History of Western Society Since 1300 for Advanced Placement

by John Buckler, John P. McKay, Bennett D. Hill

Book Overview

Providing a survey of world societies from antiquity to the present, this edition maintains emphasis on social history and also treats European and non-European political, economic, cultural and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312640587
• ISBN13: 9780312640583
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: Bedford Books
• Length: 832 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 8.7" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Very speedy and accommodating

Great seller! He initially sent the worng book but IMMEDIATELY and KINDLY corrected the problem. Would certainly buy from him again. Also, the shipping was very speedy!

Excellent Study Guide

The Study Guide accompanies the textbook 'A History of Western Society, Vol. 2). If you are reading the same textbook (and in many cases, even if you are not), the study guide is very useful. Each chapter begins with an outline of the corresponding book chapter. The study guide also provides 20 multiple choice questions for every chapter, which is an excellent but brief review for class tests and the AP exam itself. The study guide also contains key terms and important people in the chapter to remember and space to jot notes for those terms and people. It is an excellent way to review for the AP exam and simplify the book chapter. I will definitely recommend it.

Fun to read, and very helpful in prep for AP test

History is one of my favorite subjects, and I have read quite a few textbooks in the area, and I have never found one with the perfect combination of being readable yet comprehensive.I must admit, I found the chapters covering 1200-1800 to be much more interesting than the last few chapters, but even the last chapters had all the characters and events that you need to know.One point that recommends this book is that it acknowledges point of view, something very important on the APEH exam or in any history analysis. Most textbooks force you to extrapolate their point of view and shift your interpretation. I found that McKay and his co-authors present a very neutral account of history, rarely passing judgment on history's actors.The organization worked for me also. It is loosely chronological, but bends for continuity. It adequately covers almost all areas, from the Renaissance to the Thirty Years' War to the Industrial Revolution. Something about the style of writing and the organization helped my memory retention magnificently.I took Euro sophomore year, US junior year, and as a senior I remember about twice as many things from Euro as I remember from US. I largely owe that to this book.Remember to give yourself enough time to read the chapters, which are long and moderately dense. They take a few hours to read them really well, and you wouldn't want to read any of this book too fast or without your full attention.Anyway, buy it, read it, enjoy it! = deeper understanding of Euro History and a 5 on the AP test.

Three Weeks to CLEP Success

I used this book as my primary resource to study for the Western Civilization I CLEP test. I found it interesting and informative. In three weeks, I read it cover to cover, took the CLEP test, and scored nearly twice the number of points needed to earn college credit. I would recommend it to anyone who is motivated and needs to work within a limited time frame.

An excellent resources for teachers and students

As a high school history teacher, I have found this book to be an excellent resource for lecture notes. It includes specific and detailed information to illustrate significant historical periods and events that I have not found anywhere else. For example, the section on the Renaissance contains facinating detail on the role of women and Africans in Europe at that time. I have also loaned this book to students because the authors clearly outline the "so what" of historical events.