This is a history of Western civilization from 800BC until the late 1990s. In addition to the chief political developments, the text offers treatments of economic trends, cultural and intellectual movements, daily life and social change, the changing position and role of women, and the status of slaves, minorities such as Jews, and other ethic or religious groups. Europe's history is placed in the context of world history: that is to say, developments in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific will be discussed when they affected, or were affected by, Europe.