The book is

In this work, Fannon brings to life, in a lively and fluent text, the history of the development of human civilisation over thousands of years. Its story begins in ancient times with the origins of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations, the glories of the Greek and Roman eras, following the thread of the rise of religion to the development and evolution of medieval society, from the rise of cities, the Renaissance, to worldwide changes and revolutions in various countries. As it traces the historical threads of some of the major nations, it also tells the stories of some important historical figures, commenting on their merits and demerits. In this book, Fannon unfolds a very grand picture of history, inviting the reader to stand atop a tower and look down on the rushing river of history. The book is a profoundly humanistic and playfully intelligent account of the history of mankind, with a fast-paced 'big history' narrative that leaves no stone unturned in the events and details that have truly shaped the course of human civilisation, and which will inspire both the uninitiated and the expert who has read through the voluminous works. This is a classic, popular history of mankind that will enlighten and entertain both the uninitiated and the expert who has read the vast array of books. What's more, this book recreates important moments in history or a typical millet-contemporaneous society with Fann Wong's classic original text and a wealth of carefully selected illustrations for rich visual effect, and upgrades the cultural context and period limitations of the original text with the latest discoveries and perspectives of the 21st century.