World History: A Dictionary of Important People, Places, and Events, from Ancient Times to the Present - Hardcover

Biographical and event entries average approximately 100 words. The typical entry for larger or "more important" nations may run up to several pages. Most of the space in these entries is taken up by chronologies that are up-to-date through 1992. Smaller nations, such as Burundi and Rwanda, are treated briefly without a chronology.

Although the number of entries is about the same as in the 1983 edition, some 100,000 words were added to this edition. The treatment of the countries of Asia, especially China and Japan, has been expanded. Entries on the former Soviet-block countries of Eastern Europe, the Cold War, and the former Soviet Union have all been revised to reflect new realities. There are new entries for George Bush, Bill Clinton, and the Persian Gulf War. Space has been made for new entries by dropping those on mythological figures and some cities.

Cross-references are used but sparingly. Whenever the first initials and last name of a person appear, this is a cross-reference to the main entry. Event-type entries may be located under the country's historical outline as well. For example, Rye House Plot (1683) has its own entry but is also found in the chronology for Great Britain. This feature allows the reader to see the event within its historical context. However, not all events are cross-listed: Phoenix Plot Murders (1882) has no entry in the Ireland chronology but is mentioned within the biographical entry Parnell, Charles Stewart. All entries were seen by a board of academic review made up of 19 scholars from American universities to ensure that all important points have been covered.

Because of the considerable textual revision and expansion in this 1994 edition, libraries owning the first edition will want to update, and libraries that don't own an up-to-date dictionary of historical events will want to acquire World History.