World Atlas of the Past: 4-volume set

The World Atlas of the Past combines over 100 newly rendered full-color maps with exquisite art and photographs and engrossing narrative to trace the history of humankind from its tentative beginnings to the present. This state-of-the-art set boasts extensive coverage of the major civilizations of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, which makes it a perfect fit with the global studies and world history curriculum.
Each section features a full-page regional map showing such historical events as global migration, wars, and the shift of imperial boundaries, and a highlight map that illustrates a particular aspect of politics or culture. These clear and easy-to-understand maps show how cities have developed, flourished, and declined, how geographical centers have changed, and how civilizations have interacted over time. The accompanying text captures the key historical facts of the period, while sidebars focus on art and artifacts to bring each civilization to life. A chronology within each section provides ready reference. Each volume includes a glossary of terms, suggestions for further reading, and an index.

The 4 volumes are:

Volume 1. THE ANCIENT WORLD: Earliest Times to 1 BC
Volume 2. THE MEDIEVAL WORLD: AD 1 to 1492
Volume 3. THE AGE OF DISCOVERY: 1492-1815
Volume 4. MODERN TIMES: 1815 to the Present