Asimov Isaac. Asimov's Chronology of the World

Harper Collins Publishers, 1991 — 712 p. — ISBN 978-0062700360, 0062700367Asimov's Chronology of the World is a 1991 book by Isaac Asimov, in which the author explains in chronological order important events that happened from the Big Bang until the end of World War II. Each chapter covers a certain time period. The chapter is then broken down into headings for each important empire or country of the time and describes the events that happened there during that chapter's time period.
An author who has written 465 books unquestionably knows the craft well, and here Asimov tackles nothing less than a history of the Earth from the creation of the universe to 1945. The format is similar to Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery: blocks of time are isolated and their events chronicled, first with theories in prehistory and then through historical records. One finishes the book feeling that history has been more the march of armies than of enlightenment. Asimov's style is crisp, concise, and devoid of jargon, and he is not above interjecting an occasional ironic or strongly felt opinion when a human foible invites one. Some, perhaps most, concepts and events are treated in an overly simplified manner, but that is unavoidable in a book that attempts to cover 15 billion years of history. Events are conveyed in broad terms, and proportionately few dates are included to interrupt the narrative, making this book as useful in a circulating collection as in reference. Its use as a ready reference tool, either to answer basic questions or as a starting point for more detailed research, will depend largely on the thoroughness of the index, unavailable for review. Those wishing for a more concise historical chronology might purchase Bernard Grun's Timetables of History (S. & S., 1982. rev. ed.); though an older title, it covers a more manageable period, from 5000 B.C. to 1978. For public, school, and university libraries.Asimov’s Chronology of the World describes events that occurred all around the globe — first evolutionary, then cultural, political, military, social, and technological developments — within specific time frames. This panoramic point of view lets you see the rise and fall of species, the advances and retreats of science, the highs and lows of art, the victories and defeats of nations, and more. You'll learn about the influences that various cultures have had upon one another, and gain a new appreciation of the vast sweep of time itself.
Asimov’s irresistibly lively writing makes this book a great browse as well as a useful reference — and, the extensive timeline puts all of the world’s history in its proper perspective.