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A Short History of the World (Penguin Classics)
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 909
EAN: 9780141441825
ISBN: 0141441828
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 400
Publication Date: July 31, 2007
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
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Editorial Review:
Of the more than one hundred books that H. G. Wells published in his lifetime, this is one of the most ambitious. Spanning the origins of the Earth to the outcome of World War I, A Short History of the World is an engrossing account of the evolution of life and the development of the human race. Wells brings his monumental learning and penetrating historical insight to bear on the Neolithic era, the rise of Judaism, the Golden Age of Athens, the life of Christ, the rise of Islam, the discovery of America, the Industrial Revolution, and a host of other subjects. Breathtaking in scope, this thought-provoking masterwork remains one of the most readable and rewarding of its kind.
Great conquerors appear in the dim light of that distant time and pass, Tushratta, King of Mitanni, who captured Nineveh, Tiglath Pileser I of Assyria who conquered Babylon. At last the Assyrians became the greatest military power of the time. Tiglath Pileser III conquered Babylon in 745 B.C. and founded what historians call the New Assyrian Empire. Iron had also come now into civilization out of the north; the Hittites, the precursors of the Armenians, had it first and communicated its use to the Assyrians, and an Assyrian usurper, Sargon II, armed his troops with it.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Close-minded, ignorant and too subjective
After reading Wells' story about Prophet Mohamed I wondered if s/he ever read anything about Mohamed's life. When you want to talk about a subject you study it if you don't want to stay ignorant, and read from all sources if you don't want to stay close-minded. Wells obviously did not do those things. After that "historical" I began to wonder whether he did the same with other "stories", too. Waste of time. Plus, although the book may seem "funny" lets remember that if a history book is funny it ... Read More
Rating:  - Just Superb!!
In addition to all of the other glowing and positive reviews below, I'd like to humbly add the following......
When it came to my O'levels (GCSE's), I was given the choice of History or Geography; looking back I think it was unfortunate that I chose Geography.
I stumbled across an earlier version of this book about 30 years ago and have never looked back. For me it made the subject so interesting and accessible. The read is absolutely captivating and you really won't want ... Read More
Rating: - A Masterpiece
Writing a history of the world that is fun to read, easy to understand, and not a gazillion pages long is no easy task. Wells has done it in a masterful way.
This is a book for all ages as it is written in an extremely simple and clear manner.
Rating: - Erudite, vivid, and entertaining...essential reading.
This is the book that had such a powerful impact on Malcolm X. Its easy to see why. The history of the world is vividly outlined in an erudite and readable style. (Ever since I read `The Time Machine' when I was sixteen, I have considered Wells to be the clearest writer of prose in the English language.) Wells takes us from the very beginning of life right up to the League of Nations in 1922, stopping off at most points in-between: Neolithic cavemen, Periclean Athens, Roman and Byzantium civilisations, ... Read More
Rating: - The World in One Volume
If you have ever wondered about how history hangs together, then this is the book for you. From the dawn of civilization to the modern era, Wells takes you along the journey of civilization (and pre-civilization -- the first few chapters of the book cover geology and evolution). This tome, and if ever a volume merited the word this is it, carries you along the way with Alexander, Persian Kings, Khans, Crusaders, Chinese Emperors, Popes, French Citizens, Tsars, and Kaisers. The sweep of characters, times ... Read More
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