Offering a multidisciplinary view of each era, this reference set's five volumes focus, respectively, on ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Egypt, Medieval Europe, Renaissance Europe, and the Age of the Baroque and Enlightenment. The material is written by subject experts (each volume has its own editor), and both the basics and the complexities are covered, making the work useful to beginning as well as advanced history students. Each era is treated in nine chapters on architecture and design, dance, fashion, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater, and visual arts--with links among these disciplines highlighted in the text and through the use of "See Also" references. Facilitating comparisons, each chapter follows a standard format including a chronology; a brief overview; significant movements, schools, and masterworks; biographies of significant people; and documentary sources contemporary to the time period. Each volume concludes with its own glossary, references, media and online resources, and index. B&w illustrations support the text. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)