Who was the first black Queen? How much is known about China's complex history? Most people's knowledge of global history is incomplete at best. This updated No-Nonsense Guide gives a full picture, revealing the hidden histories and communities left out of conventional text books, from civilisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America to the history of women. Includes a new chapter written from the perspective of the end of the first decade of the 21st century and includes material on the financial crisis and the world response to climate change.