World History For Dummies

Discover how the modern world came to be with this easy-to-follow and up-to-date history companion Want to get a taste of the entirety of human history in a single book? With World History For Dummies, you'll get an overview of the history of, well, everything, from the Neanderthal experience to the latest historical developments of the 21st century. Re-live history from your armchair as you ride into battle alongside Roman generals, prepare Egyptian pharaohs for the afterlife, and learn from the great Greek poets and philosophers. Written in the easy-to-digest style the For Dummies series is famous for, you'll discover: How religion, philosophy, and science shaped, and were shaped by, the great figures of history The human consequences of warfare, from historical battles to more modern conflicts from the 20th century What's influencing events in the 21st century, from climate change to new regimes and economies World History For Dummies is the perfect gift for the lifelong learner who wants to brush up on their world history knowledge. It's also an indispensable resource for AP World History students looking for a supplemental reference to help them with their studies.

Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting into History 5 Chapter 1: Tracing a Path to the Present 7 Chapter 2: Digging Up Reality 19 Chapter 3: Putting History into Perspective 29 Part 2: Finding Strength in Numbers 41 Chapter 4: Getting Civilized 43 Chapter 5: Rising and Falling Empires 61 Chapter 6: Splitting Eras: The Middle Ages 77 Chapter 7: Struggling for Dominance 93 Chapter 8: Grabbing the Globe 113 Chapter 9: Pulling Empires Together as Subjects Push Back 135 Part 3: Seeking Answers 161 Chapter 10: Worshipping through the Ages 163 Chapter 11: Loving Wisdom: Philosophy’s Impact 185 Chapter 12: Being Christian, Thinking Greek 201 Chapter 13: Awakening to the Renaissance 211 Chapter 14: Breaking Away: The Reformation 229 Chapter 15: Opening Up to Science and Enlightenment 251 Part 4: Fighting, Fighting, Fighting 267 Chapter 16: Wielding Sticks and Stones: Old-Fashioned War 269 Chapter 17: Upgrading the War Machine 283 Chapter 18: Modernizing Mayhem 297 Part 5: Meeting the Movers and Shakers 313 Chapter 19: Starting Something Legendary 315 Chapter 20: Battling Toward Immortality 329 Chapter 21: Exploring and “Discovering” 343 Chapter 22: Turning Tables: Rebels and Revolutionaries 357 Part 6: The Part of Tens 373 Chapter 23: Ten Unforgettable Dates in History 375 Chapter 24: Ten Essential Historical Documents 383 Index 393