and intellectual topics. It stresses social and cultural themes in conjunction with the political narrative, and incorporates significant discussion of peoples and civilizations outside the boundaries of the West. Volume I covers prehistory prehistory to 1750, discussing issues related to all time periods. It explores gender roles, family and children, elite groups, urban/rural contrasts, cities and associations, commerce and manufacturing, and technological innovation. Global issues are easily introduced without straying from the comfort of a western civilization focus. Brief excerpts from diaries, letters, and other personal documents offer readers a sense of peoples' experience during specific times in history. For anyone who does not know why we should know about Western civilization, and history enthusiasts looking for the meaning of the West.

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