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Usborne Encyclopedias
The Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History
Covers world history from the beginning of the universe to 2000, and provides information about major civilizations, rulers and other historical figures, important events, scientific and technical advances, and other details.
416 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2000
95 people are currently reading
570 people want to read
About the author
Jane Bingham
320 books17 followersJane M. Bingham spent most of her adult life teaching college students about children's literature at Oakland University, collecting and studying children's books from across history and around the world, and campaigning for better materials for children to read. After she retired from that career, she began writing children's books of her own. Bingham has since authored several nonfiction books that seek to explain contemporary issues to children, including divorce, the dangers of drug abuse, and the art and culture of civilizations around the world.
In Why Do Families Break Up? Bingham attempts to demystify the process of divorce for middle-school students. The book begins by examining some of the reasons a couple might decide to divorce, then moves on to explain the process of coping and moving on after a family separates. School Library Journal contributor Sharon A. Neal described the book as "supportive [and] unbiased" and noted, "Despite the nature of the topic, the book is hopeful."
Tiananmen Square: June 4, 1989 examines the studentled protest against China's Communist rulers that occurred there, in the middle of Beijing, in the spring of 1989. On June 4 the government mobilized the army, including tanks, to disperse the demonstrators, killing several of them in the process. "The excellent illustrations and clear narrative," Elizabeth Talbot wrote in School Library Journal, make Tiananmen Square a "good introduction" to the protest and its aftermath.
Bingham is the author of three installments in the "World Art and Culture" series, examining India, Africa, and Aboriginal Australia. Each book is brief, only fifty-six pages long, and "the texts are straightforward and concise," Gillian Engberg noted in a review of AfricanArt and Culture for Booklist. Despite this brevity, much information is packed into each volume. Bingham opens each book with a chapter about the history of the region, from thousands of years ago to the present day, and follows with chapters about the art forms practiced in that area. These include architecture, basket-weaving, creating musical instruments, dance, and body modification (tattoos, piercings, and the like), among others. Indian Art and Culture also includes a chapter on one of that country's modern art forms, the "Bollywood" movie industry. As Donna Cardon noted in School Library Journal, "The texts not only describe the art forms and how they are created, but also explain the role that art plays in the cultures."
Bingham once wrote: "In 1981 I completed a trip which took me to American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, South Africa, and Swaziland. I collected examples of children's books along the way and became acutely aware of the need for books and other teaching resources in many developing countries. I was especially impressed with the variety of India's and Bangladesh's children's books—in spite of the difficulties their creators often encounter in publishing and promoting them. I also found that becoming aware of and enjoying the literature from other countries enriched my appreciation of American children's books. I found myself asking over and over why we, with the plethora we have to choose from, too often opt for the mediocre rather than the 'rarest kind of best.' As educators, creators, and consumers, we all too often forget to think of children's books as real literature because we fail to apply critical literary standards. It is my hope that my teaching and writing will draw attention to the continuing need for quality books in our own country and will also encourage American students and teachers to adopt a wider, world view of children's literature."
In Why Do Families Break Up? Bingham attempts to demystify the process of divorce for middle-school students. The book begins by examining some of the reasons a couple might decide to divorce, then moves on to explain the process of coping and moving on after a family separates. School Library Journal contributor Sharon A. Neal described the book as "supportive [and] unbiased" and noted, "Despite the nature of the topic, the book is hopeful."
Tiananmen Square: June 4, 1989 examines the studentled protest against China's Communist rulers that occurred there, in the middle of Beijing, in the spring of 1989. On June 4 the government mobilized the army, including tanks, to disperse the demonstrators, killing several of them in the process. "The excellent illustrations and clear narrative," Elizabeth Talbot wrote in School Library Journal, make Tiananmen Square a "good introduction" to the protest and its aftermath.
Bingham is the author of three installments in the "World Art and Culture" series, examining India, Africa, and Aboriginal Australia. Each book is brief, only fifty-six pages long, and "the texts are straightforward and concise," Gillian Engberg noted in a review of AfricanArt and Culture for Booklist. Despite this brevity, much information is packed into each volume. Bingham opens each book with a chapter about the history of the region, from thousands of years ago to the present day, and follows with chapters about the art forms practiced in that area. These include architecture, basket-weaving, creating musical instruments, dance, and body modification (tattoos, piercings, and the like), among others. Indian Art and Culture also includes a chapter on one of that country's modern art forms, the "Bollywood" movie industry. As Donna Cardon noted in School Library Journal, "The texts not only describe the art forms and how they are created, but also explain the role that art plays in the cultures."
Bingham once wrote: "In 1981 I completed a trip which took me to American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, South Africa, and Swaziland. I collected examples of children's books along the way and became acutely aware of the need for books and other teaching resources in many developing countries. I was especially impressed with the variety of India's and Bangladesh's children's books—in spite of the difficulties their creators often encounter in publishing and promoting them. I also found that becoming aware of and enjoying the literature from other countries enriched my appreciation of American children's books. I found myself asking over and over why we, with the plethora we have to choose from, too often opt for the mediocre rather than the 'rarest kind of best.' As educators, creators, and consumers, we all too often forget to think of children's books as real literature because we fail to apply critical literary standards. It is my hope that my teaching and writing will draw attention to the continuing need for quality books in our own country and will also encourage American students and teachers to adopt a wider, world view of children's literature."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 11, 2021
Excellent book. We use this book a lot as a good reference for history.
April 20, 2024
Must have read this 100 times growing up. Endlessly fascinating for 8 year old me, I would say this book is directly responsible for sparking in me my continued love of knowledge and learning.
September 14, 2011
See my review on amazon for a complete table of contents.
I love the Usborne series of encyclopedias and other books, and was really excited to add this to our home's repertoire.
While there is not a lot of depth on some areas/topics (Ancient China and Japan, for instance), there is certainly a huge breadth of knowledge. I am excited that there are 100 pages dedicated to prehistory, including the birth of our planet and the beginnings of life. There is a really cool visual timeline of prehistory (kind of a mini Charlie's Playhouse Giant Evolution Timeline: Book & Play Mat, "Time Charts" for ancient, Medieval, and Modern history, and the "past 500 years" section includes mini topical sections on topics such as the cold war; cinema, radio, and tv; Christianity; and computers. The running timeline across the bottom of each page indicates both the era in history and the geographic area being discussed on those pages.
While I'm happy this book approaches prehistory from a scientific standpoint, I'm not thrilled about its handling of religion. It not only uses the outdated dating system of BC/AD (rather than BCE/CE), but it presents Christian mythology as fact while keeping other religions firmly at arm's length when discussing them. The Old Testament of the Bible is referenced as a place to read about the history of the Hebrews, and Jesus is definitively presented as a historical figure. The book suggests reading the Bible's New Testament to learn more about him and his works, which lends that book a certain historical credence it may not deserve. Other religions are not treated with the same hand, but their beliefs are clearly defined as just that - beliefs. It seems that throughout this "history" book, Christianity and its conquests are glorified, while everyone else is a footnote (in the index, Christianity gets 34 entries, Islam gets 3 (though Muslims get 18), Buddhism gets 6, Hindus get 7, and pagans get 4 (all bad)).
This bias is extremely disappointing in such a well-respected series. Luckily, my kids are still young enough to be read to, and I can orally edit and explain as necessary until they're old enough to read it on their own and understand the distinctions.
As for Internet-links, it looks like there aren't actually any links IN the book; rather, each section refers you to the Usborne quick-links web site, where you can search by page number for relevant links. This seems like kind of a pain at first, but if you think about it, it allows Usborne to constantly monitor the links and be sure they are up-to-date and accurate, rather than having in print links which may be expired and/or no longer relevant. They also claim to add new relevant links as they become available.
I love the Usborne series of encyclopedias and other books, and was really excited to add this to our home's repertoire.
While there is not a lot of depth on some areas/topics (Ancient China and Japan, for instance), there is certainly a huge breadth of knowledge. I am excited that there are 100 pages dedicated to prehistory, including the birth of our planet and the beginnings of life. There is a really cool visual timeline of prehistory (kind of a mini Charlie's Playhouse Giant Evolution Timeline: Book & Play Mat, "Time Charts" for ancient, Medieval, and Modern history, and the "past 500 years" section includes mini topical sections on topics such as the cold war; cinema, radio, and tv; Christianity; and computers. The running timeline across the bottom of each page indicates both the era in history and the geographic area being discussed on those pages.
While I'm happy this book approaches prehistory from a scientific standpoint, I'm not thrilled about its handling of religion. It not only uses the outdated dating system of BC/AD (rather than BCE/CE), but it presents Christian mythology as fact while keeping other religions firmly at arm's length when discussing them. The Old Testament of the Bible is referenced as a place to read about the history of the Hebrews, and Jesus is definitively presented as a historical figure. The book suggests reading the Bible's New Testament to learn more about him and his works, which lends that book a certain historical credence it may not deserve. Other religions are not treated with the same hand, but their beliefs are clearly defined as just that - beliefs. It seems that throughout this "history" book, Christianity and its conquests are glorified, while everyone else is a footnote (in the index, Christianity gets 34 entries, Islam gets 3 (though Muslims get 18), Buddhism gets 6, Hindus get 7, and pagans get 4 (all bad)).
This bias is extremely disappointing in such a well-respected series. Luckily, my kids are still young enough to be read to, and I can orally edit and explain as necessary until they're old enough to read it on their own and understand the distinctions.
As for Internet-links, it looks like there aren't actually any links IN the book; rather, each section refers you to the Usborne quick-links web site, where you can search by page number for relevant links. This seems like kind of a pain at first, but if you think about it, it allows Usborne to constantly monitor the links and be sure they are up-to-date and accurate, rather than having in print links which may be expired and/or no longer relevant. They also claim to add new relevant links as they become available.
March 19, 2011
This was a great research book, from the first humans on Earth to great civilizations like Egypt, Greece and Rome. It was beautifully illustrated and written, I've never read an encyclopedia as fast! :)However I did not agree to the first few chapters and the theory, I don't think it should be inclouded- at all... Though I loved Jane Bingham's style (how she wrote everything in a fun, cool way but still gave plenty of useful info). The Usborne illustration company did it again :) It made me see the ancient world in a much clearer light, young people and adults will see this book as a good get-away from the modern world, into something that they've never imagined existed! I'd recommend to teachers for classroom social studies and history use or for people and students in need for good research themes! Fun and a fast read, I was happy to see it on GoodReads where it deserves to be! Thank you Usburne for yet another great book from your great company!
Interest level: High
Reading level: Medium
Grade level: 5th-10th
Interest level: High
Reading level: Medium
Grade level: 5th-10th
February 6, 2020
This book is euro-centric. From what I remember, there are only 5 pages on India, two of which are about the British Raj, 8 about China, 1 page about the various kingdoms of Africa, 2 each for the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas, and 5 about Japan, yet there are already 6 or more alone on the Christian Church of Europe. Byzantium also only has 2 pages, with brief mentions during the crusades. It is not so much 'world history', rather than a lengthy depiction of every war that Europeans fought against each other.
However, this history book isn't too historically inaccurate and actually depicts natural history as well, and not centered on the dinosaurs. So if you're looking per-European history there is a lot to discover, and it is a pretty good overview otherwise. Just wish there was more about non-European history.
However, this history book isn't too historically inaccurate and actually depicts natural history as well, and not centered on the dinosaurs. So if you're looking per-European history there is a lot to discover, and it is a pretty good overview otherwise. Just wish there was more about non-European history.
February 17, 2009
We've read through quite a bit of this so far. We skipped the caveman stuff since I don't necessarily subscribe to evolution/caveman theory. We did enjoy the ancient world part and have used the first part of the middle ages.
We use this as a history spine. We read a page or two to get a general feel about what happened and the major people of that time period. Then we add other books to gain depth.
I like how this book is organized. It is color coded by continent which makes it easy to flip through to understand the flow of history in a certain place. The pictures are well done, colorful and full of detail. Not too bloody and most persons either have clothes or have certain parts turned away/blocked by something.
My kids spend hours looking through this book. We use this constantly and I'm very happy with the quality of the book and the information included.
As of February 2009 we're shelving this book to hit American history. We'll pick it back up again in a few months.
We use this as a history spine. We read a page or two to get a general feel about what happened and the major people of that time period. Then we add other books to gain depth.
I like how this book is organized. It is color coded by continent which makes it easy to flip through to understand the flow of history in a certain place. The pictures are well done, colorful and full of detail. Not too bloody and most persons either have clothes or have certain parts turned away/blocked by something.
My kids spend hours looking through this book. We use this constantly and I'm very happy with the quality of the book and the information included.
As of February 2009 we're shelving this book to hit American history. We'll pick it back up again in a few months.
August 26, 2021
In the same vein as other Usborne encyclopedias. We love that there are additional (curated) links for a reader looking for more info on any topic. We love all the images and visual aids. We use this as a supplement to a history spine.
April 18, 2008
I liked it. It was cool.
October 16, 2008
Good resource book, but the first 100 or so pages is devoted to evolution theory.
January 7, 2010
It's a keeper! Loads of information from almost all the civilizations. My kids love looking things up in here.
August 14, 2011
My daughter has read this book cover to cover like a novel 5 times. It is a good reference and includes links to other sources; some of which are historically educational games.
September 26, 2017
Do you want to learn about world history? The book The Usborne Encyclopedia of world history is a great book about world history. The authors are Jane Bingham, Fiona Chandler, and Sam Taplin. This book includes Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval time periods. I also can't forget the last 500 years. In the Prehistoric time period there is the birth of the Earth, the first fish, and early reptiles. There was also the first dinosaur, the first bird, and the death of the dinosaurs. There was also The first mammals, the first humanoids, and the Homo habilis that where a different type of humanoids. Let's just say that the rest of it is between the coming of fire up to from hunting to farming. Then you get to the Ancient time period. In the Ancient time period there is the first farmers, the first towns, and the first civilization. The also was farmers of the Nile, mummies and pyramids, and Europe's First Villages. There also is the monument builders, palaces and legends, and Life on Crete. There was a side text, it was a legend about the monster called the Minotaur. It was a beast that was half-bull and half-man that lived in a huge maze under the palace at Knossos. It was killed by a Greek prince named Theseus with a magic sword.
The rest of the Ancient time period is between Palaces and Tombs up to The fall of Rome. Then, you get the Medieval time period. In the medieval time period you have The Byzantine Empire, The Barbarian Kingdoms, and Return to
Christianity, and The Rise of Islam. There also was The Arab World, Vikings at Home, and The Holy Roman Empire. There also was The Hundred Years' War, The Power of the Popes, and Enemies. The rest of the Medieval time period is between Monks and Monasteries up to Voyages of Discovery. Then you get the
Last 500 Years. In that time period there was Exploring the World, The Ottoman Empire, and The Mogul Empire. There also was Elizabethan England, and The Power of the Habsburgs. There also was The Rise of the Dutch, France and the Sun King, and Early Settlers in the Americas. The rest of The Last 500 Years is between Settlers in North America up to The End of the Century. In conclusion, this is a great book in learning about world history it starts of with the birth of the Earth and ends with the end of the century. Now it is in the 2000th century where we think parts of history are not important but every part of history is important.
The rest of the Ancient time period is between Palaces and Tombs up to The fall of Rome. Then, you get the Medieval time period. In the medieval time period you have The Byzantine Empire, The Barbarian Kingdoms, and Return to
Christianity, and The Rise of Islam. There also was The Arab World, Vikings at Home, and The Holy Roman Empire. There also was The Hundred Years' War, The Power of the Popes, and Enemies. The rest of the Medieval time period is between Monks and Monasteries up to Voyages of Discovery. Then you get the
Last 500 Years. In that time period there was Exploring the World, The Ottoman Empire, and The Mogul Empire. There also was Elizabethan England, and The Power of the Habsburgs. There also was The Rise of the Dutch, France and the Sun King, and Early Settlers in the Americas. The rest of The Last 500 Years is between Settlers in North America up to The End of the Century. In conclusion, this is a great book in learning about world history it starts of with the birth of the Earth and ends with the end of the century. Now it is in the 2000th century where we think parts of history are not important but every part of history is important.
January 20, 2025
I read this as a child over and over, which combined with my love of playing the "Age of Empires" video games, gave me a lifelong love of history and learning.
Although published over 20 years ago now, the illustrations and attention to detail in this book make it timeless. With language that's easy to understand, detailed diagrams, illustrations and cutouts of buildings, you can tell the effort and love that was put into this. It covers key areas of history across the world, with some parts that most people wouldn't have even considered. I still have my copy from when I was 8 years old and hope to pass it on to my daughter when she is old enough. A fantastic Encyclopedia of World History!
Although published over 20 years ago now, the illustrations and attention to detail in this book make it timeless. With language that's easy to understand, detailed diagrams, illustrations and cutouts of buildings, you can tell the effort and love that was put into this. It covers key areas of history across the world, with some parts that most people wouldn't have even considered. I still have my copy from when I was 8 years old and hope to pass it on to my daughter when she is old enough. A fantastic Encyclopedia of World History!
August 1, 2023
This is one of our favorite history encyclopedias, and we use it every time that we do history. (DO HISTORY? Is that even a thing?.....Well....It is now.) It's a really great book, not too easy but not too hard that it will bore you to tears. It has tons of great information with fun pictures. The book covers everything from prehistoric times all the way to the year 2000! (Not sure if it's exactly 2000, but around then.) This goes perfectly with our history curriculum, too! Hope you enjoy this amazing book! Thank you for reading! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!
April 26, 2023
*4.5 Stars
This was a book that I LOVED when I was younger.(Weirdo and nerd from birth haha) It's a great overview of history, but one thing that I will warn about is that the first section, prehistory, includes quite a bit of evolution. I keep those pages clipped together and have always skipped over them, just a word of warning. Aside from that, this was a great book that stayed interesting for elementary kids!
This was a book that I LOVED when I was younger.(Weirdo and nerd from birth haha) It's a great overview of history, but one thing that I will warn about is that the first section, prehistory, includes quite a bit of evolution. I keep those pages clipped together and have always skipped over them, just a word of warning. Aside from that, this was a great book that stayed interesting for elementary kids!
March 6, 2025
I bought this for my son when he was ten and we went through it together. This is really basic information written for teenagers or younger. Sort of like a lavishly illustrated Wikipedia article. As a history buff I can see the oversimplifications everywhere, but for what it sets out to do I’d say it is a quality product. If you have youngsters at home and want an approachable overview of history that almost makes it all seem fun, well, here you go.
October 5, 2017
I'm really enjoying the short informational pages, with illustrations, in this book. It is a great compliment to the additional details in Story of the World and also on the internet link sites.
I think we use this book throughout the first couple years of BYL but I don't want it in my Currently-Reading list that whole time so I'm reviewing it after a month.
I think we use this book throughout the first couple years of BYL but I don't want it in my Currently-Reading list that whole time so I'm reviewing it after a month.
July 3, 2025
Read this with the kids - about 2 pages a night for months. Really loved so much about it, though feel like it is a little skewed towards Euro-centrism. Also, the version we read ended at 2000, so needs some updates :) Otherwise, we really enjoyed learning touches of history. One book can't cover everything!
March 5, 2018
I loved this history book. Because it was so interesting and it showed every point in world history. I found it helpful. And since reading it I’ve learned a lot more about ancient History!I recommend using this book to learn more about the world and its history.
June 1, 2018
This Usborne product, on the other hand, we loved using. In chronological order, basically, it was easier to place where we were in our lessons, and I believe it really helped to bring history more alive to see bright drawings of the places and times we were learning about. Recommend.
June 18, 2021
Kiến thức khổng lồ. Từ thời cổ đại khủng long, con người, hành tinh. Đến thời kỳ hiện đại. Có thể thấy rằng sự phát triển rất nhanh chóng từ những năm sau chiến tranh thế giới thứ II. Về công nghệ, lẫn kỹ thuật. Sự phát triển vượt bậc từ 100 năm gần đây. Cuốn sách rất hay.
January 10, 2025
Hiện tại vẫn đang đọc vì sách quá dày, thi thoảng mới mở ra ngâm cứu. Nội dung tổng hợp cơ bản những thông tin cần thiết về các giai đoạn lịch sử. Trình bày ngắn gọn, hình minh họa dễ hiểu, rất phù hợp cho mọi lứa tuổi. Nhưng sách dày và nặng quá nên mỗi lần đọc hơi cực ka ka =))))
June 7, 2019
Interesting bits of information, in mostly chronological order, covering all areas of the world and history of man.
March 27, 2020
This book gave a good, quick explanation of a general history of the world and its major events.
June 6, 2020
What can I say, I was a weird 10 year old.
February 12, 2024
Excellent home school resource.
February 20, 2025
I have read this about 20 times.
It was my growing up book, and my passion that has probably led me into writing the dark fantasy to date
It was my growing up book, and my passion that has probably led me into writing the dark fantasy to date
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May 4, 2015The Encyclopedia of World History gives information on world history chronologically. It ranges all the way from ancient civilizations to World War 2. This book is able to connect with the reader through its pictures and through its explanations on important pieces of history that have helped shape our civilization today. This book is interesting but I found it very boring. I got this book when I got the Science Encyclopedia but I did not find this one as fun to read. It has a lot of historical facts that I would be able to use in the classroom when I am teaching a history lesson or I could use it when I am teaching my students about nonfiction. There are a lot of different possibilities with this book that I would be able to use in the classroom and I would leave it in the classroom for any student that wants to learn more about a certain part in history.
July 24, 2011
Josh likes to call it the encyclopedia of history and pre-history. We are all in love with this book. It's just scrumptious, cover to cover. It covers the history of the universe, the birth of the Earth, evolution, prehistory, and history. Each topic is given a few pages and it's just enough to cover the basics or reinforce prior knowledge and add a bit. This is great for Josh right now in first grade and I can see that I went too advance with the Usborne Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece--this would have been just fine along with the Usborne Children's Encyclopedia which is more at Benjamin's level. I am SO glad I bought this book. I want to read it all myself.
October 5, 2008
Some evolution/pre-historic information is presented as fact when, in fact, it is not fact or proven. Never are the Usborne books unbiased enough to at least admit that there is another theory and the one that they present is not at all scientifically proven but is, in fact, a religious belief of atheism.
Information presented is cartoonish and is busy. Some children do not like the format. Some pictures are very small and hard to discern.
We got ours in a history core from Winter Promise and I wouldn't recommend it. You can do better.
Information presented is cartoonish and is busy. Some children do not like the format. Some pictures are very small and hard to discern.
We got ours in a history core from Winter Promise and I wouldn't recommend it. You can do better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews