This clear, balanced book will help you understand the crucial political events, social and economic developments, ideas, and artistic creations that have helped to shape the Western world. Thomas H. Greer and Gavin Lewis's A Brief History of the Western World will take you on a fascinating journey through Western civilization -- a comprehensive view that gives you all the information you need in half the length of conventional survey texts. In addition, the Ninth Edition includes: an entirely new prologue, a greatly expanded map program, an entirely new chapter devoted to events in recent history, expanded map and figure captions, and a vivid, full-color design that enhances maps, timelines, and illustrations. - Back cover.