This page-turning saga brings the past alive, from the first human civilizations to the present. Jackson J. Spielvogel's best-selling Western Civilization is a rich and balanced narrative chronicling 6,000 years of history from the first human civilizations to the dramatic events signaling the end of our millennium. Acclaimed by students and instructors alike for its power and clarity, this book is your essential resource for mastering the material in the Western civilization course. Spielvogel's writing will draw you into the political, economic, social, military, cultural, intellectual, and religious aspects of each time period. Each chapter includes many primary sources that offer vivid, first-hand glimpses of the people and their times. Beautifully drawn maps, timelines, chronologies, and anecdotes add to the multi-faceted excellence of a book that brings the past alive. And now, this Fourth Edition helps you connect the past to the vast resources of the Internet with an exciting website and InfoTrac College Edition links in every chapter. - Back cover.