A History of World Societies, Volume A: From Antiquity to 1500

More than any other text, A History of World Societies introduces students to the families, foods, workplaces, religions, and diversions of peoples of the past through lively, descriptive writing and extensive primary sources that give voice to a wide range of individuals. This hallmark treatment of social history combines with strong political, cultural, and economic coverage and a clear, easy-to-manage organization to provide students with the most vivid account available of what life was like throughout human history. The Eighth Edition welcomes to the author team Merry Wiesner-Hanks and Clare Crowston, experienced world-history teachers and highly regarded scholars who bring additional attention to gender and cultural history. It also expands the text's global perspective by strengthening coverage of non-Western topics and comparisons among world societies. A fresh, colorful look and a completely new map program showcase a narrative that the authors judiciously shortened for even greater power and accessibility. Bedford/St. Martin's is proud to have recently acquired the stellar McKay franchise in World History and Western Civilization. These wonderful books fit well with our publishing philosophy at Bedford/St. Martin's, emphasizing innovation, quality, and a focus on the needs of students and instructors. We hope to contribute to their future success with the care and attention to detail we give every book we publish.

About the Author :
John P. McKay, Professor of History at the University of Illinois, received his Ph.D. from the University of Columbia, Berkeley in 1968. Author of three books, he won the Herbert Baxter Adams Award from the American Historical Association with his Pioneers for Profit. He is a Senior Fulbright Fellow and recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Bennett D. Hill (deceased), a former Chairman and Professor of History at the University of Illinois, received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1963. He taught at the University of Maryland and was most recently a visiting professor at Georgetown University. He published two books and many journal articles. John Buckler, a Professor of History at the University of Illinois, earned his doctorate at Harvard University in 1973. He has published numerous journal articles and written a monograph, "The Theban Hegemony," published by Harvard University Press. Patricia B. Ebrey, Professor with Joint Appointment: Early Imperial China, Song Dynasty, at the University of Washington in Seattle, received her Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1975. She has published numerous journal articles and published "The Cambridge Illustrated History of China" (Cambridge University Press, 1996), as well as numerous monographs. Merry Wiesner-Hanks, UWM Distinguished Professor at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, earned her B.A. from Grinnell College in 1973 and her Ph.D. in 1979 at University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is the co-editor of the Sixteenth Century Journal and the author or editor of nineteen books and many articles that have appeared in many languages. She is currently the Chief Reader for Advanced Placement World History. Clare H. Crowston, Associate Professor of History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earned her B.A. in 1985 from McGill University and her Ph.D. in 1996 from Cornell University. The author of many articles, she has also written "Fabricating Women: The Seamstresses of Old Regime France, 1675-1791" (Duke University Press, 2001), which won two awards, the Berkshire Prize and the Hagley Prize. She is a past-President of the Society for French Historical Studies and a former chair of the Pinkney Prize Committee.