Read A History of the World in 100 Objects Online

Authors: Neil MacGregor

A History of the World in 100 Objects

VIKING
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Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint excerpts from the following copyrighted works: “Advantages of Floating in the Middle of the Sea” by Stephen Sondheim, from
Pacific Overtures
. Copyright © Stephen Sondheim.
“Annus Mirabilis” from
Collected Poems
by Philip Larkin. Copyright © 1988, 2003 by the Estate of Philip Larkin. “In the Dreary Village” from
The Poems of C. P. Cavafy
, translated by John Mavrogordato. Copyright © C. P. Cavafy. P. Cavafy c/o Rogers, Coleridge & White Ltd., 20 Powis Mews, London W11 1JN.
 
Picture credits appear on page 683.
 
ISBN : 978-1-101-54530-0
 
 
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Contents
 

Preface: Mission Impossible

Introduction: Signals from the Past

PART ONE
Making us Human
2,000,000–9000
BC

 

    
1
. Mummy of Hornedjitef

    
2
. Olduvai Stone Chopping Tool

    
3
. Olduvai Handaxe

    
4
. Swimming Reindeer

    
5
. Clovis Spear Point

PART TWO
After the Ice Age: Food and Sex
9000–3500
BC

 

    
6
. Bird-shaped Pestle

    
7
. Ain Sakhri Lovers Figurine

    
8
. Egyptian Clay Model of Cattle

    
9
. Maya Maize God Statue

  
10
. Jomon Pot

PART THREE
The First Cities and States
4000–2000
BC

 

  
11
. King Den’s Sandal Label

  
12
. Standard of Ur

  
13
. Indus Seal

  
14
. Jade Axe

  
15
. Early Writing Tablet

PART FOUR
The Beginnings of Science and Literature
2000–700
BC

 

  
16
. Flood Tablet

  
17
. Rhind Mathematical Papyrus

  
18
. Minoan Bull-leaper

  
19
. Mold Gold Cape

  
20
. Statue of Ramesses II

PART FIVE
Old World, New Powers
1100–300
BC

 

  
21
. Lachish Reliefs

  
22
. Sphinx of Taharqo

  
23
. Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel

  
24
. Paracas

  
25
. Gold Coin of Croesus

PART SIX
The World in the Age of Confucius
500–300
BC

 

  
26
. Oxus Chariot Model

  
27
. Parthenon Sculpture: Centaur and Lapith

  
28
. Basse-Yutz Flagons

  
29
. Olmec Stone Mask

  
30
. Chinese Bronze Bell

PART SEVEN
Empire Builders
300
BC–AD
10

 

  
31
. Coin with Head of Alexander

  
32
. Pillar of Ashoka

  
33
. Rosetta Stone

  
34
. Chinese Han Lacquer Cup

  
35
. Head of Augustus

PART EIGHT
Ancient Pleasures, Modern Spice
AD
1–500

 

  
36
. Warren Cup

  
37
. North American Otter Pipe

  
38
. Ceremonial Ballgame Belt

  
39
. Admonitions Scroll

  
40
. Hoxne Pepper Pot

PART NINE
The Rise of World Faiths
AD
100–600

 

  
41
. Seated Buddha from Gandhara

  
42
. Gold Coins of Kumaragupta I

  
43
. Silver Plate showing Shapur II

  
44
. Hinton St Mary Mosaic

  
45
. Arabian Bronze Hand

PART TEN
The Silk Road and Beyond
AD
400–800

 

  
46
. Gold Coins of Abd al-Malik

  
47
. Sutton Hoo Helmet

  
48
. Moche Warrior Pot

  
49
. Korean Roof Tile

  
50
. Silk Princess Painting

PART ELEVEN
Inside the Palace: Secrets at Court
AD
700–900

 

  
51
. Maya Relief of Royal Blood-letting

  
52
. Harem Wall-painting Fragments

  
53
. Lothair Crystal

  
54
. Statue of Tara

  
55
. Chinese Tang Tomb Figures

PART TWELVE
Pilgrims, Raiders and Traders
AD
800–1300

 

  
56
. Vale of York Hoard

  
57
. Hedwig Glass Beaker

  
58
. Japanese Bronze Mirror

  
59
. Borobudur Buddha Head

  
60
. Kilwa Pot Sherds

PART THIRTEEN
Status Symbols
AD
1100–1500

 

  
61
. Lewis Chessmen

  
62
. Hebrew Astrolabe

  
63
. Ife Head

  
64
. The David Vases

  
65
. Taino Ritual Seat

PART FOURTEEN
Meeting the Gods
AD
1200–1500

 

  
66
. Holy Thorn Reliquary

  
67
. Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy

  
68
. Shiva and Parvati Sculpture

  
69
. Sculpture of Huastec Goddess

  
70
. Hoa Hakananai’a Easter Island Statue

PART FIFTEEN
The Threshold of the Modern World
AD
1375–1550

 

  
71
. Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent

  
72
. Ming Banknote

  
73
. Inca Gold Llama

  
74.
Jade Dragon Cup

  
75
. Dürer’s
Rhinoceros

PART SIXTEEN
The First Global Economy
AD
1450–1650

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