Western Civilization: The Continuing Experiment is a book with a reputation for being first. It was the first western civilization text to include a separate chapter on Late Antiquity, and the first text to use the new political history--the effect of power and politics on all members of society--at the center of its narrative. It was the first western civilization text to address a broader Europe, by including coverage of Scandinavia, the Balkans, the Celts and Spain. This was the first book to look at Europe by examining its place in a wider world. The Third Edition continues the text's legacy by including "Information Technology" essays on each major period in western civilization. Written in response to students' changing needs and interests, the "Information Technology" features describe innovations in the conveyance of information, from papyrus to the Internet.