OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Atlas of World History

Content of book looks good but text is really small and difficult to read. Should have been a two volume title or a larger format book. I returned the one I bought,

I chose to buy "Atlas of World History" because i often need quick information and a historical frame about any given geographical region in my studies. For that, Atlas of World History works well. Large maps, good index system - and not too much information.The only thing i don't like is it's layout. The colors used for graphical elements are a bit off (white+bright blue+grey), and the fonts are very small (my guess is size 9). The maps are not the nicest quality either, and looks more like something from Google Maps than from an actual atlas. Because of this the Atlas of World History looks like a cheap schoolbook, which is sad because it deserves something better.

My daughter enjoyed it

I have ordered this book in December 2012. The book is fine, but I rate it to be only 3 stars because:1. there are only 46 pages on ancient world from a total of 312 pages (included foreword, index, bibliography, and so on) - that means for the period 5 million yrs ago (or BCE) till 100-500 AD (or CE). I would have liked much more space given to this period, with many more detailed maps. I hoped for more about BCE period and 1-1000 CE period, especially since this is supposed to be World History, and not Medieval and Modern History.2. there are big pictures of different items (such as sculptures, paintings, various artifacts) which are occupying a lot of the space on each page, so instead of bigger maps you have a kind of scarce map-picture and kind of too big various-artifacts-picture. I think is important to have this various artifacts included, but either on many more pages, or on smaller scales.

An excellent reference book profusely illustrated with clear maps pertinent to the period. Compiled painstakingly by experts in a convenient double page layout and produced lavishly, it is a valuable guide to anyone searching for concise information on the happenings in the human world from beginning to the the present times. Recommended to students as well as to the inquisitive lay readers.