This book integrates social, economic, cultural and political elements of Western civilization. Each chapter is written as a complete unit - exploring historical themes, causes and processes, rather than simply stating names, dates and events. Volume I covers Western civilization to 1715 (chapters 1-17) and volume II covers Western civilization from 1600 (chapters 15-30). The book is available both as a two-volume set and as a three volume-set. In the three-volume set, volume I covers antiquity to the Middle Ages (chapters 1-12), volume II the early modern period to Napoleonic times (chapters 11-21) and the modern era to the present (chapters 20-30). Extensive coverage is given to Russia and Eastern Europe, there are "cultural" maps to allow students to see where cultural movements took place. Parallel chronologies of political, economic, diplomatic and cultural history allow students to see at a glance how events are related.