p A Short History of the World attempts to trace the long and complex path traversed by the human race from the era of primitive society right up to the present day.

p Inevitably the size of the present edition makes it impossible to give an equally full and detailed account of all the events which took place during these centuries—the development of human society, ancient civilisation, the military campaigns and conquests of the Middle Ages, the enormous strides in social progress made in modern times—revolutions, the most decisive of which was the Great October Socialist Revolution, ushering in as it did a new era of world history. The reader will have the opportunity to acquaint himself with the most outstanding events which played an influential part in the march of human progress. This we trust will be sufficient to convey a clear picture of the motive forces and main trends of the whole course of history.

p What are the main laws underlying the development of human society? Wherein lies the essence of historical progress? What are the reasons for the sudden rise and fall of so many states in the past? Why is the final victory of communism inevitable, a victory which will bring to fruition age-old ideals cherished by hundreds of millions of people who have waged an unceasing struggle against social and national oppression?

p The authors of this work set out their answers to these questions basing themselves on concrete historical material and the Marxist-Leninist theory on the laws governing the development of human society. While devoting much of their attention to the history of the Soviet Union, they have at the same time attempted to pinpoint the main features of economic, social, political and cultural development on all five continents, again within the limits dictated by the size of this work.

p The first volume covers the vast period from primitive society right up to the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia. The gradual development of the productive forces of human society was accompanied by a marked acceleration of the historical process which at the same time started to acquire an increasingly universal aspect. Underlying all the manifold political events—during the era of slave-owning society and that of feudal and, in particular, capitalist society—is the class struggle, the struggle of the oppressed masses of working people against their exploiters in the name of social and national liberation. The decisive victory in this struggle was that of the October Revolution in Russia.

p The second volume is devoted to the events of the new era ushered in by the October Revolution. The reason for this is the tremendous historical importance of the events of the modern epoch, in which the creative energy of the masses has come into its own and has started to play a truly decisive role in history, an epoch in which we are witnessing the revolutionary replacement of capitalism, the last type of society based on exploitation, by communism.

Leading Soviet historians have collaborated to compile the present work. Making use of the latest Soviet and foreign sources the contributors have also tried to ensure that this work should be accessible and of interest to the reader at large.