A History of the World in 100 ObjectsAllen Lane, 2010 - 707 pages Neil MacGregor's A History of the World in 100 Objects takes a bold, original approach to human history, exploring past civilizations through the objects that defined them. Encompassing a grand sweep of human history, A History of the World in 100 Objects begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with objects which characterise the world we live in today. Seen through MacGregor's eyes, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. A stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people; Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency; and an early Victorian tea-set speaks to us about the impact of empire. An intellectual and visual feast, this is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years. 'Brilliant, engagingly written, deeply researched' Mary Beard, Guardian 'A triumph: hugely popular, and rightly lauded as one of the most effective and intellectually ambitious initiatives in the making of 'public history' for many decades' Sunday Telegraph 'Highly intelligent, delightfully written and utterly absorbing ' Timothy Clifford, Spectator 'This is a story book, vivid and witty, shining with insights, connections, shocks and delights' Gillian Reynolds Daily Telegraph |
From inside the book
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Page xiii
... tell a history of the world . Indeed you could say it is what the Museum has been attempting to do ever since Parliament set it up in 1753 and directed that it should be ' aimed at universality ' and free to all . This book is the ...
... tell a history of the world . Indeed you could say it is what the Museum has been attempting to do ever since Parliament set it up in 1753 and directed that it should be ' aimed at universality ' and free to all . This book is the ...
Page xvi
... tell many stories rather than bear witness to one single event . The Necessary Poetry of Things If you want to tell the history of the whole world , a history that does not unduly privilege one part of humanity , you cannot do it ...
... tell many stories rather than bear witness to one single event . The Necessary Poetry of Things If you want to tell the history of the whole world , a history that does not unduly privilege one part of humanity , you cannot do it ...
Page 414
... tell us that they were dedi- cated on Tuesday 13 May 1351 - a level of precision that is wonder- fully Chinese and proof positive that fine - quality blue and white porcelain predates the Ming . But the inscriptions tell us much more ...
... tell us that they were dedi- cated on Tuesday 13 May 1351 - a level of precision that is wonder- fully Chinese and proof positive that fine - quality blue and white porcelain predates the Ming . But the inscriptions tell us much more ...
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Common terms and phrases
Africa America ancient animals archaeologists artist Ashoka Asia Augustus Aztec beautiful became Borobudur Britain British Museum bronze Buddha Buddhist bull-leaper caliph carved centimetres central centre century ceremonial China Chinese Christian civilization clay cm H cm/w coins culture decorated Dynasty Egypt Egyptian emperor Europe European figures flagons gods gold Greek head Hindu Huastec huge human imperial India inscription Iran Islamic jade Japan Japanese kind king kingdom Korea Kumaragupta Lachish land live London look Maya Mediterranean Mexico Middle East Moche modern Muslim Nile objects Olmec painting Papyrus Parthenon piece political porcelain Qianlong emperor religion religious Rhind Mathematical Papyrus ritual Roman Empire Rosetta Stone ruler Samarra sculpture shape ship Silk Road Silla silver society statue stone story survived Sutton Hoo symbols Ta'lab tablet tell temple things trade tradition Ulugh Beg Viking whole writing Zoroastrianism