Originally published: London ; New York : Allen Lane, 2010.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 671-678) and index.

pt. 1. Making us human: 2,000,000-9000 BC : Mummy of Hornedjitef ; Olduvai stone chopping tool ; Olduvai handaxe ; Swimming reindeer ; Clovis spear point -- pt. 2. After the Ice Age: food and sex: 9000-3500 BC : Bird-shaped pestle ; Ain Sakhri lovers figurine ; Egyptian clay model of cattle ; Maya maize god statue ; Jomon pot -- pt. 3. The first cities and states: 4000-2000 BC : King Den's sandal label ; Standard of Ur ; Indus seal ; Jade axe ; Early writing tablet -- pt. 4. The beginnings of science and literature: 2000-700 BC : Flood tablet ; Rhind mathematical papyrus ; Minoan bull-leaper ; Mold gold cape ; Statue of Ramesses II -- pt. 5. Old world, new powers: 1100-300 BC : Lachish reliefs ; Sphinx of Taharqo ; Chinese Zhou ritual vessel ; Paracas textile ; Gold coin of Croesus -- pt. 6. The world in the age of Confucius: 500-300 BC : Oxus chariot model ; Parthenon sculpture: Centaur and Lapith ; Basse-Yutz flagons ; Olmec stone mask ; Chinese bronze bell -- pt. 7. Empire builders: 300 BC-AD 10 : Coin with head of Alexander ; Pillar of Ashoka ; Rosetta stone ; Chinese Han lacquer cup ; Head of Augustus -- pt. 8. Ancient pleasures, modern spice: AD 1-500 : Warren cup ; North American otter pipe ; Ceremonial ballgame belt ; Admonitions scroll ; Hoxne pepper pot -- pt. 9. The rise of world faiths: AD 100-600 : Seated Buddha from Gandhara ; Gold coins of Kumaragupta I ; Plate showing Shapur II ; Hinton St. Mary mosaic ; Arabian bronze hand -- pt. 10. The silk road and beyond: AD 400-800 : Gold coins of Abd al-Malik ; Sutton Hoo helmet ; Moche warrior pot ; Korean roof tile ; Silk princess painting.

pt. 11. Inside the palace: secrets at court: AD 700-900 : Maya relief of royal blood-letting ; Harem wall-painting fragments ; Lothair crystal ; Statue of Tara ; Chinese Tang tomb figures -- pt. 12. Pilgrims, raiders and traders: AD 800-1300 : Vale of York hoard ; Hedwig beaker ; Japanese bronze mirror ; Borobudur Buddha head ; Kilwa pot sherds -- pt. 13. Status symbols: AD 1100-1500 : The Lewis chessmen ; Hebrew astrolabe ; Ife head ; The David vases ; Taino ritual seat -- pt. 14. Meeting the gods: AD 1200-1500 : Holy Thorn Reliquary ; Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy ; Shiva and Parvati sculpture ; Sculpture of Huastec goddess ; Hoa Hakananai'a Easter Island statue -- pt. 15. The threshold of the modern world: AD 1375-1550 : Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent ; Ming banknote ; Inca gold llama ; Jade dragon cup ; Dürer's Rhinoceros -- pt. 16. The first global economy: AD 1450-1650 : Mechanical galleon ; Benin plaque: the Oba with Europeans ; Double-headed serpent ; Kakiemon elephants ; Pieces of eight -- pt. 17. Tolerance and intolerance: AD 1550-1700 : Shi'a religious parade standard ; Miniature of a Mughal prince ; Shadow puppet of Bima ; Mexican codex map ; Reformation centenary broadsheet -- pt. 18. Exploration, exploitation and enlightenment: AD 1680-1820 : Akan drum ; Hawaiian feather helmet ; North American buckskin map ; Australian bark shield ; Jade Bi -- pt. 19. Mass production, mass persuasion: AD 1780-1914 : Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle ; Early Victorian tea set ; Hokusai's The Great Wave ; Sudanese slit drum ; Suffragette-defaced penny -- pt. 20. The world of our making: AD 1914-2010 : Russian revolutionary plate ; Hockney's In the Dull Village ; Throne of weapons ; Credit card ; Solar-powered lamp and charger.