At the back of the book is a 12-page foldout timeline which can be detached and displayed on a wall or noticeboard, offering an attractive quick visual reference to the key periods, events and developments of Islamic civilizations from approximately the 7th to the 19th centuries AD. The 32-page book offers introductions to each of the periods and dynasties, with short sections on particular themes and on the great achievements of Islamic art and culture over the centuries. Both book and timeline are richly illustrated throughout with colour photographs, including numerous objects from the British Museumas collections.