The book is the first volume of a four-volume series of music history textbooks, all by the same author. What is considered the main merit of the series is that, while avoiding overload of facts or overly specialized language, it aims rather at promting an understanding of historical processes and at presenting history of music in wider context of art, culture and social processes. Attractive layout and accessible language make the series suitable also for younger students of high school level. Volume 1 covers the time period from the Antiquity to baroque opera, leaving other topics related to baroque music to be continued in volume 2.