With over 4,000 entries, arranged in a clear A-Z format, Encyclopedia of World History provides an unparalleled breadth and depth of information on events, figures, and concepts from prehistory right up to the present day. From the megaliths and menhirs at Carnac and the mound-builders of the Mississippi to the conflict in East Timor and the fall of the Soviet Union, this superb volume covers every significant historical event and location. Alongside the major rulers, commanders, and politicians, many biographies are included for those whose ideas, inventions, and discoveries have shaped world history. The Encyclopedia also provides succinct outlines of the major historical and social movements and ideologies, explaining the ideas and phenomena which have "made history," including capitalism, fascism, human evolution, war, women's suffrage, and urbanization. Entries on each of the world's nation states provide in-depth analysis of its physical location and economic development, as well as a handy checklist of statistical data. Plus, the encyclopedia provides excellent coverage of present day leaders and world political situations. We learn, for example, about Binyamin Netanyahu's stance on Israeli security, the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the background to Kofi Annan's election as UN Secretary-General. With a clear and extensive network of cross-references, 100 maps, portraits, and engravings depicting major historical events and personalities, Encyclopedia of World History provides the most authoritative, accessible, and comprehensive single-volume chronicle of the human past on the market today.