National Geographic Concise History of the World: An Illustrated Time Line divides the epic story of humanity into eight major eras. Each era is explored through a unique design that combines concise introductory text essays with expansive time lines, dozens of maps, and hundreds of illustrations, sidebars, and photo essays. The result is both fascinating and easy to use and reminds us on every page that history is made up of countless threads and themes, all unfolding at one and many interconnected.