From the dawn of civilization to the modern dilemmas of nation building in Africa and the Middle East, THE ESSENTIAL WORLD HISTORY offers you a fascinating look at the common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and inform the future. Authors Duiker and Spielvogel use colorful visuals, maps, dramatic first-hand historical accounts and even reviews of popular movies to give you an insightful perspective on the human experience over time. The easy-to-read narrative is organized around seven major themes (Science and Technology, Art and Ideas, Family and Society, Politics and Government, Earth and the Environment, Religion and Philosophy and Interaction and Exchange). Important to all cultures from all time periods, these themes help you understand the course of world history, make connections across chapters and see today's world in a meaningful context. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Explore common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and identify key global patterns over time with THE ESSENTIAL WORLD HISTORY, 8E, International Edition. This brief overview of world history covers political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history integrated into a chronologically ordered synthesis to help you gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society. You can use the book's global approach and its emphasis on analytical comparisons between cultures to link events together in a broad comparative and global framework that places the contemporary world in a more meaningful historical context.

Noted teachers and scholars William J. Duiker and Jackson J. Spielvogel present a balanced, concise and compelling overview of world history that explores common challenges and experiences of the human past, and identifies key patterns over time. Political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural and military history--presented in a chronological framework--help students appreciate and understand the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society. Themes (Science and Technology, Art and Ideas, Family and Society, Politics and Government, Earth and the Environment, Religion and Philosophy and Interaction and Exchange) assist students in placing historical events and the contemporary world in a meaningful context. Available options: THE ESSENTIAL WORLD HISTORY, 9th Edition (Chapters 1 - 30); Volume I: To 1800 (Chapters 1 - 18); Volume II: Since 1500 (Chapters 14 - 30). Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

The ancient trade routes that made up the Silk Road were some of the great conduits of cultural and material exchange in world history. In this intriguing book, Xinru Liu reveals both why and how this long-distance trade in luxury goods emerged in the late third century BCE, following its story through to the Mongol conquest. Liu starts with China's desperate need for what the Chinese called "the heavenly horses" of Central Asia, and describes how the traders who brought these horses also brought other exotic products, some all the way from the Mediterranean. Likewise, the Roman Empire, as a result of its imperial ambition as well as the desire of its citizens for Chinese silk, responded with easterly explorations for trade. The book shows how the middle men, the Kushan Empire, spread Buddhism to China. Missionaries and pilgrims facilitated cave temples along the mountainous routes and monasteries in various oases and urban centers, forming the backbone of the Silk Road. The author also explains how Islamic and Mongol conquerors in turn controlled the various routes until the rise of sea travel diminished their importance.

Burbank and Cooper examine Rome and China from the third century BCE, empires that sustained state power for centuries.

In this best-selling text, noted teachers and scholars William J. Duiker and Jackson J. Spielvogel present a brief, balanced, highly-readable overview of world history that explores common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and that identify key global patterns over time. Thorough coverage of political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history has been integrated into a chronologically ordered synthesis to help students gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society. The Sixth Edition continues to take a global approach to world history, with an emphasis on analytical comparisons between and among cultures throughout history. This approach helps students to link events together in a broad comparative and global framework, thereby placing the contemporary world in a more meaningful historical context. Available in the following split options: THE ESSENTIAL WORLD HISTORY, Sixth Edition (Chapters 1-30), ISBN: 978-0-495-90227-0; Volume I: To 1800 (Chapters 1-18), ISBN: 978-0-495-90291-1; Volume II: Since 1500 (Chapters 14-30), ISBN: 978-0-495-90292-8. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.