This is the first world history of empire from the third millennium BCE to the present. By combining synthetic surveys, thematic comparative essays and numerous chapters on specific empires, it provides unparalleled coverage of imperialism throughout history and across continents, from Asia to Europe and from Africa to the Americas. The resulting structure of this work not only effectively displays a remarkably consistent interdisciplinary conversation, but also facilitates the critical discussion of different approaches to the issue of 'empire'... Together, the two volumes present a useful and comprehensive state of the art of 'imperial histories', providing plenty of food for thought for scholars working in the area, and abundant material to support a more nuanced and critical understanding and teaching of a crucial and contested field, whose importance goes well beyond academic research.