This introductory text presents an overview of the liberal arts--literature, art, music, philosophy, and history--with a particular emphasis on literature. The unique selection of works from each culture provides students with a global understanding of the humanities. Several pedagogical features of the Seventh Edition, such as chapter objectives, key terms, art images, and summary questions, help students understand the major concepts of the text. Each volume begins with a "Chronicle of Events" that provides a timetable of key events in world history. "Continuities" sections--which cover political life, religion, art, music, and writing--focus on the lasting contributions of each society. Non-Western coverage includes a section on Japan in Volume I; Western material has been scaled back to provide balanced coverage. A special introduction to River-Valley Civilizations helps students see the connections between global societies. The Online Student Study Guide features chapter summaries, web activities, and ACE self-testing program.