This brief, chronological survey provides students with an introduction to the histories of the Near East, Greece, and Rome from roughly 3000 B.C. until A.D. 500. Succinct enough to be used with supplements, the coverage is carefully balanced between narrative and interpretation, highlighting historians' varying viewpoints on issues of the past. Throughout, special attention is paid to connections between the cultures of the Near East including Mesopotamia and Egypt and Graeco-Roman civilization. This 8th edition has been thoroughly updated to include the latest scholarship on the ancient western world, as well as new timelines and pedagogical enhancements to assist students in their study.