Timeline of World History

by Matt Baker, John Andrews

Chart the course of history through the ages with this collection of oversize foldout charts and timelines.

Timeline of World History  is a unique work of visual reference from the founders of the Useful Charts website that puts the world's kingdoms, empires, and civilizations in context with one another. A giant wall chart shows the timelines and key events for each region of the world, and four additional foldout charts display the history of the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa and the Middle East. Packed with maps, diagrams, and images, this book captures the very essence of our shared history.
 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Reference, Education, Historical, Collections

80 pages, Hardcover

Published October 20, 2020

About the author

I’ve loved history timelines and other such charts ever since I was a young child. I find them to be useful frameworks that can be continually referred to as one digs deeper into a given subject.

I began making my own charts while working as an expat teacher and school director for 8 years in rural Sri Lanka. I recently completed a PhD in Education and now live in Vancouver, Canada where I design and publish educational wallcharts full-time.

Reviews

[Margarida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant reference book, the charts alone make it worth the purchase! I've been a fan of UsefulCharts for years and this definitely captures the essence of the videos, with a friendly register throughout and interesting parallels across history.

[Huzef · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is super dense with history and 100% worth reading if you want a crash course in world history. It gives you a glimpse of how much you don't know about and why you can confidently say you're living in the best time possible.

[Cooper Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great concise reference book, with good digestible overviews. But the real magic are the fantastic charts. Wonderfully designed and provides a much needed sense of temporal context.

[1234 · Rating 3 out of 5]

My only problem with it is 800:
* The main, removable chart chops off the first 800 years compared to the stand-alone chart that you can buy on its own. It starts at 2500 BC instead of 3200 BC. That 800 years does include a few important things - like the START of civilisation! Also, it means its not REALLY world history, is it?
> I guess if the book came AFTER the stand-alone chart, they are being stingy. If not, then perhaps they were being generous with the stand-alone!
Apart from that, it looks like they are the same apart from small differences, not so much in the actual lines, but the little extra comments in the spaces.
> Complaints like this could be avoided by showing decent pics on their site
* The regional charts inside only start from 800 BC.

I had difficulty finding this information, so I hope it helps someone.

[Jen Keifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous reference book. I love the big chart that gives all of world history in parallel form at a glance, and the 4 foldout charts that amplify it. The pages are filled with beautiful artwork and photography, and clear historical summaries. I’ll refer back to it again and again. My review would probably be complete by simply stating my kids will pull out and peruse this book “for fun.” That right there is everything.

[Annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nästan hela världens historia i parallella tidslinjer på en enorm jätteplansch. Jag tror är det är lycka i dess renaste form. Äntligen ordning och reda. Var sak på sin plats. Fem stjärnor.

Jag måste dock erkänna att texten i boken är alldeles för kompakt, så den kommer jag aldrig att läsa. Men det spelar ingen roll. Planschen är kung.

[Martin Irorere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but clearly a Eurocentric account of history

[Liz Sautter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a gorgeous, fun book for anyone who loves charts and world history. 100% recommended to anyone.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably good very brief overview of history of every broad region of the world. The charts are helpful for relating events in different parts of the world to one another.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A general overview of world history. The foldout timelines are cool, but it desperately needed maps.

[Heirtami Paswet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The charts and coloured pictures make this book especially valuable to me. If you want to familiarize yourself of the 5300-year progression of humankind but find thick, long books overwhelming and hard to retain, then pick this up.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good reference history book, with amazing charts! Matt Baker has a YouTube channel in which he describes his charts in detail.