Mankind has come a long way since our ancestors first stood up on two feet, but how we did get to where we are today? This book tells the story, through conflict and intrigue, power won and lost, great empires built and destroyed. With over 350 pictures, this volume is a visual treat. Every double-page spread focuses on a different topic and most contain an at-a-glance timeline, making this ideal for quick reference and for reading in depth. Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the first civilizations, follow marauding Mongols on their quest to conquer or find out what made colonial empires tick, look no further than A Short History of the World.