v. 1. The dawn of civilization, earliest time to 700 B.C. -- v. 2. The development of sedentary and nomadic civilizations, 700 B.C. to A.D. 250 -- v. 3. The crossroads of civilizations, A.D. 250 to 750 -- v. 4. The age of achievement, A.D. 750 to the end of the fifteenth century. pt. 1. The historical, social and economic setting. pt. 2. The achievements. v. 5. Development in contrast: from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. v. 6. Towards contemporary civilization: from the mid-nineteenth century to the present time