The Illustrated History of the World

By J.M. Roberts

The Illustrated History of the World is a new, lavishly illustrated edition of J. M. Roberts's bestselling History of the World . Now completely revised and updated, this comprehensive 10-volume set traces the tumultuous story of humankind from the origins of Homo sapiens to the most recent upheavals in Africa and the Balkans. The rise and fall of civilizations; war, revolution, and peace; the attempts of peoples to mold and sustain their national identities; the impact of powerful individuals on world events; the interplay of state and religion; the social and economic factors that influence societies--these are some of the themes of this masterful, sweeping narrative. More than 2,000 photographs in color and black and white present a unique visual panoply of the march of history. In addition, more than 200 maps and artworks in full color bring complex situations into clear focus. Fully integrated sidebars and feature boxes narrow in on key themes, providing an additional layer of interest. Each volume also contains a double-page, illustrated chronology of major events, plus a bibliography and detailed index. Dr. Roberts' revisions to the ancient history portion of the text, made specifically for this edition, ensure that the latest findings of archaeology and anthropology are taken into account. At the opposite extreme of the timescale--the modern world at the threshold of the 21st century--the distinguished author has amended the existing text and added new chapters to reflect all the complex adjustments in the balance of politics and power since the first edition was published in 1976. Authoritative, brilliantly written, and superbly illustrated, this outstanding and popular work of scholarship makes the whole sweep of history vivid and accessible as never before. The volumes of The Illustrated History of the World are: I. Prehistory and the First Civilizations II. Eastern Asia and Classical Greece III. Rome and the Classical West IV. The Age of Diverging Traditions V. The Far East and a New Europe VI. The Making of the European Age VII. The Age of Revolution VIII. The European Empires IX. Emerging Powers X. The New Global Era

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019521529X
• ISBN13: 9780195215298
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 1920 Pages
• Weight: 4.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 9.9" x 12.3"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

nice addition

Very pleasing book with good quality illustrations of the most important works of art and architecture. A nice addition to anyone's library.

A colorful and informative book

This book is the third volume in the wonderful Illustrated History of the World Series. This book covers Rome, from it's founding, through the rise of Christianity and the twilight of the Classical world. Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful maps and pictures, and interesting sidebars.I really enjoyed this colorful and informative book. It gives the reader a good grounding in understanding ancient Rome, and even went into wonderful detail on things that I did not know, such as Judaism under Rome. Overall, I liked the book, and highly recommend it.

Well-Written and Beautifully Illustrated

Rome and the Classical West is volume three of a ten volume series called The Illustrated History of the World. The first volume covered the origins of the human race through the first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The second volume in the series reviewed the early cultures of India and China and then moved on to discuss Greek civilization. This third volume covers the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, from 800 BCE to 600 CE. The book is filled with beautiful color illustrations. Every page has at least one and most are photographs of artifacts, art works, or scenes. The text is well written and emphasizes brief summaries rather than scholarly examination. This makes it a good basic introduction and outline, but may be less useful to someone who wants to look at these subjects in greater depth. The lack of any bibliography of further readings is also a drawback for those wanting to seek more information. A two-page time chart of the period helps to put events in perspective. The chapter contents are confusingly placed at the end of the book, but they are well done and helpful for getting an overview of the author's approach. A two page listing of all the books in the series with their section and chapter titles helps to put the material into the broader view of all world history.If you want an entertaining introduction to the beginnings of the Roman Empire, its relationship to the Greek civilization, the rise of the Ceasars, the role of Judaism and the birth of Christianity, the division into East and West, the Christianization of the Empire, and its final demise in the West, this is a great book to read. I learned the difference between Visigoths and Ostragoths and why Germanic peoples are called Arians. There is a great discussion of St. Augustine's influence, the rise of the Roman Catholic church, and the division between it and the Byzantine church. The type face is large and the lines are amply spaced. Couple this with the copious illustrations and the book is actually a very quick read for its size and length. It is a few steps above the approach of Dorling Kindersley books that are predominately illustrations with supporting text. With Roberts, the text is the major part, but the illustrations are definitely more than an after thought. This is a good introduction for the general reader. It is not going to be a lasting reference book that you will turn to again and again. Read it once and move on.