Encyclopedia of Civilizations, Explorers and Conquerers

by Brooks, Philip; Fowler, Will; Adams, Simon

• ISBN13: 9781842151570
• ISBN10: 1842151576
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: Natl Book Network (J)

Summary

This fact-filled encyclopedia takes a thematic rather than a chronological approach to the past. By enabling complete topics to be reviewed and assessed at a single stroke, this fascinating but all too often dry and opaque subject is brought to life and made easily accessible for today's young reader.

Divided into four sections, the authors cover Ancient Civilizations, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, Exploration and Discovery, and Prehistoric Peoples. The result is a broad overview of life in times of peace and war, from the ancient worlds of the Sumerians and Egyptians right up to the present day. Each spread gives a broad overview of a particular topic, whilst reference panels at the bottom pick out interesting detail and include specially commissioned maps, artefacts and icons.

An invaluable reference source for all the family, this is a book that will be returned to again and again.

Table of Contents

Reaching For The Future	6	(4)
First Steps	10	(58)
Introduction	12	(2)
Finding the Evidence	14	(2)
The Toolmakers	16	(2)
The Coming of Fire	18	(2)
The Spread of the Hominids	20	(2)
Neanderthals	22	(2)
Wise Man	24	(2)
The First Europeans	26	(2)
The Ice Age	28	(2)
Images of the Ice Age	30	(2)
The First Australians	32	(2)
Early Americans	34	(2)
The Thaw Begins	36	(2)
A Better Food Supply	38	(2)
Rock Paintings	40	(2)
The First Farmers	42	(2)
Plants and Animals	44	(2)
The Coming of Trade	46	(2)
Pots and Potters	48	(2)
European Settlements	50	(2)
Asian Communities	52	(2)
The Americas	54	(2)
Hunting and Gathering	56	(2)
The First Metalworkers	58	(2)
Megaliths	60	(2)
Lake Villages	62	(2)
The Iron Age	64	(2)
The Birth of Civilization	66	(2)
Realms of Gold	68	(58)
Introduction	70	(2)
The Sumerians	72	(2)
Ancient Babylon	74	(2)
The Hittites	76	(1)
The Assyrians	77	(1)
The Persian Empire	78	(2)
Parthians and Sassanians	80	(2)
Islamic Empire	82	(2)
Indus Valley Civilization	84	(2)
Mauryan India	86	(2)
Ancient Egypt	88	(4)
African Civilizations	92	(2)
Minoan Crete	94	(2)
Mycenae	96	(2)
The Etruscans	98	(2)
Classical Greece	100	(4)
Hellenistic Age	104	(2)
Ancient Rome	106	(4)
Early Dynastic China	110	(2)
Qin China	112	(2)
Han China	114	(2)
Early Japan	116	(2)
The Khmers	118	(2)
North American Civilizations	120	(2)
People of the Andes	122	(1)
The Olmec	123	(1)
The Maya	124	(2)
Clashing Shields	126	(58)
Introduction	128	(2)
Clubs, Maces, Hammers and Flails	130	(2)
Axes and Throwing Weapons	132	(2)
Slings, Bows and Crossbows	134	(2)
Daggers and Knives	136	(2)
Swords, Sabers and Scimitars	138	(2)
Spears, Poles, Pikes and Halberds	140	(2)
Ancient Firearms	142	(2)
Armor	144	(2)
Shields	146	(2)
Helmets and War Hats	148	(2)
Animals at War	150	(2)
Horses in Battle	152	(2)
Chariots and War Wagons	154	(2)
Cavalry Weapons	156	(2)
Castles and Fortifications	158	(2)
Towers, Keeps and Gates	160	(2)
Walls	162	(2)
Defending Borders	164	(2)
Under Siege	166	(2)
Siege Attack	168	(2)
Bombardment	170	(2)
Ramps, Rams and Mining	172	(2)
Gunpowder Arrives	174	(2)
War at Sea	176	(2)
Sail or Oar?	178	(2)
Ramming and Grappling	180	(2)
Sailing to War	182	(2)
Journey Without End	184	(58)
Introduction	186	(2)
Egyptians, Phoenicians and Greeks	188	(2)
Europe and Asia	190	(2)
The Invasion of Europe	192	(2)
The Vikings	194	(2)
The Polynesians	196	(2)
Crossing the Deserts	198	(2)
The Chinese Empire	200	(2)
Travelers in Europe	202	(2)
The Portuguese	204	(2)
Christopher Columbus	206	(2)
Conquering the New World	208	(2)
Around the World	210	(2)
Into Canada	212	(2)
The Northwest Passage	214	(2)
The Northeast Passage	216	(2)
Exploring Asia	218	(2)
Advancing into America	220	(2)
Across the Pacific	222	(2)
Captain Cook	224	(2)
Trekking across Australia	226	(2)
The Amazon	228	(2)
Deep inside Africa	230	(2)
Livingstone and Stanley	232	(2)
The North Pole	234	(2)
Race to the South Pole	236	(2)
Seas, Summits and Skies	238	(2)
Blasting into Space	240	(2)
Gazetteer of People and Places	242	(6)
Glossary	248	(4)
Index	252