The history of the world - in a new compact edition

From the rise and fall of empires to the birth of nations, culture and conflict, explore the history of our world, from early man to the 21st century.

Key era overviews build up a story of the changing world through the centuries using maps and charts, looking at empires, trade and migrations, while historical developments are examined continent-by-continent and region by region, complemented by revealing timelines. A continental overview introduces each regional history, concentrating on the development of national boundaries, languages, religion, culture and the infrastructure of each continent. Covers key world issues including the AIDS epidemic in Africa, human trafficking, al-Queda and the `War on Terror'.

Visit www.dk.com/worldfactfile to find out more about the world's 193 countries, from maps and historical information to up-to-date statistics.