The Main Thing in World History. Eras, Events, Key Names, Inventions

What is the fabric of the world's history woven from? From the twists and turns of geography and the changing eras, great scientific discoveries and groundbreaking books, empires and travels, religions and epidemics. And it is people who weave this fabric: rulers and rebels, scientists and prophets. All of this together, in its development and amazing combination, intertwines into a world - as it was and as it is.

This book is the shortest reference guide to all of world history, which collects key eras, events, names, and technologies from ancient times to the present day. It will help to see the history of the world "from a bird's-eye view," as a whole, fill gaps in knowledge, and realize many non-obvious connections.

Where do the words "lazaret" and "quarantine" come from? How can one shipping canal change the fates of empires? How are the Times New Roman font and the famous Carolingian Renaissance connected? How did the invention of firearms destroy feudalism? What is the connection between the Napoleonic Wars and canned food? Finally, what role does personality play in history?

The book is divided into four sections and equipped with cross-references so that the reader can easily navigate through the chapters and related articles.

Who is this book for?
For those who want to systematize their knowledge of history.
For those who want to fill gaps in knowledge and see new connections.
For fans of the "The Main Thing in History" series.

From the author:
The author of the book, as a historian, is often asked which era he would like to live in. The answer is always the same: now. With all its contradictions and problems, life in our time is incomparably better: anesthesia and antibiotics have made even complex operations safe, education is universally free, and the Internet has provided unprecedented comfort.

Of course, it is always interesting to understand why the present looks exactly this way. This book will help to better understand how the past, even the most distant, has shaped the modern world: how, for example, the "collapse of the Bronze Age" is connected to the emergence of our familiar alphabet and why the dispute among the heirs of Charlemagne a thousand years later led to two world wars.

The book contains four sections: eras, events, names, and technologies. Each section can be read separately or in combination with the others. Cross-references at the bottom of each page direct readers to other sections, while inserts contain information about the evolution of genres, themes, techniques, and biographies of authors.