The TimeMaps History Atlas is an amazingly organized and very extensive source of information for anyone interested in learning more about the world’s civilizations and how they progressed throughout history. When the user first enters the page, they are welcomed by a map circa 3500 BCE, different parts of the world which are denoted by markers with embedded links (Map of the world in 3500 BCE: At the beginning of history, n.d.). These markers lead to separate pages with detailed maps of the regions, which provide a thorough explanation of the developments on a specific territory in a given time frame. Below on the main page is a visual timeline of civilizations, from the most ancient ones to the current times. It shows how long each civilization lasted and when it overlapped with others in different parts of the world. Scrolling down further, a user encounters an information block with an overview of the situation in the world in general, following the map presented above. On the right side of the screen, there is another enumeration of the world’s civilizations – this time as a classical list, with embedded links as well.
Since there is an enormous amount of data stored on the site, developers had to make sure that its layout was flawless. In my opinion, they did a very good job: for instance, one of my favorite features is the site’s built-in timeline that stays in place on whichever page you access. It helps a user who might find themselves lost exploring a chain of links from page to page to redirect to the chosen period. Another very useful attribute is the small arrow on the side of the main page that lets one explore the world’s history briefly but successively. It is extremely convenient for someone who does not want to do a deep dive into the site’s contents but is interested in how it works. Additionally, what I find practical is the number of extra links at the end of the information block on every page. For those who, contrariwise, want to learn as much as possible about the chosen topic these links are a great source of extensive knowledge.
Reference
Map of the world in 3500 BCE: At the beginning of history. (n.d.). TimeMaps. Web.
TimeMaps. TimeMaps history atlas.Web.