MetroBooks, 2001, 1^st pr thus.  ISBN 1-58663-238-8.  Hard cover, unpaginated (approx. 96 pages) including Acknowledgments and Index.  Very good; lower spine end bumped; binding sound with headbands.  Dust jacket has edge and cover wear; section of coloured paper at lower rear edge peeled off leaving a section of white.  Book interior clean and unmarked; colour maps and illustrations throughout.  ‘… offers a fascinating guide to the history of humanity from the time of our earliest ancestors to the thriving civilizations of the fifth century BC.  Combining superbly detailed maps with a wealth of supporting narrative and an invaluable A-Z historical encyclopedia, it provides not only unique perspectives on the broad sweep of world history but also detailed coverage of regional developments, presenting hard facts and expert interpretation in a form that is both readily accessible and visually exciting.’ (from front flap)