Stearns, Peter N

Primary source documents and historical materials trace world history from prehistoric times to the present, highlighting key events and trends and their impact on world history and development.

Contains 209 essays that explore topics in the social history of Europe from 1350 to 2000, grouped by subject in twenty-three categories, including biographies; with cross-references, bibliographies, an alphabetical table of contents, and a comprehensive index.

Chronologically arranged entries trace the history of the world, providing information on key figures, events, places, and developments; includes a CD-ROM which features the complete text of the encyclopedia.

Explores the historical origins and world-wide appeal of societies' desire to acquire luxury goods and leisure services, relating consumerism to other issues in world history and reassessing common beliefs about consumerism and global history.