Author: Neil MacGregor
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141966831
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 564
Book Description
This book takes a dramatically original approach to the history of humanity, using objects which previous civilisations have left behind them, often accidentally, as prisms through which we can explore past worlds and the lives of the men and women who lived in them. The book's range is enormous. It begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with an object from the 21st century which represents the world we live in today. Neil MacGregor's aim is not simply to describe these remarkable things, but to show us their significance - how a stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people, how Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency or how an early Victorian tea-set tells us about the impact of empire. Each chapter immerses the reader in a past civilisation accompanied by an exceptionally well-informed guide. Seen through this lens, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. An intellectual and visual feast, it is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years.
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Author: Neil MacGregor
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141966831
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 564
Book Description
This book takes a dramatically original approach to the history of humanity, using objects which previous civilisations have left behind them, often accidentally, as prisms through which we can explore past worlds and the lives of the men and women who lived in them. The book's range is enormous. It begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with an object from the 21st century which represents the world we live in today. Neil MacGregor's aim is not simply to describe these remarkable things, but to show us their significance - how a stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people, how Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency or how an early Victorian tea-set tells us about the impact of empire. Each chapter immerses the reader in a past civilisation accompanied by an exceptionally well-informed guide. Seen through this lens, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. An intellectual and visual feast, it is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years.
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141966831
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 564
Book Description
This book takes a dramatically original approach to the history of humanity, using objects which previous civilisations have left behind them, often accidentally, as prisms through which we can explore past worlds and the lives of the men and women who lived in them. The book's range is enormous. It begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with an object from the 21st century which represents the world we live in today. Neil MacGregor's aim is not simply to describe these remarkable things, but to show us their significance - how a stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people, how Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency or how an early Victorian tea-set tells us about the impact of empire. Each chapter immerses the reader in a past civilisation accompanied by an exceptionally well-informed guide. Seen through this lens, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. An intellectual and visual feast, it is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years.
A New History of the Future in 100 Objects
Author: Adrian Hon
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262539373
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 381
Book Description
Imagining the history of the twenty-first century through its artifacts, from silent messaging systems to artificial worlds on asteroids. In the year 2082, a curator looks back at the twenty-first century, offering a history of the era through a series of objects and artifacts. He reminisces about the power of connectivity, which was reinforced by such technologies as silent messaging—wearable computers that relay subvocal communication; recalls the Fourth Great Awakening, when a regimen of pills could make someone virtuous; and notes disapprovingly the use of locked interrogation, which delivers “enhanced interrogation” simulations via virtual reality. The unnamed curator quotes from a self-help guide to making friends with “posthumans,” describes the establishment of artificial worlds on asteroids, and recounts pro-democracy movements in epistocratic states. In A New History of the Future in 100 Objects, Adrian Hon constructs a possible future by imagining the things it might leave in its wake. Many of these things are just an update or two away: improved ankle monitors, for example, and deliverbots. Others may be the logical conclusions of current trends—“downvote” networks that identify and erase undesirables, and Glyphish, an emoticon-based language that supersedes the written word. More benign are Braid Collective, which provides financial support for artists, and Rechartered Cities, which invites immigrants to revitalize urban areas hollowed out by changing demographics. With this engaging and ingenious work, Hon leads the way into an imagined future while offering readers a new perspective on the present.
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262539373
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 381
Book Description
Imagining the history of the twenty-first century through its artifacts, from silent messaging systems to artificial worlds on asteroids. In the year 2082, a curator looks back at the twenty-first century, offering a history of the era through a series of objects and artifacts. He reminisces about the power of connectivity, which was reinforced by such technologies as silent messaging—wearable computers that relay subvocal communication; recalls the Fourth Great Awakening, when a regimen of pills could make someone virtuous; and notes disapprovingly the use of locked interrogation, which delivers “enhanced interrogation” simulations via virtual reality. The unnamed curator quotes from a self-help guide to making friends with “posthumans,” describes the establishment of artificial worlds on asteroids, and recounts pro-democracy movements in epistocratic states. In A New History of the Future in 100 Objects, Adrian Hon constructs a possible future by imagining the things it might leave in its wake. Many of these things are just an update or two away: improved ankle monitors, for example, and deliverbots. Others may be the logical conclusions of current trends—“downvote” networks that identify and erase undesirables, and Glyphish, an emoticon-based language that supersedes the written word. More benign are Braid Collective, which provides financial support for artists, and Rechartered Cities, which invites immigrants to revitalize urban areas hollowed out by changing demographics. With this engaging and ingenious work, Hon leads the way into an imagined future while offering readers a new perspective on the present.
History of the World in 1000 Objects
Author: DK
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0744036089
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 480
Book Description
Discover how humans created their world from the objects they left behind - from the US Constitution to the first iPhone - in DK's latest history book. From the beginning of human history, the one thing that has defined us is our talent for making things, from basic technology and everyday objects, such as bowls and hand axes, to high-tech inventions, such as supersonic aircraft, smart devices, and Mars rovers. Objects speak volumes about a civilization, telling us how our ancestors lived - as well as what they believed in and valued. A bronze cat mummy shows us how highly the ancient Egyptians valued their feline companions, while a mechanical tiger toy tells the story of rising tensions between an Indian sultan and European colonizers. With stunning, exclusive photography, History of the World in 1000 Objects shows you the objects that our ancestors treasured - from the jewelry worn by the Mesopotamians to the prized ritual vessels used by the people of the Shang Dynasty - and gives you insight into what gave each culture its own identity. From astrolabes and airplanes to vacuum cleaners and X-rays, DK uses its hallmark visual style to weave the extraordinary legacy of our creativity into a unique view of world history that will change the way you see the objects all around us.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0744036089
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 480
Book Description
Discover how humans created their world from the objects they left behind - from the US Constitution to the first iPhone - in DK's latest history book. From the beginning of human history, the one thing that has defined us is our talent for making things, from basic technology and everyday objects, such as bowls and hand axes, to high-tech inventions, such as supersonic aircraft, smart devices, and Mars rovers. Objects speak volumes about a civilization, telling us how our ancestors lived - as well as what they believed in and valued. A bronze cat mummy shows us how highly the ancient Egyptians valued their feline companions, while a mechanical tiger toy tells the story of rising tensions between an Indian sultan and European colonizers. With stunning, exclusive photography, History of the World in 1000 Objects shows you the objects that our ancestors treasured - from the jewelry worn by the Mesopotamians to the prized ritual vessels used by the people of the Shang Dynasty - and gives you insight into what gave each culture its own identity. From astrolabes and airplanes to vacuum cleaners and X-rays, DK uses its hallmark visual style to weave the extraordinary legacy of our creativity into a unique view of world history that will change the way you see the objects all around us.
A History of Women in 100 Objects
Author: Professor Maggie Andrews
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750987197
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 538
Book Description
The history of the world has been told in objects. But what about the objects that tell the history of women? What are the items that symbolise the journey of women from second-class citizens with no legal rights, no vote and no official status to the powerful people they are today? And what are the objects that still oppress women, even now? From the corset to the contraceptive pill, the bones of the first woman to Rosa Parks's mugshot and the iconic Mary Quant cape, A History of Women in 100 Objects documents the developing role of women in society through the lens of the inanimate objects that touched women's lives, were created by women or that at some time – perhaps even still – oppressed them. Woven by two leading historians, this complex, fascinating and vital tale of women and womanhood is told with a lightness of touch and depth of experience that will appeal to all those interested in women's history.
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750987197
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 538
Book Description
The history of the world has been told in objects. But what about the objects that tell the history of women? What are the items that symbolise the journey of women from second-class citizens with no legal rights, no vote and no official status to the powerful people they are today? And what are the objects that still oppress women, even now? From the corset to the contraceptive pill, the bones of the first woman to Rosa Parks's mugshot and the iconic Mary Quant cape, A History of Women in 100 Objects documents the developing role of women in society through the lens of the inanimate objects that touched women's lives, were created by women or that at some time – perhaps even still – oppressed them. Woven by two leading historians, this complex, fascinating and vital tale of women and womanhood is told with a lightness of touch and depth of experience that will appeal to all those interested in women's history.
A History of the Universe in 100 Objects
Author: Steve Tribe
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1849904812
Category : Cosmography
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
Presents the history of the "Doctor Who" television universe through one hundred objects, including the Ultima machine, the Mona Lisa, TARDIS, and axonite.
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1849904812
Category : Cosmography
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
Presents the history of the "Doctor Who" television universe through one hundred objects, including the Ultima machine, the Mona Lisa, TARDIS, and axonite.
A History of Ireland in 100 Objects
Author: Fintan O'Toole
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781908996152
Category : Art objects
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The Irish Times literary editor Fintan O'Toole selects 100 objects to narrate a history of Ireland.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781908996152
Category : Art objects
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The Irish Times literary editor Fintan O'Toole selects 100 objects to narrate a history of Ireland.
A History of the Future in 100 Objects
Author: Adrian Hon
Publisher: Skyhook
ISBN: 9780955181092
Category : Future, The
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
What are the 100 objects, ideas, developments, or events that future historians will use to sum up our century? Smart drugs that change the way we think? A wedding ring between a human and an AI? A society which no longer has work to do? A cure for hate? Adrian Hon's eloquent, playful and informed survey takes its cue from the popular BBC Radio 4 Series A History of the World in 100 Objects, and explores what the future might hold - not just in the fields of technology and science, but also religion, advertising, wars, economics, fashion, education and politics. These hundred essays, hybrids of near fact and outright fiction, gather personal experiences, newspaper stories, official reports and scientific papers in a speculative narrative of how we will live, work and play. [Book description]
Publisher: Skyhook
ISBN: 9780955181092
Category : Future, The
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
What are the 100 objects, ideas, developments, or events that future historians will use to sum up our century? Smart drugs that change the way we think? A wedding ring between a human and an AI? A society which no longer has work to do? A cure for hate? Adrian Hon's eloquent, playful and informed survey takes its cue from the popular BBC Radio 4 Series A History of the World in 100 Objects, and explores what the future might hold - not just in the fields of technology and science, but also religion, advertising, wars, economics, fashion, education and politics. These hundred essays, hybrids of near fact and outright fiction, gather personal experiences, newspaper stories, official reports and scientific papers in a speculative narrative of how we will live, work and play. [Book description]
Shakespeare's Restless World
Author: Neil MacGregor
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101638117
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 407
Book Description
The New York Times bestselling author of A History of the World in 100 Objects brings the world of Shakespeare and the Tudor era of Elizabeth I into focus We feel we know Shakespeare’s characters. Think of Hamlet, trapped in indecision, or Macbeth’s merciless and ultimately self-destructive ambition, or the Machiavellian rise and short reign of Richard III. They are so vital, so alive and real that we can see aspects of ourselves in them. But their world was at once familiar and nothing like our own. In this brilliant work of historical reconstruction Neil MacGregor and his team at the British Museum, working together in a landmark collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC, bring us twenty objects that capture the essence of Shakespeare’s universe. A perfect complement to A History of the World in 100 Objects, MacGregor’s landmark New York Times bestseller, Shakespeare’s Restless World highlights a turning point in human history. This magnificent book, illustrated throughout with more than one hundred vibrant color photographs, invites you to travel back in history and to touch, smell, and feel what life was like at that pivotal moment, when humankind leaped into the modern age. This was an exhilarating time when discoveries in science and technology altered the parameters of the known world. Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation map allows us to imagine the age of exploration from the point of view of one of its most ambitious navigators. A bishop’s cup captures the most sacred and divisive act in Christendom. With A History of the World in 100 Objects, MacGregor pioneered a new way of telling history through artifacts. Now he trains his eye closer to home, on a subject that has mesmerized him since childhood, and lets us see Shakespeare and his world in a whole new light.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101638117
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 407
Book Description
The New York Times bestselling author of A History of the World in 100 Objects brings the world of Shakespeare and the Tudor era of Elizabeth I into focus We feel we know Shakespeare’s characters. Think of Hamlet, trapped in indecision, or Macbeth’s merciless and ultimately self-destructive ambition, or the Machiavellian rise and short reign of Richard III. They are so vital, so alive and real that we can see aspects of ourselves in them. But their world was at once familiar and nothing like our own. In this brilliant work of historical reconstruction Neil MacGregor and his team at the British Museum, working together in a landmark collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC, bring us twenty objects that capture the essence of Shakespeare’s universe. A perfect complement to A History of the World in 100 Objects, MacGregor’s landmark New York Times bestseller, Shakespeare’s Restless World highlights a turning point in human history. This magnificent book, illustrated throughout with more than one hundred vibrant color photographs, invites you to travel back in history and to touch, smell, and feel what life was like at that pivotal moment, when humankind leaped into the modern age. This was an exhilarating time when discoveries in science and technology altered the parameters of the known world. Sir Francis Drake’s circumnavigation map allows us to imagine the age of exploration from the point of view of one of its most ambitious navigators. A bishop’s cup captures the most sacred and divisive act in Christendom. With A History of the World in 100 Objects, MacGregor pioneered a new way of telling history through artifacts. Now he trains his eye closer to home, on a subject that has mesmerized him since childhood, and lets us see Shakespeare and his world in a whole new light.
The First World War in 100 Objects
Author: Gary Sheffield
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780233005232
Category : World War, 1914-1918
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Trace the history of the first truly global conflict through this collection of 100 iconic items, from posters, hats, and a soldier's bible to a battleship, tunnel, and POW camp. Archduke Ferdinand's car. A rum jar. And rifles, helmets, and barbed wire. Written by a renowned expert on World War One, this fully international book takes an unusual approach to understanding the bloody conflict. It examines 100 objects from the era, ranging from the gas mask, zeppelin, and Churchill's famous cigar to personal possessions that tell poignant stories of those who fought, suffered, and died. Offering a unique perspective on "the war to end all wars," these objects are accompanied by short essays that highlight their significance. Reissue.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780233005232
Category : World War, 1914-1918
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Trace the history of the first truly global conflict through this collection of 100 iconic items, from posters, hats, and a soldier's bible to a battleship, tunnel, and POW camp. Archduke Ferdinand's car. A rum jar. And rifles, helmets, and barbed wire. Written by a renowned expert on World War One, this fully international book takes an unusual approach to understanding the bloody conflict. It examines 100 objects from the era, ranging from the gas mask, zeppelin, and Churchill's famous cigar to personal possessions that tell poignant stories of those who fought, suffered, and died. Offering a unique perspective on "the war to end all wars," these objects are accompanied by short essays that highlight their significance. Reissue.
The Second World War in 100 Objects
Author: Julian Thompson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780233005249
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
See the history of World War II in an entirely new light through 100 carefully chosen items, from the public to the deeply, poignantly personal. Selected by two specialists in military history, the objects in this book offer a unique perspective on the Second World War. Ranging from iconic items like the British Spitfire, the Purple Heart, and Hitler's mountain retreat, to personal treasures that tell the moving stories of individuals, to official documents, medals, and badges, they all help trace the history of the conflict. Organized chronologically, each one is accompanied by a brief description that highlights the article's significance. Reissue.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780233005249
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
See the history of World War II in an entirely new light through 100 carefully chosen items, from the public to the deeply, poignantly personal. Selected by two specialists in military history, the objects in this book offer a unique perspective on the Second World War. Ranging from iconic items like the British Spitfire, the Purple Heart, and Hitler's mountain retreat, to personal treasures that tell the moving stories of individuals, to official documents, medals, and badges, they all help trace the history of the conflict. Organized chronologically, each one is accompanied by a brief description that highlights the article's significance. Reissue.