A History of the World

by Andrew Marr

Overview

From the earliest civilizations to the 21st century, this global journey through human history is the companion volume to a Discovery Channel/BBC coproduced series, like Life and Planet Earth

 
Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey Andrew Marr revisits some of traditional histories, which have tended to be Eurocentric, telling mankind's story through tales of Greece and Rome and the crowned heads of Europe's oldest monarchies. Here he widens the lens, concentrating as much, if not more on the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Instead of focusing on one episode of history taking place in one place, he draws surprising parallels and makes fascinating connections, focusing on a key incident or episode to tell a larger story: for instance, the liberation of the serfs in Russia, which took place at the same time as the American Civil War, which resulted in the abolition of slavery. But he begins the account with an episode in the life of Tolstoy, who racked up huge gambling debts and had to sell land and slaves as a result. Fresh and exciting, this is popular history at its very best.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447236825
Publisher:	Pan Macmillan
Publication date:	02/01/2014
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	500
Sales rank:	658,557
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Andrew Marr is a political journalist who has worked for the Daily Express, the Independent, the Scotsman, and the Observer, and spent five years as the BBC's political editor. He is the author of The History of Modern Britain, The Making of Modern Britain, and The Real Elizabeth.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction xiii

Part 1 Out of the Heat, Towards the Ice 1

Part 2 The Case for War 51

Part 3 The Sword and the Word 109

Part 4 Beyond the Muddy Melting Pot 183

Part 5 The World Blows Open 249

Part 6 Dreams of Freedom 307

Part 7 Capitalism and Its Enemies 385

Part 8 1918-2012: Our Times 467

Notes 567

Bibliography 581

Index 591

Picture Acknowledgements 613