History - Valparaiso

A comprehensive chronology of entries that span the millennia from prehistoric times to the year 2000.

In this concise, yet sweeping look at the origins and development of ancient new world civiliizations, Richard Adams provides a superb introductory overview of these unique and fascinating cultures. Incorporating the latest breakthroughs in the study of the cultures of Meso-America and the Andes, Adams examines the development of the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Inca peoples, among others, from simple agricultural societies to urban civilizations with complex transportation networks, distinct social hierarchies, rich artistic and religious traditions, and writing systems that have defied anthropological investigation until recently.

Beginning with the rise of the Franks, the author uses individuals to introduce key themes, bringing to life those who have too often been reduced to abstractions of the medieval "monk" or "knight." Milestones encountered in this thousand-year traversal include Europe's political, cultural, and religious renovation under Charlemagne; the Holy Roman Empire under Charles IV, and the series of conflicts between England and France that made up the Hundred Years' War.

World History: A Concise Thematic Analysis offers a comparative analysis of the great civilizations of Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas and addresses themes of population dynamics, food production challenges, disease history, warfare, and other major issues for civilizations.

World History: Journeys from Past to Present uses common themes to present an integrated and comprehensive survey of human history from its origins to the present day. By weaving together thematic and regional perspectives in coherent chronological narratives, Goucher and Walton transform the overwhelming sweep of the human past into a truly global story that is relevant to the contemporary issues of our time.