Follow the fascinating threads of human history in this monumental volume, amply illustrated with maps, archival imagery, and revealing photographs.

In National Geographic Ultimate Visual History of the World comes to life in this comprehensive overview of humankind, from earliest times to the present day. Each page is filled with stunning visuals and thought-provoking text that make this book an instant classic. From the Babylonian Empire to the Persian Gulf War, from the Xia and Shang Dynasties of Bronze Age China to the new space race, from Egyptian hieroglyphics to the digital age-here, in vivid color and crisp narrative, is the sweeping story of the history of civilization.

Every chapter includes:
Notable dates
Salient quotations from the time
Explanatory maps
Fascinating sidebar stories
Photographs of artifacts & landscapes
Art works depicting dramatic scenes
Visually driven, rich and far-reaching yet friendly and browsable, with iconic National Geographic maps, illustrations, and images enhancing the pages, this new book is a history-lover's dream.