Through the Ages: An Abbreviated History of Our World; Through the Ages is an Abbreviated History of the World

Through the Ages fills a void left by all other history books, as it is relatively short in length and covers the beginning of time.

(PRWEB) April 1, 2005 -- About the Author :Roger Clapp was raised in New England and served as a radioman in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Upon graduation from Amherst College cum laude with a degree in history in 1954, he spent 39 years in the advertising business.

He maintained his interest in history, however, with the impetus behind the writing of Through the Ages" stemming from the authors many years as a history buff trying to cope with the mass of information labeled history." This was especially true throughout his childrens education, where he witnessed the frustration that they faced as they progressed from high school to college history and had difficulty organizing the material chronologically and geographically. Roger Clapp now resides in Naples, Florida.

About the Book: Through the Ages: An Abbreviated History of Our World (ISBN: 1418463558) Through the Ages is an abbreviated history of the world, starting with the formation of the universe and our planet earth and concluding with the 20th century. With the exception of the first chapter that deals with unrecorded time, chapters are grouped by centuries and facts are arranged chronologically so that events occurring at the same time-throughout the earth -- are covered at the same time.This book is written to provide readers with a better understanding of the Big Picture", or broadest possible perspective of history. It fills a void left by all other history books, as it is relatively short in length and covers the beginning of time to present day in an easy-to-read format that is appealing to people of all ages. The result is a history book that is enjoyable to read for history buffs, one that can be read for pleasure or for reference in a novel --like format.

Pageonelit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

Roger Clapp: I was born in Scarsdale, NY, and grew up on a farm in New Hampshire, followed by San Francisco and Greenwich, CT.

English and composition were always my best subjects, and I was an avid reader as a youth.

My father, who was born and raised in London, England, was an early influence in my life, as he was a stickler for spelling and encouraged me to develop my reading and writing skills. (If I used a word at the dinner table that I couldn't spell and/or define, he sent me to get the dictionary.)

Pageonelit.com: Why did you write "Through the Ages: An Abbreviated History of Our World?" What is your interest in history?

Roger Clapp: The impetus behind the writing of "Through the Ages" stemmed from my many years as a history buff trying to cope with the mass of information labeled "history." This was especially true throughout my children's education, where I witnessed the frustration that they faced as they progressed from high school to college history and had difficulty organizing the material chronologically and geographically.

My interest in history closely parallels that of my children.

Pageonelit.com: How did you research to write "Through the Ages: An Abbreviated History of Our World?"

Roger Clapp: I purchased every history of the world I could find, and arranged the data chronologically and geographically, seeking a consensus of the material offered. I selected that data I felt to be most important.

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SAMPLE: Evolution of life on earth (4 billion years ago)

First to appear were tiny single-celled plants such as seaweed. Over the ensuing centuries these plants became increasingly more complex, in accordance with what we commonly refer to today as the laws of natural selection, or simply evolution". By three billion years ago, a number of these one-celled plants had joined together and combined with other multi-celled plants to form the first multi-cellular organisms, such as sponges. Over the next two billion years, these forms developed until one billion years ago, when green plants completely populated the oceans. Then, approximately 600 million years ago, the evolution from simple algae to more varied forms of life occurred. This is referred to as the Cambrian explosion". By 500 million years ago, the first animals appears -- although they were really nothing more than large sea insects.

Also making their appearance at this time were the first fish. Few of these fish were more than two or three feet long, although some reached twenty feet in length. Next, the movement to land began with the first plants appearing along the shores of the oceans about 450 million years ago. Then, about 350 million years ago, the first amphibians (organisms capable of living both in the seas and on the land) arrived. Next to arrive were the first reptiles, who made their appearance about 325 million years ago. These included large turtles, crocodiles, snakes and other lizards.

Probably the most fascinating of this latter group were the dinosaurs -- giant land animals as large as present day whales. Dinosaurs measuring one hundred feet in length were not uncommon. These animals first appeared a little over 200 million years ago and existed for about another 100 million years -- long before man appeared on earth, contrary to popular opinion. A dramatic shift in climatic conditions appears to have caused the extinction of these animals, who thrived in a warm, moist climate, but could not adapt to the much colder conditions that existed on earth during this time period.

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