Amazon.com description: Product Description: The Earth and Its Peoples is a truly global text that employs a fundamental theme to compare different times, places, and societies: the interaction of human beings and the environment. Special emphasis is given to technology (in its broadest sense) and how technological development underlies all human activity. Highlights of the new second edition include: - New! Several content changes have been made to the 2e: New coverage of the early Americas in Chapter 3 More coverage of both medieval and modern Russia More coverage of Meiji Japan and Latin America in the 20th century More coverage of the Renaissance and Enlightenment Improved treatment of the Industrial Revolution The last 5 chapters on the 20th century have been reorganised for better chronological flow - New! Chapter-opening vignettes are now followed by 2-4 focus questions, alerting students to key ideas and themes in the chapter. - New! Chronology for each chapter, helping students to see at a glance what was happening in these disparate regions during the same time period. - New! Key Terms are boldfaced in the text, and revised Glossary at the end of the book including all Key Terms and their definitions. - Revised Part-opening essays have been trimmed down to about 380 words and are accompanied by a corresponding world map and a redesigned timeline. - New! Primary Source features, which poses questions for analysis and encourages students to closely evaluate primary source excerpts.