In 26 chapters, this book brings to life the history of mankind from human origins to the collapse of the Iron Curtain and beyond. There is also included a chronology of world history, a bibliography and a proper name and thematic index. This book covers the decline of communism in Eastern Europe and the Gulf War, and also indicates a range of revisions to earlier chapters. At a time when world history is increasingly a requirement of school and college syllabuses, this volume attempts to provide a primer and reference book for this purpose.