Summary of DK's The Little Book of History

Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The development of civilizations was based on the progress in agriculture. When only part of the population was required to work in the fields to produce food, the rest could inhabit towns and palaces, performing a variety of specialty functions. #2 The first civilizations were developed in areas where it was possible to practice intensive agriculture, which involved the use of irrigation systems. In Eurasia and North Africa, these civilizations developed independently, but they shared ideas and technology. #3 Around 1000 BCE, Eurasian civilizations began to find a innovative momentum. The use of writing evolved from practical record-keeping to the creation of sacred books and classic literary texts that embodied the founding myths and beliefs of different societies. #4 The ancient world reached its classical period around 2,000 years ago. The world’s population had grown from around 20 million at the time of the first civilizations to an estimated 200 million. About 50 million of these lived in a united Han China, while about the same number were under the governance of the Roman Empire.