The origins of theatre -- Theatre and drama in ancient Greece -- Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine theatre -- European theatre in the Middle Ages -- English theatre to 1642 -- Spanish theatre to 1700 -- Italian theatre to 1700 -- French theatre to 1700 -- English theater to 1800 -- Italy and France to 1800 -- Northern European theatre to 1800 -- Continental European theatre in the early nineteenth century -- English-language theatre in the early nineteenth century -- English-language theatre in the late nineteenth century -- Continental European and Latin American theatre in the late nineteenth century -- The beginnings of modern realism -- Alternatives to realism -- Continental European and Latin American theatre in the early twentieth century -- English-language theatre in the early twentieth century -- Continental European and Latin American theatre in the mid twentieth century -- English-language theatre in the in the mid twentieth century -- Continental European and Latin American theatre in the late twentieth century -- English-language theatre in the late twentieth century -- Contemporary theatre -- The theatre of Africa -- The theatre of Asia.