Frank Welsh was born in Washington, County Durham, and educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His books include The Profit of the State, Uneasy City, Building the Trireme, A History of Hong Kong and A History of South Africa. He lives in France and England.

• Introduction. Farmers to Emperors, timeline 6000 BC-500 AD. The River Civilizations, c.6000-600 BC. Early Empires, c.6000-c.610 BC. Persians and Greeks, c.2000-c.350 BC. Alexander and his Successors, 336 BC-c. AD 140. Roman Imperium: Republic and Empire, c.150 BC-c.AD 500. Early Civilizations of Africa and the Americas, c.1500 BC-AD 1500. Clash of Cultures, timeline 500-1600. The Rise of Islam, AD 622-1000. From Gauls to French, AD 407-1130. The Crusades, AD 1095-1396. China to the Mongols, 221 BC-AD 1294. Reformation and Renaissance, 1414-1648. New Worlds, 1494-1610. Gunpowder Empires, 1453-1707. The Modern World Forms, timeline 1600-1820. Early Modern Europe, 1648-1796. European Imperial Expansion, 1620-1720. Europeans and the Orient, 1368-1799. The Age of Enlightenment and the American Revolution, 1700-1776. The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, 1789-1815. A New World Order, 1776-1845. Imperialism, timeline 1820-1900. Post-Napoleonic Europe, 1814-1871. Eastern Superpowers: India and China, 1730-1856. Continental Empires, c.1800-1871. Exploration and Empire-building, 1770-1902. The Energy Revolution: The East Reacts to a Changing World, 1850-1905. A Century of Wars, timeline 1900-present. Stumbling into War, 1906-1919. The Interlude, 1920-1939. The Second World War and After, 1937-1953. New Nations, 1948-1968. Cautious Optimism, 1970-1994. Towards the Third Millennium, 2000-. Human achievements, timeline 6000 BC-present. Epilogue. Index.

Frank Welsh was born in Washington, County Durham, and educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His books include The Profit of the State, Uneasy City, Building the Trireme, A History of Hong Kong and A History of South Africa. He lives in France and England.

• Introduction. Farmers to Emperors, timeline 6000 BC-500 AD. The River Civilizations, c.6000-600 BC. Early Empires, c.6000-c.610 BC. Persians and Greeks, c.2000-c.350 BC. Alexander and his Successors, 336 BC-c. AD 140. Roman Imperium: Republic and Empire, c.150 BC-c.AD 500. Early Civilizations of Africa and the Americas, c.1500 BC-AD 1500. Clash of Cultures, timeline 500-1600. The Rise of Islam, AD 622-1000. From Gauls to French, AD 407-1130. The Crusades, AD 1095-1396. China to the Mongols, 221 BC-AD 1294. Reformation and Renaissance, 1414-1648. New Worlds, 1494-1610. Gunpowder Empires, 1453-1707. The Modern World Forms, timeline 1600-1820. Early Modern Europe, 1648-1796. European Imperial Expansion, 1620-1720. Europeans and the Orient, 1368-1799. The Age of Enlightenment and the American Revolution, 1700-1776. The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, 1789-1815. A New World Order, 1776-1845. Imperialism, timeline 1820-1900. Post-Napoleonic Europe, 1814-1871. Eastern Superpowers: India and China, 1730-1856. Continental Empires, c.1800-1871. Exploration and Empire-building, 1770-1902. The Energy Revolution: The East Reacts to a Changing World, 1850-1905. A Century of Wars, timeline 1900-present. Stumbling into War, 1906-1919. The Interlude, 1920-1939. The Second World War and After, 1937-1953. New Nations, 1948-1968. Cautious Optimism, 1970-1994. Towards the Third Millennium, 2000-. Human achievements, timeline 6000 BC-present. Epilogue. Index.

Frank Welsh was born in Washington, County Durham, and educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His books include The Profit of the State, Uneasy City, Building the Trireme, A History of Hong Kong and A History of South Africa. He lives in France and England.

• Introduction. Farmers to Emperors, timeline 6000 BC-500 AD. The River Civilizations, c.6000-600 BC. Early Empires, c.6000-c.610 BC. Persians and Greeks, c.2000-c.350 BC. Alexander and his Successors, 336 BC-c. AD 140. Roman Imperium: Republic and Empire, c.150 BC-c.AD 500. Early Civilizations of Africa and the Americas, c.1500 BC-AD 1500. Clash of Cultures, timeline 500-1600. The Rise of Islam, AD 622-1000. From Gauls to French, AD 407-1130. The Crusades, AD 1095-1396. China to the Mongols, 221 BC-AD 1294. Reformation and Renaissance, 1414-1648. New Worlds, 1494-1610. Gunpowder Empires, 1453-1707. The Modern World Forms, timeline 1600-1820. Early Modern Europe, 1648-1796. European Imperial Expansion, 1620-1720. Europeans and the Orient, 1368-1799. The Age of Enlightenment and the American Revolution, 1700-1776. The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, 1789-1815. A New World Order, 1776-1845. Imperialism, timeline 1820-1900. Post-Napoleonic Europe, 1814-1871. Eastern Superpowers: India and China, 1730-1856. Continental Empires, c.1800-1871. Exploration and Empire-building, 1770-1902. The Energy Revolution: The East Reacts to a Changing World, 1850-1905. A Century of Wars, timeline 1900-present. Stumbling into War, 1906-1919. The Interlude, 1920-1939. The Second World War and After, 1937-1953. New Nations, 1948-1968. Cautious Optimism, 1970-1994. Towards the Third Millennium, 2000-. Human achievements, timeline 6000 BC-present. Epilogue. Index.