The Essential Chronology

The Essential Chronology is a reference book published by Del Rey, the sixth book in the Essential Guide series. It was written by Kevin J. Anderson and Daniel Wallace, and illustrated by Bill Hughes. It was first published April 4, 2000.

The book provides an in-universe perspective on the complete history of the Star Wars saga, from pre-Republic history to just before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, drawing upon both well-known and obscure sources to tie together and reconcile the various Expanded Universe tales. However, little is mentioned about the Prequel era and the Clone Wars other than the events of the Phantom Menace.

An updated book has been published, The New Essential Chronology in 2005.

Editions

 * ISBN 0345434390; April 4, 2000, Del Rey, 208-page paperback
 * ISBN 837245521X; Amber, 208-page Polish paperback

Publisher's summary
The story is one that began many thousands of years before the birth of Luke Skywalker...or Anakin Skywalker...or even Obi-Wan Kenobi.

''It spans galaxies, encompasses kingdoms and powerful dynasties, chronicles wars, and charts the rise and fall of individuals who changed the course of their times. Now, at last, the many strands of this extraordinary saga are drawn together&mdash;from the original movies, from the novels, from every verifiable source&mdash;and tied together in one, comprehensive volume.''


 * Learn about the Great Hyperspace War that divided the ancient Jedi Knights


 * Discover the colorful adventures of the rogues heroes Han Solo and Lando Calrissian


 * Experience the overthrow of the Empire, the birth of the New Republic, the founding of Skywalker's Jedi academy, the marriage of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, and much more!

Contents

 * Introduction for Students of History
 * Note on Dating Conventions
 * Part I: Tales of the Ancient Jedi Knights
 * Emergence of the Sith
 * Legacy of the Sith
 * Part II: The Empire and the New Order
 * Part III: Profiles in History
 * Han Solo
 * Lando Calrissian
 * The Skywalkers
 * Part IV: Rebellion against the Empire
 * The Rebellion Begins
 * A Light Eclipsed
 * Alliance Triumphant
 * Part V: Birth of the New Republic


 * Part VI: Empire Resurgent
 * The Depredations of Grand Admiral Thrawn
 * The Return of Isard
 * The Resurrection of Emperor Palpatine
 * Part VII: The Return of the Jedi Knights
 * Skywalker's Jedi Academy
 * The Darksaber Threat
 * The Death Seed Plague
 * Part VIII: Uprisings and Insurgencies
 * The Empire Reborn Movement
 * The Black Fleet Crisis
 * Uprising at Almania
 * The Corellian Insurrection
 * Part IX: A Lasting Peace
 * Part X: Generations of Jedi Knights
 * The Golden Globe and Kenobi's lightsaber
 * The Shadow Academy and the Second Imperium
 * The Diversity Alliance
 * The Resurgence of Black Sun
 * Afterword
 * Map
 * Time Line
 * Index

Errors
The book contains several errors, some of which are due to sources published afterwards revising original dates. Among them are:
 * That Vergere's mission to Zonama Sekot took place after the Outbound Flight Project.
 * That the New Republic was aware of Nom Anor's involvement in the Imperial Interim Council.