Customer Reviews:
 tiny archaic maps November 10, 2008
I bought directly volume 1 and 2 of the Penguin Atlas of World History. Big mistake! The maps are demoded and the text is in an unappealing tiny script. No wonder because it is a reprint of an old book. They should have read Tufte's magnum opus on the display of information before republishing it. Why is there no decent Atlas of World History in the 21st century? At least the Penguin Atlas is not too expensive and it is currently in print, so it still deserves 1 star.
 The title is misleading November 27, 2006
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Looking for an atlas of WORLD HISTORY, I was attracted to this title.
It's maps are excellent. The religious, military, political and economic detail of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin in pre-history, antiquity, the middle ages and through to the French Revolution are indeed fantastic, as is the history which is mostly presented as a timeline within each issue. My only possible complaint is that the book itself is small and the maps need a keen eye.
However, there are very few maps on the rest of the world. China, the Middle East, Africa, the New World - there are very few maps, and many are about Europe's interaction and intervention in these regions.
In a word: Eurocentric. No doubt it was initially put together in the days when Europe was indeed thought to be the world - before the 1980s. It would deserve 5 stars if the title was 'The Penguin Atlas of European History'. Instead, for world history, why not try the Cassell's Atlas of World History by John Haywood: larger, and an actual world history, though contains less detail in its text.
 If you want a good overview about history.... December 20, 2003
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is about the best overview of history I have ever seen: it clearly describes world history and not the ususal european centred history - everything from pre-historia to common age. The fact that maps are being used as well as diagrams helps an awful lot to give a clear overview without getting confused with minor details. I am not an historian but these books made me understand the general concept of history through time. And you know what? We are all the same, strange he.
An excellent visual and outline review of world history November 16, 1999
3 out of 14 found this review helpful
Please see my review of volume 1. The same qualifiers apply to this volume too.
Excellent visual and outline review of world history November 16, 1999
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
I used an earlier edition of this book in college almost 20 years ago. It was extremely useful for doing quick reviews before exams. Furthermore, it is an excellent and very portable reference for dates, places, names, major cultural themes, etc. of the past. I still use it during my history readings. A top choice.
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