Ch. 1. Prehistoric times: up to 4000 BC -- Evolution of humans -- Neolitic revolution -- Ancient civilizations -- Ch. 2. Ancient to Classical: 4000 BC-1000 AD -- Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt -- Ancient Greece -- Ancient Rome -- Ancient Rome -- The Islamic revolution -- Ch. 3. Post-Classical to Renaissance: 1000-1400 -- Golden age of Islamic science -- End of Islamic empire -- Chinese technology -- Rise of Mesoamerican civilizations -- Development in Europe -- Ch. 4. Early Modern: 1400-1700 -- Renaissance -- Ch. 5. The Modern era: 1700-1914 -- The changing face of the world -- Industrial revolutnion -- Ch. 6. The war period: 1914-1950 -- The world wars -- Ch. 7. Post-war 20th century: 1950-2000 -- Rivalry of the two superpowers -- Ch. 8. 21st century: 2000-present -- Rise of China -- Nanotechnology: the technology of the future -- A futuristic world