Master Books’ World History Encyclopedia, written for grades six through twelve, will eventually be a three-volume set. The first volume, Creation to the Roman Empire, launches the series.
Entries are heavily illustrated, two-page spreads on selected topics rather than comprehensive historical coverage. The high-quality Illustrations throughout the book include photos, drawings, paintings, and graphic designs.
A very thorough index at the end of the book is extremely helpful for finding specific information, since some topics are addressed only as subtopics within broader articles. For example, the Rosetta Stone is discussed in the article “Life Along the Nile” on page 67.
This Bible-based series begins with a timeline that puts the creation of man at about 4000 B.C. Articles are divided into four sections according to the timeline: 4004 B.C. – 1500 B.C., 1500 B.C. – 600 B.C., 600 B.C. – 30 B.C., and 30 B.C. – A.D. 476. Biblical history informs this first volume more than it will the next two.
Creation to the Roman Empire begins with several articles about the Bible, God as Creator, the seven days of creation, and the Fall. These first articles include worldview perspectives, historical evidence, scientific information and evidence, and apologetic arguments. Several articles on dinosaurs are introduced with a young-earth, creationist perspective, and then discuss individual types of dinosaurs in a factual manner. The flood and the story of the Tower of Babel are presented as historical events.
Shifting toward a more familiar historical focus, “Life in Sumer” (pages 65-65) discusses early civilizations, while still drawing on the Bible for information. Articles on Egypt, the Indus civilization, the Minoans, the Mycenaeans, Hammurabi’s Law, the Hittite empire, and Canaan likewise draw from both secular and biblical history. Articles about Abraham and Joseph in Egypt are interspersed where they fit chronologically.
As the timeline continues, articles broaden beyond the history addressed in the Bible to include topics such as “Ancient Africa,” “The Engineering of Henges,” “British Isles,” “Han Dynasty,” “Athens and Sparta,” “Alexander the Great,” and “Republic of Rome.”
The fourth timeline section in the first volume devotes several articles to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The final article, “God’s Eternal Plan,” explains the plan of salvation and presents the sinner’s prayer.
Creation to the Roman Empire is available as either a hardback book or a PDF. The PDF is a bargain, but be aware that it does not include hyperlinks.
Summary
While Master Books’ World History Encyclopedia qualifies as an encyclopedia, it serves that function for both secular and biblical history.
