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World History Atlas
A rich array of detailed maps, full-color photographs, timelines, diagrams, and artworks provides a fascinating overview of human history, emphasizing eras of world history and regional histories and thoroughly updated to incorporate recent historical developments.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 1999
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285 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Black
429 books198 followersJeremy Black is an English historian, who was formerly a professor of history at the University of Exeter. He is a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of America and the West at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.
Black is the author of over 180 books, principally but not exclusively on 18th-century British politics and international relations, and has been described by one commentator as "the most prolific historical scholar of our age". He has published on military and political history, including Warfare in the Western World, 1882–1975 (2001) and The World in the Twentieth Century (2002).
Black is the author of over 180 books, principally but not exclusively on 18th-century British politics and international relations, and has been described by one commentator as "the most prolific historical scholar of our age". He has published on military and political history, including Warfare in the Western World, 1882–1975 (2001) and The World in the Twentieth Century (2002).
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 16, 2014
Wow! This is quite a read, I must say! 287 pages of world history presented through maps, pictures and grids. DK has attempted the impossible and almost succeeded brilliantly, if it were not for Professor Jeremy Black's worldview, which colors the book.
Let me begin by saying that the book is a visual and intellectual treat, inspite of my 3-star rating, and I will explain the reason for that later. It gives perspective-albeit a European one- to events in world history, which help make sense of most world events today. This was an engaging read, inspite of the breadth and scope of it's contents, and that's no mean feat.
Now I will explain my rating, based on the shortcomings of this book, which I hope the publisher will note.
In the past few weeks I have consumed a few books on world history, and this was supposed to be the icing on the cake, with it's visual presentation. It did serve that purpose, I will concede, and even added to what I had read, but I have some serious reservations about the writing. Having read five western tomes on world history, published by major publishing houses, I have developed an inkling of the prism from which world history is viewed and penned.
That prism is the Bible, which shines most brilliantly in this book.
If you follow the areas/periods of world history that find space in the first section of global history in this book, you will see a strong Biblical leaning. As Christianity morphed into conflicting and even debilitating patterns, so did world history from the perspective of Black (editor). Hence this book in it's first hundred or so pages devoted to world history, covers ancient Biblical lands, which is followed by the Graeco-Roman world, which changed Christianity instead of Christianity changing it. Then the book grudgingly gives space to Islam's advent in west Asia, and finally it reconnects Europe to world history by it's resurgence on the world stage. So essentially, we are tracing a Biblical-Aryan-Graeco-Roman timeline in this book, where other civilizations/races are important only to the extent that they touched the latter's world.
Islam's far reaching impact upon the world is almost completely overlooked, if not for brief intermittent mention, which takes away the totality of it's impact. The impact of the crusades with the Muslims, which forever changed a fuedal Europe stuck in the dark ages, is completely overlooked. Islam's scientific contributions from Chemistry to Algebra to cartography to medicine to engineering to Physics to aviation, are ignored. Ptolemy's map, we are told, was used till the 16th century. Abu-Idrees (latinised name, Dresses) presented a globe with a world map to King Roger of Sicily in the 1100's, is a fact well known by historians. Spain could never become a maritime empire without it's Muslim past. The very first European Universities could not open in Cambridge and Paris, without following the model of the world's first degree granting universities in Morocco and Egypt, by the Fatimid rulers, more than a century earlier.
I will not not go into further detail about Muslim contributions, because this review covers a far greater scope. But this glaring omission, shows intellectual dishonesty.
Black's treatment of colonialism in the sections of regional history, is politically incorrect in the extreme. Being British, he has presented British colonialism in India, as a boon, when it's a bane that has implications that debilitate growth even today. Mughal India was culturally, financially and religiously richer than Europe. Black's claim that the British built canals to improve agriculture, is false. The British destroyed the Mughal irrigation systems to artificially create food shortages and hunger; hungry masses do not revolt. Black's claim that the British modernized India with railways and industry is also equally invalid. All British construction was aimed at exploitation and extraction, even if it meant committing brutal acts. After the fall of Bengal in 1799, India's richest state, the British adopted economic policies which created unemployment for thousands of superbly skilled textile artisans, so that the inferior textile industry of Britain could flourish. And the list goes on.
Regional history in this book focuses mainly on the political, with strong pro-capitalist leanings. No mention is made of the anti-globalization movements or of the threats to the planet.
Still a worthwhile read, in the absence of an equally comprehensive alternative work.
Let me begin by saying that the book is a visual and intellectual treat, inspite of my 3-star rating, and I will explain the reason for that later. It gives perspective-albeit a European one- to events in world history, which help make sense of most world events today. This was an engaging read, inspite of the breadth and scope of it's contents, and that's no mean feat.
Now I will explain my rating, based on the shortcomings of this book, which I hope the publisher will note.
In the past few weeks I have consumed a few books on world history, and this was supposed to be the icing on the cake, with it's visual presentation. It did serve that purpose, I will concede, and even added to what I had read, but I have some serious reservations about the writing. Having read five western tomes on world history, published by major publishing houses, I have developed an inkling of the prism from which world history is viewed and penned.
That prism is the Bible, which shines most brilliantly in this book.
If you follow the areas/periods of world history that find space in the first section of global history in this book, you will see a strong Biblical leaning. As Christianity morphed into conflicting and even debilitating patterns, so did world history from the perspective of Black (editor). Hence this book in it's first hundred or so pages devoted to world history, covers ancient Biblical lands, which is followed by the Graeco-Roman world, which changed Christianity instead of Christianity changing it. Then the book grudgingly gives space to Islam's advent in west Asia, and finally it reconnects Europe to world history by it's resurgence on the world stage. So essentially, we are tracing a Biblical-Aryan-Graeco-Roman timeline in this book, where other civilizations/races are important only to the extent that they touched the latter's world.
Islam's far reaching impact upon the world is almost completely overlooked, if not for brief intermittent mention, which takes away the totality of it's impact. The impact of the crusades with the Muslims, which forever changed a fuedal Europe stuck in the dark ages, is completely overlooked. Islam's scientific contributions from Chemistry to Algebra to cartography to medicine to engineering to Physics to aviation, are ignored. Ptolemy's map, we are told, was used till the 16th century. Abu-Idrees (latinised name, Dresses) presented a globe with a world map to King Roger of Sicily in the 1100's, is a fact well known by historians. Spain could never become a maritime empire without it's Muslim past. The very first European Universities could not open in Cambridge and Paris, without following the model of the world's first degree granting universities in Morocco and Egypt, by the Fatimid rulers, more than a century earlier.
I will not not go into further detail about Muslim contributions, because this review covers a far greater scope. But this glaring omission, shows intellectual dishonesty.
Black's treatment of colonialism in the sections of regional history, is politically incorrect in the extreme. Being British, he has presented British colonialism in India, as a boon, when it's a bane that has implications that debilitate growth even today. Mughal India was culturally, financially and religiously richer than Europe. Black's claim that the British built canals to improve agriculture, is false. The British destroyed the Mughal irrigation systems to artificially create food shortages and hunger; hungry masses do not revolt. Black's claim that the British modernized India with railways and industry is also equally invalid. All British construction was aimed at exploitation and extraction, even if it meant committing brutal acts. After the fall of Bengal in 1799, India's richest state, the British adopted economic policies which created unemployment for thousands of superbly skilled textile artisans, so that the inferior textile industry of Britain could flourish. And the list goes on.
Regional history in this book focuses mainly on the political, with strong pro-capitalist leanings. No mention is made of the anti-globalization movements or of the threats to the planet.
Still a worthwhile read, in the absence of an equally comprehensive alternative work.
November 29, 2021
This is a stupendous book. I'm reading it as a companion to The Penguin History of The World, it really enriches the experience of that dense but wonderful text.
It's a gigantic book and there are so very many maps, showing everything from the spread of the first cities, to the trade routes of empires, and development of religions from their regional beginning. I've only read the first section because I'm following ancient history at the moment, but I've flicked ahead and they are vast numbers of maps for every era and region of the world and beautifully presented. It's been invaluable for me in picturing the vanished civilisations of the ancient world. Mention of Ur no longer makes me go "er?" and my ideas of Messopotania are somewhat less "messy"... sorry.
The only slight flaw is my copy smells of vomit, which makes it slightly less edifying. I think (and hope) it's a property of the inks used, but I did get it from a charity shop so it could actually be vomit. On the plus side, I tend to forget about the smell after a while as the book's so engrossing!
I want to read the DK Illustrated Encyclopedia of The Universe next (by the same publisher)which looks just as brilliant.
It's a gigantic book and there are so very many maps, showing everything from the spread of the first cities, to the trade routes of empires, and development of religions from their regional beginning. I've only read the first section because I'm following ancient history at the moment, but I've flicked ahead and they are vast numbers of maps for every era and region of the world and beautifully presented. It's been invaluable for me in picturing the vanished civilisations of the ancient world. Mention of Ur no longer makes me go "er?" and my ideas of Messopotania are somewhat less "messy"... sorry.
The only slight flaw is my copy smells of vomit, which makes it slightly less edifying. I think (and hope) it's a property of the inks used, but I did get it from a charity shop so it could actually be vomit. On the plus side, I tend to forget about the smell after a while as the book's so engrossing!
I want to read the DK Illustrated Encyclopedia of The Universe next (by the same publisher)which looks just as brilliant.
Currently reading
February 26, 2010essential reference for me. More up-to-date stuff on the web, of course, but this book compilation is the best I've found for a general guide.
December 22, 2023
This book does a good job of creating a mental model of history, a sort of map of time. History has the best stories, not only because they actually happened, but because they inform the reader of where they are in time and how they got there.
Most of the maps are excellent, but a few are either too busy or with keyed colors that are too similar to differentiate. I especially appreciated the varied projections and compass orientations. It definitely helped to broaden my perspective.
Another issue is that the book had a subtle but noticeable bias in favor of Israel, western nations, colonialism, imperialism, and notions of technological and industrial progress. This is unfortunately to be expected from the victors of history, but I would prefer to learn history from indigenous and other perspectives that have contrary views, as the victors have been more a detriment than a benefit to life on the planet.
This is a book I will continue to re-read.
Most of the maps are excellent, but a few are either too busy or with keyed colors that are too similar to differentiate. I especially appreciated the varied projections and compass orientations. It definitely helped to broaden my perspective.
Another issue is that the book had a subtle but noticeable bias in favor of Israel, western nations, colonialism, imperialism, and notions of technological and industrial progress. This is unfortunately to be expected from the victors of history, but I would prefer to learn history from indigenous and other perspectives that have contrary views, as the victors have been more a detriment than a benefit to life on the planet.
This is a book I will continue to re-read.
February 12, 2018
A little difficult for what I was wanting. I do use it quite a bit when I read historical fiction. Most likely not what the author intended but I find it quite useful to me for that.
It's a very large and heavy book, not something to just carry around with you.
It's a very large and heavy book, not something to just carry around with you.
October 19, 2017
Great. Beautifully presented.
May 23, 2020
quero ler urgente para tcc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2021
A comprehensive look at world history through maps, combining thematic and regional approaches. The illustrations are well-chose and the text is clear and concise.
August 13, 2022
It starts from the first human. The sections are about the essential events in history. Clear explanations, photos, and more. Attractive book to start the history.
Want to read
November 13, 2024SM
Read
April 27, 2013Name: Jessica M. Dilsaver
Type of Reference: Geographical Reference – Atlas
Reference Citation: DK Publishing. (2005). World history atlas. New York, NY: DK Publishing.
Call Number: Ref 909
Brief Description: Revised and updated to include recent archaeological discoveries and historical events, the World History Atlas is the most wide-ranging portrait of world history ever published. Combining state-of-the-art cartography with historical information and detailed regional mapping, this is a compelling look at the human journey.
Professional Review: Columbus, H. (2006, January). [Review of the book World history atlas]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/category/books-med...
Criteria:
Content Scope: This atlas follows ancient history to today’s society in order to help readers understand the relationship of the modern world with that of the ancient world.
Accuracy, Authority, and Bias: This atlas is published by a very well-known and highly respected maker of atlases. The information is based in fact and new discoveries about the ancient world.
Arrangement and Presentation: The sections are arranged by region of the world with multiple layered photographs and diagrams so the reader can understand the transition through time.
Relation to Similar Works: There are other atlases in the collection, but this atlas offers the user an in-depth view of the progression of history throughout various regions of the world.
Timeliness and Permanence: This atlas is the most up-to-date in terms of inclusion of new archaeological discoveries throughout the ancient and modern world. Patrons will be able to utilize this resource for several years before it needs to be replaced.
Accessibility and Diversity: This atlas is very visual and is perfect for all readers in middle grades.
Cost: $40.00
Type of Reference: Geographical Reference – Atlas
Reference Citation: DK Publishing. (2005). World history atlas. New York, NY: DK Publishing.
Call Number: Ref 909
Brief Description: Revised and updated to include recent archaeological discoveries and historical events, the World History Atlas is the most wide-ranging portrait of world history ever published. Combining state-of-the-art cartography with historical information and detailed regional mapping, this is a compelling look at the human journey.
Professional Review: Columbus, H. (2006, January). [Review of the book World history atlas]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/category/books-med...
Criteria:
Content Scope: This atlas follows ancient history to today’s society in order to help readers understand the relationship of the modern world with that of the ancient world.
Accuracy, Authority, and Bias: This atlas is published by a very well-known and highly respected maker of atlases. The information is based in fact and new discoveries about the ancient world.
Arrangement and Presentation: The sections are arranged by region of the world with multiple layered photographs and diagrams so the reader can understand the transition through time.
Relation to Similar Works: There are other atlases in the collection, but this atlas offers the user an in-depth view of the progression of history throughout various regions of the world.
Timeliness and Permanence: This atlas is the most up-to-date in terms of inclusion of new archaeological discoveries throughout the ancient and modern world. Patrons will be able to utilize this resource for several years before it needs to be replaced.
Accessibility and Diversity: This atlas is very visual and is perfect for all readers in middle grades.
Cost: $40.00
September 13, 2014
Most of us digest history by reading or watching a documentary, or even taking a college course on a particular thread, like taking a drive through a countryside to get the feel of a landscape. When you look at that same landscape on google maps, you see something different, and understand how everything connects. In the same way, a good historical atlas is essential to get a sense of how all these histories fit together. The DK atlas is the best I have ever seen for doing this. The graphics are high quality, maps are detailed and just fun to look at. It's the google earth of history.
September 8, 2013
A very serious book, tons of information presented in detailed maps and on easy to read charts. A great read, fun and very informative. One of my all time favourites, I bring it everywhere with me(even though it is about two and a half kilos in weight) and I never get tired of flicking through its pages.
February 3, 2016
World History Atlas by DK Publishing (DK Publishing 2001) (911). This is a very thorough atlas that I fished out of the free bin at my friendly neighborhood used book shop. It's functional and useful. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 2014.
August 30, 2016
This book is not one you just sit down and read. The maps are great and the texts scattered around each map page is informative but hard to follow when deciding where to start reading. It is a great way to put history in context because so much can be happening all over the world at once.
February 25, 2013
Mapping human geography, this book is fascinating!
November 3, 2014
MUITO BOM
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2015
I'm a very visual learner so I love picking this book up to explore topics and places that come up in current events. A favorite in my collection!
900-999-geography-history
December 5, 2019911
August 13, 2020
كتاب مرجعي وممتع بنفس الوقت، يأخذك برحلة في تاريخ البشرية من بداياتها المعروفة حتى الوقت الحاضر برسومات وقصص متميزة ورائعة
September 8, 2014
full of really interesting stuff. Was a joy to read
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews