A Short History of the World - Hardcover

Blainey, Geoffrey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670880361 ISBN 13: 9780670880362

Publisher: Viking, 2000

Synopsis

A superb history of the world's people during the last four million years, beginning before the human race moved out of Africa to explore and settle the other continents. Mr. Blainey explores the development of technology and skills, the rise of major religions, and the role of geography, considering both the larger patterns and the individual nature of history. A delightful read, gracefully written, and full of odd and interesting pieces of information as well as thoughtful comparisons that span both time and space. ―William L. O'Neill

About this title

About the Author:

Geoffrey Blainey, one of AustraliaOs most prominent historians, held a chair at Harvard in the early 1980s and taught for many years at the University of Melbourne. He is the recipient of AustraliaOs highest honor, Companion in the Order of Australia. He lives near Melbourne.

From Library Journal:

Blainey, who published A Shorter History of Australia in 1994, now extends his efforts to the world. Another work about Australia, The Tyranny of Distance (1966), betrays his intellectual approach, namely, organizing his explanations around a single factor in this case, the effect of distance and technology upon society. Blainey discusses the various journeys humans have taken over the last four million years, the cultural contact that has resulted, and the factors that might have delayed or speeded up contact. For example, he explores the role of the Sahara Desert in the interplay among the various cultures surrounding that enormous barrier and shows that groups like the Mongols crossed huge spaces and barriers to influence peoples far from their homeland. Blainey also discusses the distances traveled by Islam, Christianity, and secular capitalism and the manner in which cultures located on different continents were and are influenced by such forces. Readers may complain that Blainey treats Africa only in light of its contact with the West, and that is true, but he does this for all cultures. He does pay more attention to Southeast Asia and Oceania than many historians, doubtless because of his Australian roots. Recommended. Clay Williams, Hunter Coll., CUNY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Viking
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0670880361
• ISBN 13: 9780670880362
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 640