Look at World History

The Black Death sounds like the name of a creepy movie, but it was an actual historical event. It was the term for the pandemic of plague throughout Europe and Asia in the 14th century. Before it was over, tens of millions of people had died. Readers will be enthralled to learn of the disturbing details of this gruesome disease and how it spread. They'll learn how people coped, how the world changed, and that plague still exists. Historical images and maps help support the engrossing information in this comprehensible look at an important time in history.

Byzantine art and architecture are admired throughout the world, but many people are less familiar with the influential empire that produced it. Young historians will learn about the world power that was born out of the Roman Empire and lasted nearly 1,000 years after Rome fell. They'll read about important rulers such as Justinian and Constantine and how the Crusades finally caused the destruction of the mighty domain. Aspects of culture such as religion, art, and architecture are explained and beautifully displayed in the featured full-color artwork.

In 1095, Pope Urban II ordered Christians to capture Jerusalem from the powerful Muslim forces that held it. This war would become known as the First Crusade, and many more crusades followed as Muslims and Christians contended for territory in the Middle Ages. Fascinated readers will find out why these wars were waged as well as the lasting effects they had on the Western world. Maps and a timeline help them follow the action, while stunning historical artwork illustrates the key figures in this bloody time in history.

The Middles Ages aren't just an uninteresting period of history trapped between ancient times and the Renaissance, as the name suggests. It's 1,000 years of fascinating historical events, including the Crusades, the Black Death, and the longest war that has ever been fought. This comprehensible book takes young historians on the journey from the beginning of medieval times to the end. Maps, historical artwork, and a timeline help readers understand the essential moments of the Middle Ages.

The impact of the Norman Conquest in England can't be overstated. After William of Normandy conquered the Anglo-Saxons in 1066, the very culture of England changed, from the social structure to the written language. This carefully researched and accessible volume explains the Normans' strategy, significant events on and off the battlefield, and the key figures to know about this momentous event. Fact boxes, historical artwork, and a timeline aid readers in their comprehension.

'Renaissance' means 'rebirth' in French. The Renaissance period of European history is aptly named because people had a rebirth, or renewed, interest in the ideas of ancient Greeks and Romans. This led to a new age of science and art. Readers will learn about the many aspects of the Renaissance as well as the prominent figures of this era, including Nicolaus Copernicus, Leonardo da Vinci, and others. A timeline helps summarize the crucial dates of the Renaissance while stunning images convey the scope of the period in splendid detail.