Concise and engaging, this book brings the history of Western Civilization alive with comprehensive coverage of a wide array of characters and events. The book examines the history of Western Civilization to 1715 within a framework of political history, while fully integrating social, economic, religious and cultural history. Accessible and well-written, the book explores everyday events and ordinary people as well as momentous affairs and powerful elites. For anyone interested in the history of Western Civilization to 1715.