Noted teachers and scholars William J. Duiker and Jackson J. Spielvogel present a balanced, readable overview of world history that explores common challenges and experiences of the human past and identifies key patterns over time. The authors integrate political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history into a chronological framework to help students gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society. This approach, with an organization around seven major themes, helps students link events together in a comparative and global framework -- and view history and the contemporary world in a meaningful context.