From the first hominids to the headline events of today, this National Geographic easy-access history book presents world-shaping events, revolutions in politics and thought, and major headlines, all organized to show parallels and interactions between continents, cultures, and countries through time. The book divides the epic story of humanity into eight major eras. Each era is explored through introductory essays, expansive time lines, dozens of maps, and hundreds of photographs, sidebars, and photo essays.