Introduction.

History: The Ultimate Soap Opera.

Getting to the Truth -- or Something Close.

Positively post-historic.

A few words about biases.

Conventions Used in This Book.

Making sense of AD, BC, CE, and BCE.

Keeping an eye out for icons.

How to Read This Book.

Part I: Getting Into History.

Part II: Civilizations.

Part III: Mind, Soul, Heart.

Part IV: War.

Part V: People.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Part I: Getting Into History.

Chapter 1: Finding the Bodies: Real Stories, Real People.

Chapter 2: Making History Happen.

Part II: Civilizations.

Chapter 3: Getting Civilized.

Chapter 4: Not All Roads Led to Rome.

Chapter 5: Transitioning Through the Middle Ages.

Chapter 6: Contending for World Domination.

Chapter 7: Grabbing the Globe.

Chapter 8: Clashing on a Worldwide Scale.

Part III: Mind, Soul, Heart.

Chapter 9: Believing and Believers.

Chapter 10: Sharing a Love of Wisdom.

Chapter 11: Being Christian, Thinking Greek.

Chapter 12: Awakening to the Renaissance.

Chapter 13: Making a Break: The Reformation.

Chapter 14: Opening Up to Science and Enlightenment.

Part IV: War.

Chapter 15: Hurling Sticks and Stones.

Chapter 16: Advancing the Technology of War.

Chapter 17: Reshaping Warfare in a Contemporary Mold.

Part V: People.

Chapter 18: Founding Something Lasting.

Chapter 19: Battling Toward Lasting Fame.

Chapter 20: Venturing Out: Voyagers.

Chapter 21: Overturning Societies

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 22: Ten Unforgettable Dates.

Chapter 23: Ten Essential Documents.

Index.

Book Registration Information.