They draw on archaeology, oral traditions and legends, interviews and secondary scholarship, and primary documents such as praise songs, newspaper accounts, public decrees and even graffiti.
The volumes appear in both hardcover and paperback formats; individual listings specify whether a given edition is Hardcover or Paperback.
Several include photographs, illustrations and maps — for example, one companion lists 14 black‑and‑white photos, 6 illustrations and a map, another is from a 'History in Photographs' series, and other summaries note various fascinating images alongside the text.
They span from ancient prehistory (in some cases back to about 9000 B.C.) through the Middle Ages and early modern era, with many volumes extending into the 20th century and the present day.
