Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
I have studied the books made by the publishers Kingfisher, DK, Time Life, and several other publishers to find the very best history encyclopedia, and, in my view, this beats all! This colorful volume presents the big picture of life on planet earth up to the present day. It is actually four independent volumes bound together: Prehistoric World, Ancient World, Medieval World and The Last 500 Years. Excellent color illustrations, photographs, maps and information create a visual feast. The feature I like best is that it divides history according to civilization geographically (rather than jumping from nation to nation chronologically), making it so much easier to follow and remember. Another incredible feature is that it is internet-linked! You can visit age-appropriate internet sites from reputable universities and museums throughout the world and get up-to-date information and exciting activities such as printing out your name in hieroglyphics or actually listening to a famous speech online. Usborne keeps all links up to date. (Note: Prehistoric World, the first volume in the book, is all about dinosaurs and contains graphic evolution. I begin teaching history with the Ancient World section, prefacing it with the creation story. Hardcover, 415 pages, for ages 10 to adult. New revised 2010 edition has clear descriptions of historical events, reconstructions of exciting scenes throughout history, fascinating illustrations, over 100 maps and a 12,000-year illustrated time chart. |
