Williamsburg Regional Library

A history of the world in 100 objects, Neil MacGregor

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 671-678) and index

illustrationsmaps

index present

non fiction

A history of the world in 100 objects

bibliography

707969107

Neil MacGregor

From the renowned director of the British Museum, a kaleidoscopic history of humanity told through things we have made. When did people first start to wear jewelry or play music? When were cows domesticated and why do we feed their milk to our children? Where were the first cities and what made them succeed? Who invented math-or came up with money? The history of humanity is a history of invention and innovation, as we have continually created new items to use, to admire, or to leave our mark on the world. In this original and thought-provoking book, Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum, has selected one hundred man-made artifacts, each of which gives us an intimate glimpse of an unexpected turning point in human civilization. A History of the World in 100 Objects stretches back two million years and covers the globe. From the very first hand axe to the ubiquitous credit card, each item has a story to tell; together they relate the larger history of mankind-revealing who we are by looking at what we have made

Mummy of Hornedjitef -- Olduvai stone chopping tool -- Olduvai handaxe -- Swimming reindeer -- Clovis spear point -- Bird-shaped pestle -- Ain Sakhri lovers figurine -- Egyptian clay model of cattle -- Maya maize god statue -- Jomon pot -- King Den's sandal label -- Standard of Ur -- Indus seal -- Jade axe -- Early writing tablet -- Flood tablet -- Rhind mathematical papyrus -- Minoan bull-leaper -- Mold gold cape -- Statue of Ramesses II -- Lachish reliefs -- Sphinx of Taharqo -- Chinese Zhou ritual vessel -- Paracas textile -- Gold coin of Croesus -- Oxus chariot model -- Parthenon sculpture: centaur and Lapith -- Basse-Yutz flagons -- Olmec stone mask -- Chinese bronze bell -- Coin with head of Alexander -- Pillar of Ashoka -- Rosetta stone -- Chinese Han lacquer cup -- Head of Augustus -- Warren cup -- North American otter pipe -- Ceremonial ballgame belt -- Admonitions scroll -- Hoxne pepper pot -- Seated Buddha from Gandhara -- Gold coins of Kumaragupta I -- Plate showing Shapur II -- Hinton St. Mary mosaic -- Arabian bronze hand -- Gold coins of Abd al-Malik -- Sutton Hoo helmet -- Moche warrior pot -- Korean roof tile -- Silk princess painting -- Maya relief of royal blood-letting -- Harem wall-painting fragments -- Lothair crystal -- Statue of Tara -- Chinese Tang tomb figures -- Vale of York hoard -- Hedwig beaker -- Japanese bronze mirror -- Borobudur Buddha head -- Kilwa pot sherds -- The Lewis chessmen -- Hebrew Astrolabe -- Ife head -- The David vases -- Taino ritual seat -- Holy thorn reliquary -- Icon of the triumph of orthodoxy -- Shiva and Parvati sculpture -- Sculpture of Huastec goddess -- Hoa Hakananai'a Easter island statue -- Tughra of Suleiman the magnificent -- Ming banknote -- Inca gold llama -- Jade dragon cup -- Durer's Rhinoceros -- Mechanical galleon -- Benin plaque: the Oba with Europeans -- Double-headed serpent -- Kakiemon elephants -- Pieces of eight -- Shi'a religious parade standard -- Miniature of a Mughal prince -- Shadow puppet of Bima -- Mexican Codex map -- Reformation centenary broadsheet -- Akan drum -- Hawaiian feather helmet -- North American buckskin map -- Australian bark shield -- Jade Bi -- Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle -- Early Victorian tea set -- Hokusai's The great wave -- Sunanese slit drum -- Suffragette-defaced penny -- Russian revolutionary plate -- Hockney's In the dull village -- Throne of weapons -- Credit card -- Solar-powered lamp and charger

adult

History of the world in one hundred objects