History Year by Year: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Events that Shaped the World

How do the first human communities connect to the empires, revolutions, and inventions that shaped the modern world? History Year by Year sets those stories on a shared timeline, helping readers see not just what happened, but where each event sits in the longer sweep of history.

Created by DK with contributions from historians and specialists, this richly illustrated history reference ranges from human origins to 2017. Its chronological approach makes it easy to browse by era, follow a subject, or pause over a memorable moment.

Follow the story across eight eras

The book’s eight sections move from human origins and early civilizations through the classical age, trade and invention, exploration, revolution, and the age of technology and superpowers. The journey includes topics such as ancient Egypt and Rome, the Islamic world, the Renaissance, the world wars, the space race, and the European Union.

See the connections between events

Alongside broad historical periods, focused features trace the development of ideas and technologies—including writing, money, printing, medicine, flight, and communication. Placing these stories in chronological context helps show how changes in one part of life can sit alongside wider shifts in societies and empires.

A visual reference to browse and revisit

Maps, photographs, timelines, concise entries, and factual details give the book a visual, browsable character. Dip in to check a particular period or event, or read across the timeline to build a wider picture of history’s many turning points.

For curious history readers

This broad-ranging reference is well suited to readers who enjoy world history, want an accessible overview of major eras, or like having clear visual context while exploring individual events. Let the timeline guide your next historical question. 📜