A History of the World in 100 Objects

A History of the World in 100 Objects – Neil MacGregor

How can we tell the story of humanity? Neil MacGregor, then director of the British Museum, chose an original approach: through objects made by people across two million years of history. A History of the World in 100 Objects began as a celebrated BBC radio series and became an international bestselling book.

Each chapter focuses on a single object from the British Museum’s collection, chosen to illuminate a particular moment or theme in world history. The journey begins with one of the earliest known human-made tools, a stone chopping tool from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, and travels through the ages to the present day, ending with a modern solar-powered lamp and charger.

Along the way, MacGregor explores objects from every continent and many civilizations, including Egyptian mummies, Mesopotamian tablets, Chinese bronzes, Greek sculptures, Roman coins, Mayan carvings, Islamic art, African masterpieces, Pacific artifacts, Renaissance treasures and objects from the industrial and modern worlds. Each object becomes a window into the lives of the people who made and used it, revealing stories of power, trade, religion, art, technology, war and everyday life.

MacGregor’s elegant, engaging writing connects these objects to larger themes in human history, showing how cultures have influenced one another over millennia. The book is illustrated with photographs of the objects.

Fascinating and accessible, A History of the World in 100 Objects is a rich and rewarding read for history lovers, museum visitors, students and curious readers of all ages.