Traces the history of Mesoamerican civilization covering its origins, peoples, art, beliefs, conquests, and mythology.

In the Historical Atlas of Ancient America the highly developed systems of religion, politics, economics and agriculture are described in vivid detail.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations explores the world's earliest cultures, from the farming settlements of Mesopotamia to the Americas and Polynesia, via the birth of Greek city states and the foundation of Rome. It examines the development of civilizations in the Near East - Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian - as well as those in Europe - the Minoans, Etruscans and Celts. Across the continents of Africa, Asia and America, it covers such subjects as Egypt from its pre-dynastic roots to the age of the Pharaohs, China during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and the great cities of the Incas and Aztecs. Vivid descriptions of civilizations are complemented by discussion of such key topics as colonization, agriculture and technology, and the rise of empires and city states. Richly illustrated with timelines, photographs, artwork re-creations and full-colour maps, this is an illuminating and multi-faceted one-volume introduction to early peoples and the worlds they created. - Back cover.

The cradle of Western civilisation, Ancient Greece was a land of contradictions and conflict. Intensely quarrelsome and competitive, the Greek city-states consistently proved unwilling and unable to unite. Yet, in spite of or even because of this internal discord, no ancient civilization proved so dynamic or productive. The Greeks not only colonized the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas but set standards of figurative art that endured for nearly 2500 years. Charting topics as diverse as Minoan civilization, The Persian Wars, the Athenian Golden Age and the conquests of Alexander the Great, the book traces the development of this creative and restless people and assesses their impact not only on the ancient world but also on our own attitudes and environment. The authoritative narrative, illustrated with over sixty full colour maps and over seventy plates, makes this an indispensable handbook for history students and enthusiasts alike.

Traces the history of North America from the first appearance of man to 1870, with maps showing the development of native civilization, the arrival of European settlers, and the formative years of the U.S.

The rise and fall of the Roman World is one of the most fascinating stories in history. This book traces the historical, cultural and political development of the small Iron Age tribe on the banks of the River Tiber who developed into the rulers of an empire that dominated the Western world. While her legionaries brought Roman rule to the far corners of Europe and the Middle East, her poets, architects, politicians and philosophers were creating a cultural legacy that still survives today. In this ambitious and lavishly illustrated book, the history of this remarkable people has been traced, allowing readers a clear and concise insight into the Roman World. Use the well-researched text, superb maps, specially commissioned artwork, and copious photographs the Atlas of Ancient Rome to follow the origins, rise, decline, and fall of the greatest empire the world has ever known.