A visual, thematic history that focuses on how humankind pushed the boundaries of knowledge and the known world. Four elements of the story are investigated in turn - the evolution of tribes and civilizations throughout the world, leadership and government as society became more complicated, travel and warfare, and science and technology. This book aims to enable you to contrast the strengths and weaknesses of different peoples, how some grew into great civilizations, and others did not - and to discover why. Material is drawn from each of the world's major early civilizations and cultures is investigated in turn, from the dramatic changes during Stone Age and the ancient river valley civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and the Nile, to the continuing cultures of the Arctic and Native American Indians. The book offers step-by-step projects for recipes, costumes, and model-making - all inspired by the skills of the past while pictorial timelines plot key people, events and civilizations. This text aims to enhance the British National Curriculum Key Stage 2 objectives.