Global History

Library Bookwatch, Jan, 2005

Global History

David W. Del Testa, et.al., editors

ME Sharpe Inc.

80 Business Park Dr., Armonk, NY 10504

0765680432 $325.00 1-800-541-6563

Outstanding in its scope and presentation the 4-volume set, Global History: Cultural Encounters From Antiquity To The Present, is divided by periods of time and covering world history from antiquity in 5000 B.C.E. to the present: if only one library reference on general global history were to be considered for either a high school or college-level collection, it should be this. Bright, inviting colorful covers led to volumes which pepper their pages with color maps, illustrations and detail--but the meat of each book lies in its articles and essays discussing significant historical events. Each article cites primary sources, includes extensive bibliographic references for further reading, and each book includes a timeline of events. Each book includes not only plenty of detail about significant events of the era covered; it includes discussions of scholarly challenges and issues involved in presenting a multifaceted history. Very highly recommended.