An Illustrated History of the World: How We Got to Where We Are

Clements makes good on the promise she delivers in her introduction: to describe some important developments in world history in pictures and words ``with a few jokes thrown in.'' Beginning with a roundup of various theories on the origins of the universe, these information-crammed pages cover such topics as ancient civilizations; the Middle Ages in Europe; the Renaissance; the Reformation and Counter-Reformation; European explorations in the West and East; the Industrial Revolution; the ``scramble for Africa'' in the 19th century; and the Victorian Age. The author concludes with a cursory decade-by-decade look at the 20th century and a speculative glance ``into the future.'' Generously peppered with amusing comments and asides, this chronicle has a lighthearted edge--a figure at the site of the Egyptian boy king's tomb quips: ``Toot and come in!''; ``I've been waving for ages,'' says a gesticulating fellow pictured by a note on the future of wind, wave and solar power. Though hardly an exhaustive historical oeuvre, this is an instructive and diverting chronology. Ages 8-up. (Nov.)