Encyclopedia of World History (Facts on File Library of World History)

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly comprehensive for a single volume, excellent!
Review: Although you won't find everything in here, this is a surprisingly well-executed and comprehensive single volume valuable for history buffs and casual reference users alike.

With entries on a huge volume of major historical figures, geographical locations, conflicts and more, this book is a handy reference when one needs a quick answer on thousands of history related topics. If you need an easy way to look up where a certain country is located or which tribes settled which parts of Europe after the Roman Empire, this is your book. Even the most ardent history buff will value this tome for its ability to easily refresh the memory on so many topics. Many entries contain useful illustrations such as photographs of important historical sites, maps of geographic locations, drawings of period clothing and armor, maps of ancient migration paths, national flags and more.

Like most encyclopedias, the answers to complex issues are not explored in depth in favor of saving space for a huge number of entries. However, even the brief explanations on complicated topics are helpful and satisfying considering the space available, and parents of inquisitive children will value this book indeed for that quality. The next time someone asks you what caused the American Civil War and you need a brief, comprehensive answer, this book will prove its worth.