Smithsonian Timelines of History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Events that Shaped the World

Beginning with the emergence of our earliest African ancestors and taking readers through the history of cultures and nations around the world to arrive at the present day, Timelines of History caters to readers who want a broad overview, a good story to read, or the nitty-gritty of historical events. With easily accessible cross-references that build bite-size pieces of information into a narrative that leads readers back and forth through time, Timelines of History makes the past accessible to all families, students, and the general reader. 06 Contents 8 010 HUMAN ORIGINS 13 014 Colonizing the Planet 16 020 Prehistoric Peoples 22 022 EARLY CIVILIZATIONS 25 028 The Story of Writing 31 032 Ancient Empires 34 038 Ancient Egypt 40 042 THE CLASSICAL AGE 45 048 Ancient Greece 50 054 The Story of Metalworking 57 064 The Story of Money 67 074 The Rise of the Roman Empire 76 084 Ancient Rome 86 096 Classical Trade 98 106 TRADE & INVENTION 109 122 The Vikings 124 134 The Islamic World 136 144 The Aztecs, Incas, and Maya 146 154 The Story of Printing 156 164 REFORMATION & EXPLORATION 167 172 Voyages of Exploration 174 182 The Story of Astronomy 184 190 Edo Period 192 198 Mughal Empire 200 204 The Renaissance 206 216 The Story of Arms and Armor 218 230 The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire 232 238 The Story of Navigation 240 250 The Story of Agriculture 252 254 THE AGE OF REVOLUTION 257 262 European Nation States 264 274 The Story of Steam Power 277 282 The Story of Medicine 284 290 American Indians 292 298 The Story of Electricity 300 310 American Civil War 313 316 The Qing Dynasty 318 324 The Imperial World 326 332 The Story of the Car 334 338 TECHNOLOGY & SUPERPOWERS 341 344 The Great War 346 350 Soviet Propaganda 352 354 World War I 356 364 The Story of Flight 366 374 The Story of Communication 376 388 War in Europe 390 394 War in the Pacific 396 402 World War II 404 412 The Space Race 414 422 End of Empire 424 428 The Story of Genetics 430 442 Collapse of the USSR 445 452 The European Union 454 466 Global Economy 468 468 DIRECTORY 470 476 Rulers and Leaders 478 486 History in Figures 480 488 Wars 482 488 Explorers 482 490 Inventions and Discoveries 484 491 Philosophy and Religion 485 493 Culture and Learning 487 496 Disasters 490 490 Glossary 492 494 Index 496 510 Acknowledgments 512 The entire course of history is revisited in this unique and unforgettable visual guide. The most memorable moments and significant events of each year are charted in a definitive timeline that runs throughout the book. From the ancient origins of our earliest African ancestors right up to our modern world today, Timelines of History includes a diverse range of people, cultures, and countries. Ideas, inventions, and innovations come together to provide a truly global view of history.Dramatic photography, eye-catching maps, and supporting graphics bring history to life as never before. The instantly accessible, multi-layered timeline enables you to move effortlessly through the ages. This essential reference strikes a balance between being completely comprehensive, but also ideal for browsing, thanks to the organized structure, chronological order, and bitesize information.This celebratory compendium makes an outstanding addition to any family library, enabling you to dip into the past any time you like. An illustrated time line of the history of the world, covering significant events, places, and people from the origin of humans to 2011