At the back of the book is a 12-page foldout timeline which can be detached and displayed on a wall or noticeboard, offering an attractive quick visual reference to the history of the ancient Greek world. The timeline stretches from prehistoric times, through the periods of the Cretan and Mycenaean cultures, to the great flowering of Greek art and culture in the Classical Period, and on to the rise of Alexander the Great and the final conquest of Greece by the Roman empire. The 32-page book follows the same chronological arrangement, and it gives further supporting information and background. It offers concise and lively introductions to each of the significant periods of Greek history, and includes special features on important people, places, events and discoveries mentioned on the timeline. The book and timeline are richly illustrated throughout with colour photographs, including numerous objects from the British Museum"s collections.