About this Book

"William McNeil's widely acclaimed one-volume history now appears in an up to date third edition which retains the distinguished style and remarkable cohesiveness of the original. On the premise that balance among cultures in any age may be disturbed by forces emanating from unusually powerful or attractive civilizations, Mcneill studies centers of primary disturbance in successive epochs, from neolithic times to our own century. Global in scope, the book emphasizes the four Old World civilizations (those of the Middle East, India, China and Europe) paying particular attention to their interaction across time and taking account of the most recent archaeological discoveries. Geography, communication between peoples, technological and artistic developments, all basic to the text, make the book highly readable and especially informative. The modern era is treated extensively. The period since 1789 encompasses African civilizations, change in the Middle East, and the Vietnam War. A new bibliographical essay, an essay on architecture in the modern age, numerous illustrations, maps, and tables, all contribute to the usefulness of this volume". -- Publisher.