Global in scope, William McNeill's widely acclaimed one-volume history emphasizes the four Old World civilizations of the Middle East, India, China, and Europe, paying particular attention to their interaction across time and taking into account recent archaeological discoveries. The narrative touches on all aspects of civilization, including geography, communication, and technological and artistic developments.

It provides extensive coverage of the modern era and features numerous illustrations, maps, and tables. This new edition includes a thoroughly updated bibliographic essay and a new discussion of the most significant events in world history and civilization since 1976. Concise writing and comprehensive coverage make this an ideal text for a one-semester survey course in world history.