Here, for the first time, is a beautiful, all-new atlas that gives a comprehensive and graphic presentation of the whole sweep of world history from ancient times to the end of World War II. The scores of highly legible maps and the concise text were prepared especially for this volume by outstanding authorities in the field of world history.

To give a complete and vivid portrait of civilization, the new Rand McNally Atlas of World History covers many varied phases of world history—political, economic, social, military, and religious—as well as the evolution of new ideas and concepts in literature, architecture, and the arts.

New Maps Portray Great Civilizations

The 132 pages of beautiful, full-color maps and black and white maps, tell the story of the world from the dawn of history through World War II. They were exclusively created for this atlas by skilled Rand McNally cartographers, under the guidance of recognized scholars.

These are just a few of the ninety-six color maps: Alexander's Empire; The Roman Republic in the Time of Caesar and Cicero; Europe and the Crusader States about 1140; Europe in 1810: at the Height of Napoleon's Power; Asia at the Death of Kublai Khan, 1294; Partition of Africa; World War II: Height of Axis Expansion, 1942. 

Special maps are devoted to the cultural and economic aspects of world history, in addition to the expected political and geographical information. For example, the map of European Civilization during the Renaissance identifies this era as the Age of Humanism, of Renaissance painting and sculpture, of classical and biblical studies, and as the time when the first printed books appeared.

For the first time in any historical atlas, there is an extensive section devoted to Asia and Africa which provides invaluable background information so necessary to a clear understanding of the important events occurring in those areas today.

There is an unusually interesting section on old maps and modern cartography.

Edited by Leading Modern Scholars

The distinguished editor of this original work is Robert R. Palmer, Professor of European History at Princeton University. Under his general direction the maps and text were prepared by these outstanding specialists: Tom B. Jones, University of Minnesota (Ancient History); Sidney Painter, Johns Hopkins University (Medieval and Renaissance History); Charles Jelavich, University of California, Berkeley (East European and Russian History); Charles E. Howell, University of Illinois (History of European Expansion); John W. Caughey, University of California, Los Angeles (American History); Knight Biggerstaff, Cornell University (Far East History).

Through the Rand McNally Atlas of World History, these authorities have provided a better understanding of the modern world by reviewing the events of the past. They have given us a quick background reference for the many allusions to history made today in newspapers, on radio and TV programs, and in books. 

Continuous Story of Civilization

The explanatory text is interwoven with the fine maps to tell a continuous, engrossing and easy-to-follow story of the march of civilization. The fifty-seven pages of text are also keyed to the maps. This method of co-ordinating maps and text clearly conveys important ideas and provides connected reading. There is a complete index of place names. 

Another exclusive feature of the atlas are the tables of historical statistics which reveal a wealth of useful facts down through the years. For example: the populations of selected countries and cities from medieval times to the present are given; and there is a table on the diseases of typhoid and cancer tracing the prevalence of these diseases in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Handsome, Invaluable Volume

The Rand McNally Atlas of World History is for all who enjoy reading history, historical novels, keeping abreast of current affairs, improving their knowledge of history and geography, enlarging their interests and conversational abilities. It is a modern volume of lasting interest that belongs in every home, school, and library.

From the dust jacket