World History: Minipedia

Edited By Jeremy Black
Worms: 2 and ½ out of 5

The book is a collection of very brief description of the major events of world history. The order is obviously chronological. Starting from the ancient world era the author takes you to the twentieth century. For better understanding book is divided in sections on each century i.e. ancient world, fifteenth century and then up to last century. Each section is further divided on the basis of the subject matters i.e. power and politics, wars, culture, exploration, industry, science and Technology and finally religion.
This minipedia is extreme compaction and is excellent to roughly develop the time line in mind for all significant events that happened. Even the most important topics have not been given more than three fourth of the page.
I think choosing the other way to write would have given it better flow i.e. each subject matter (e.g. wars, politics,then science etc.) was taken up separately and then was revealed century by century. This would have probably gievn the book a story like flow.

Anyway, the book is nice for all those who are interested in history and yet like it in small doses.