto- a wonderful historical film like Braveheart and so very different.
In school we have been taught communist history. And this other interesting fact about history- you would say that the historical facts are undisputable and you cannot change what happened.
Yet people do that all the time, if not by changing the date or result of a battle, at least by ignoring it or presenting it in the light of the class struggle, which was all that communist history did”
- Here we had peasants fighting against their landlords
- There we had oppressors torturing the poor people.
Which was stupid. Yes, there has always been injustice, but to see history only as a cold and hot war between the rich and the poor is to miss the point entirely.
Of course there can be opposing views on the same events, but very often it is a partisan, sometimes nationalistic view that seems to prevail.
In terms of our national history, the exaggerations were hilarious: Vienna and other cities in Europe are there, only because we bravely fought with the Ottomans, in a nutshell.
But mine is not the only country with such issues: Japan is antagonizing its neighbors, by insisting on commemorating those fallen in World War II, which caused millions to die and a lot of suffering throughout Asia, where Japan was the aggressor and an Evil Empire.
In the world of today, it is easy to sympathize with Japan, which has a constitution that prevents it from any form of military engagement, weirdly even in defense of its allies, albeit that was a bit twitched recently.
China is more and more aggressive and looks at history only to find pretexts to occupy more and more land and islands, be it in the Sea of Japan or the South China Sea.
In the USA, the problem of slavery and segregation, as part of history is still affecting the present: there are groups that call for compensation for the families of those who suffered in that dark part of the past.
In Canada, Australia, USA and other democracies, native peoples are belatedly being given rights to some rather large areas, which then have some special status. For instance, in Native American territory casinos can be operated and other benefits are extended to “atone „to a certain degree for the wrongdoings and even massacres endured by the ancestors of these minorities.
Gombrich makes a point when he says that history is one of the extraordinary tales,
- many aspects could hardly have been imagined
- all is true
- and many lessons can be drawn from it
January 18, 2009
Alongside The Lemon Tree and a biography of Abe Lincoln published in 1925 based on a film (yes) and rife with many verbatim speeches and examples of his wit, I am reading this world history. This is a coffee type book aimed at children in my opinion, due to its lush illustrations and photographs. It works for me as I try to make sense of "it all." Seems as though humanity has not progressed too far as I suspected. I see that change takes place so slowly and we have not actually learned that much as a species. I am looking for the connectors, the commonalities in the worlds previous times to see where we might be heading and what the best role is to play to give the most of myself at this time.
This book is satisfying from that point of view, although there are definite editorial slants that are particularly notable when various religions are discussed. Still the factual information is interesting and useful, and I keep on reading it as though it were a novel rather than a reference book.
This book is satisfying from that point of view, although there are definite editorial slants that are particularly notable when various religions are discussed. Still the factual information is interesting and useful, and I keep on reading it as though it were a novel rather than a reference book.
February 24, 2017
This illustrated history of the world is intended for children or "young adults". I wasn't interested in history back then, so I've read it now to fill in the gaps in my general chronological knowledge of history. It's great for that.
Just don't expect in depth academic discussion. Many events are covered by only a phrase. The book was written with contributions from a number of authors/historians. The early history betrays an inherent bias toward the conquerors, the ones who unite empires. Later sections about particular countries occasionally seem to be cheer-leading for the particular country.
Just don't expect in depth academic discussion. Many events are covered by only a phrase. The book was written with contributions from a number of authors/historians. The early history betrays an inherent bias toward the conquerors, the ones who unite empires. Later sections about particular countries occasionally seem to be cheer-leading for the particular country.
December 31, 2010
Brief yet detailed...wonderful and colorful timeline.
April 12, 2013
The earliest history encyclopaedia that I owned. So many wonderful afternoons spent with this book, wishing that I had hoplite armour.
Read
March 25, 2022Lo pongo en lugar de la Nueva Enciclopedia Visual de Clarín, de 21 tomos, contándolo como la sección de historia.
January 29, 2026
Formative.
December 26, 2021
More than anything, this book encouraged my interests in history from a very young age. I still read it! It also has the most thought-provoking book introduction I have ever read!
August 17, 2025
I have a 1977 hardback reprint of this book originally published in 1972. It’s always been a childhood favourite mainly because of the beautifully painted illustrations, but I don’t think I ever read it from cover to cover before. So now’s a good time to do just that now that I have recovered it from my parents’ collection.
Clearly, this book represents at best the received knowledge of the time, much of which has been debunked or at least greatly refined in the last half century, but it’s a good book to read, being a summary of global history on which more detailed reading can build.
Clearly, this book represents at best the received knowledge of the time, much of which has been debunked or at least greatly refined in the last half century, but it’s a good book to read, being a summary of global history on which more detailed reading can build.
June 14, 2014
Every child should have a visual encyclopedia to look through. This book has 5 pages on the early human remains like neanderthals. Then it begins with earliest human remains like cave paintings and proceeds in great detail all the way to 1990 AD. There is a timeline at the bottom of every page that shows you where in time you are and every so often a two-page spread which synthesizes what is going on at the same time on different continents. It is broad and anything that catches your interest will need to be researched in depth using other books.
Read
June 27, 2016When I was 10 years old, I got in a big fight with my best friend. She was raised religious, as a Seventh Day Adventist, and when I told her how old the Earth was (as stated in the very beginning of this book), she said: nope. I said, yes, this VERY RELIABLE BOOK says so. She said, no, THE BIBLE OR AT LEAST WHAT MY CHURCH AND MOTHER HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THE BIBLE say this book is wrong.
We would fight about religion all the time, which I actually think is kind of cool. I had my convictions, she had hers, and we were not willing to budge. We remained best friends, though!
We would fight about religion all the time, which I actually think is kind of cool. I had my convictions, she had hers, and we were not willing to budge. We remained best friends, though!
March 22, 2008
I adore the DK series and this gem is no exception. Beautiful illustrations appeal to the eye. It is chock-full of information. The maps and time line charts comparing various regions of the world do a good job of summarizing data at a glance.
February 20, 2009
Can't wait for this book to be published :) A resourceful book for the world history in a sweep.
And what a cool name for an author, eh? 'Plantagenet Somerset Fry'.
And what a cool name for an author, eh? 'Plantagenet Somerset Fry'.
May 1, 2012
Love it ..
October 14, 2013
I liked it.
July 2, 2012
Nice summary for history
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews