A Short History of the World is H. G. Wells's survey of world history, from the Earth's beginnings and early life to the rise of ancient civilizations and empires. Written for general readers, it offers a broad, readable narrative of humanity's past. It is worth listening to for its ambitious scope and clear storytelling.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD By H. G. WELLS New York THE MACMILLAN & COMPANY 1922 Copyright 1922
CONTENTS CHAPTER Page A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD I. THE WORLD IN SPACE 1 II. THE WORLD IN TIME 5 III. THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE 11 IV. THE AGE OF FISHES 16 V. THE AGE OF THE COAL SWAMPS 21 VI. THE AGE OF REPTILES 26 VII. THE FIRST BIRDS AND THE FIRST MAMMALS 31 VIII. THE AGE OF MAMMALS 37 IX. MONKEYS, APES AND SUBMEN 43 X. THE NEANDERTHALER AND THE RHODESIAN MAN 48 XI. THE FIRST TRUE MEN 53 XII. PRIMITIVE THOUGHT 60 XIII. THE BEGINNINGS OF CULTIVATION 65 XIV. PRIMITIVE NEOLITHIC CIVILIZATIONS 71 XV. SUMERIA, EARLY EGYPT AND WRITING 77
XVI. PRIMITIVE NOMADIC PEOPLES 84 XVII. THE FIRST SEA-GOING PEOPLES 91 XVIII. EGYPT, BABYLON AND ASSYRIA 96 XIX. THE PRIMITIVE ARYANS 104 XX. THE LAST BABYLONIAN EMPIRE AND THE EMPIRE OF DARIUS I 109 XXI. THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE JEWS 115 XXII. PRIESTS AND PROPHETS IN JUDEA 122 XXIII. THE GREEKS 127 XXIV. THE WARS OF THE GREEKS AND PERSIANS 134 XXV. THE SPLENDOUR OF GREECE 139 XXVI. THE EMPIRE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT 145 XXVII. THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA 150 XXVIII. THE LIFE OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA 156 XXIX. KING ASOKA 163 XXX. CONFUCIUS AND LAO TSE 167 XXXI. ROME COMES INTO HISTORY 174 XXXII. ROME AND CARTHAGE 180 XXXIII. THE GROWTH OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 185 XXXIV. BETWEEN ROME AND CHINA 196 XXXV. THE COMMON MAN’S LIFE UNDER THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIRE 201
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