BBC History of the World

Name: BBC History of the World
ISBN: 9787201108810

安德鲁·玛尔 / 邢科 / 汪辉Tianjin People's Publishing House · ChinaJul 2018

3.8

Word count: 444K words
Chapters: 95
ISBN: 9787201108810

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Summary

Our understanding of world history is always changing, as new discoveries are constantly made around the globe and challenge our old prejudices. In this book, the author takes us back through familiar landmark events, from ancient Greece and Rome to Napoleon's coronation and on to the environmental and demographic crises of the 21st century, yet what he offers are the little-known stories surrounding these events, spanning Peru, Ukraine and the Caribbean. The book examines civilizations that failed and vanished, recounts the origins of today's great powers, and reveals how strikingly similar many historical events have been across different periods and places. Its central theme is simple: our ability to understand and shape the world around us has gradually made us masters of this planet, and though we now place a huge burden on the Earth, just as we have overcome challenges and weathered crises before, our technological capacity gives us reason for confidence; politically, however, we have performed far less well, swaying to and fro like a drunkard. This book is thus both a joyful hymn to the intelligence of modern Homo sapiens and a revelation of our political folly. Only by recognizing this paradoxical state of the human condition can we guard against the failures born of success and readjust our course.

Editor's review

Andrew Marr's BBC World History is not a conventional academic work but a grand tour of human civilization by a veteran media figure, told with a global perspective and a storyteller's craft. The book grew out of the BBC documentary series of the same name, but the written version offers a depth of detail and density of thought that images cannot carry. Rejecting the traditional framework of general histories that treat civilizations as isolated islands, the author focuses on the connections and collisions between regions and cultures: from the city-states of early Mesopotamia to the relay-station network of the Mongol Empire, from the merchants of the Silk Road to the ecological revolution set off by the Columbian Exchange, a clear thread of 'interaction and exchange' runs throughout. Marr's prose has a journalist's sharpness and visual sense, turning complex historical facts into vivid scenes and human stories, so that this 600-plus-page volume never feels dull. Its core value lies in offering a new way of understanding history: not as a sum of isolated national narratives but as a dynamic, global network of relationships. For readers eager to escape textbook linear narratives and understand how the world step by step 'grew smaller,' it is an excellent introduction and source of inspiration. Note, however, that given its grand scope and origins in a documentary script, in-depth analysis of particular periods or regions necessarily gives way to narrative fluency; it is best suited to building a general framework rather than replacing specialized study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who want a coherent picture of world history and dislike fragmented knowledge
History enthusiasts interested in global civilizational interaction and cross-regional historical connections
Readers of nonfiction who appreciate vivid writing and a talent for turning complex subjects into stories
Teachers, writers or content creators in need of historical and humanistic general knowledge

Not a good fit for

Academic researchers seeking specialized monographs on national or period history
Readers expecting extensive citations of primary sources or rigorous historiographical verification

Reading tips

Can be watched alongside the BBC documentary of the same name, with visuals and text reinforcing each other for a better experience
There is no need to memorize every date and place name; focus instead on grasping the threads of civilizational exchange and key turning points
The book touches on many civilizations; if one particularly interests you, use it as an index for finding more specialized works to read further

About the publisher

Tianjin People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Tianjin People's Publishing House publishes across such fields as classic works, foreign literature, architecture, social culture and social sciences, with 749 relevant titles in the collection. In the areas of classics and scholarship, works such as Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua and Fei Xiaotong's From the Soil and Fertility and Reproduction reflect a sustained attention to social culture and classic texts of thought. Architectural books are represented by Liang Sicheng's Annotated Yingzao Fashi and A History of Chinese Architecture, showing an emphasis on architectural heritage and building traditions. In foreign literature, translations of Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don and Tolstoy's War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Ilyich, through the work of translators such as Li Gang and Yu Dawei, form a substantial series of translated works. Overall, the press combines classic texts, scholarly works and fine translations, with a publishing character oriented toward humanistic depth and the dissemination of knowledge.

版权信息
致谢
导言
第一部走出热带，走向冰原
母亲
天才们的洞穴
农业的困惑
温情脉脉的无政府主义者
巨石阵的孩童
平原上的城市
从大禹到你
尼罗河的梦魇
回到公牛时代
第二部为战争一辩
希腊的荣耀和第一批帝国
关注知识——请抱持谦卑的态度
希伯来人的思想
身着跨文化服饰的居鲁士
希腊奇迹
土著居民与雅利安人
树下的反叛
孔子的中年危机
死得伟大
杰出的亚历山大
第三部剑与道
阿育王
秦始皇
马加比的哀伤
罗马的兴衰
迦太基，失落的未来？
金钱与政治
克利奥帕特拉和恺撒：与失败有关的故事
罗马式和平
情况相似的中国
煽动者的胜利
线条和螺旋：另外四分之一个世界
基督教徒的胜利
宗教闪电战
第四部走出混乱的大熔炉
伊斯兰教的黄金时代
维京人的河流
马里和穆萨
成吉思汗
夸夸其谈的马可·波罗
驶离拜占庭
莱昂纳多·达·芬奇
第五部世界走向开放
乐土上的灾难
迷失的哥伦布
基督教世界的边境
对白银的贪婪
宗教改革
异教徒和海盗
伊凡、叶尔马克与俄罗斯的形成
两位统治者，一个问题
纽约概述
一个非常现代的故事
第六部自由的梦想
“但它的确在动”
专制主义及其敌人
入侵英国
印度的波旁家族：从巴布尔到国家灭亡
佐佐和腓特烈
冷水泡的茶和莫霍克人
高贵的野蛮人
革命
黑皮肤的雅各宾派
牛痘
第七部资本主义及其敌人
工业革命
詹姆斯·瓦特
黑暗、邪恶和传染
从赌徒到圣徒：俄罗斯失去的机会
自由艰难地取得胜利
痛苦的日本武士
帝国主义之谜
惹人厌的利奥波德
鸦片、战争和悲剧
既熟悉又陌生
来自柏林的快乐小伙
第八部最好的世纪和最坏的世纪
政治问题
兰茨贝格的囚徒
希特勒和我们其他人
凯瑟琳和玛格丽特
帝国之间的战争
逐渐消失的国境线
消失的城市
甘地与帝国
冷战中的热冲突
邓小平父子与中国的复兴
“圣战”
挥霍
思维机器
拥挤不堪的世界

FAQ

How does this book differ from classic general histories such as A Global History?

It leans more toward narrative and a perspective of global interconnectedness, with a style closer to literary nonfiction, emphasizing the collisions and connections between civilizations on the same timeline rather than parallel regional accounts. It values 'story' and 'visual immediacy' more, with academic rigor giving way somewhat to readability and the construction of a broad vision.

Can readers without a history background understand it?

Absolutely. The book is written for general readers; the author uses vivid language and abundant metaphors and scene-setting to make history's complexities accessible, so the barrier to entry is low. It aims to spark interest and provide a framework rather than conduct profound academic debate.

Does the book's view of history and stance show an obvious bias?

As a work by a Western media figure written for a general audience, its narrative tone and selection of material inevitably carry a certain modern Western perspective, with particular attention to factors driving globalization such as technology, trade and the spread of ideas. Readers can treat it as one valuable version of the historical narrative, while keeping an open and critical mind.

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About the author

安德鲁·玛尔 Author

Andrew Marr is a British writer, broadcaster and history author. Public information about him is limited, and his early education and full career record cannot be reliably established; it is nonetheless clear that he has long presented history to general audiences and is a distinctive voice in British popular history writing. Two of his works are held in this collection: the representative titles Reading History from Another Angle (three volumes) and A BBC History of the World, both commonly classified as world history and both written as general histories for ordinary readers. His subjects centre on the overall shape of global history, and he is skilled at linking political, social and cultural change into a readable narrative. His style is clear and fluent, explaining complex historical processes in accessible language and often using particular figures and events to carry the story, so that grand themes become concrete and tangible. His work reaches readers and viewers through books and broadcasting, and has helped bring historical knowledge to a wider public.

邢科 Author

Xing Ke is an author engaged in writing and compiling works on world history. Public information about him is limited, and his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background remain unknown. Judging from the two works held in the collection, his interests center on the popularization and narrative presentation of world history: the three-volume Reading History from a Different Angle reorganizes historical threads in a multi-volume format, seeking to guide readers beyond conventional perspectives in understanding historical processes, while BBC World History is an organized compilation of world history content. Both books fall under the category of world history, indicating that his writing is aimed at general readers and emphasizes readability and overall context rather than specialized academic research. Because biographical details are lacking, knowledge of Xing Ke rests mainly on these works, whose style shows a tendency to turn grand history into accessible reading suitable for those who wish to approach world history systematically and with ease.

汪辉 Author

Wang Hui is an author about whom limited public information is available. The library currently holds three of his works, covering the categories of design and history. His representative works include Residential Area Landscape Planning and Design (Revised Edition), which, judging from its title, is likely a practical or teaching-oriented book on landscape planning and design for residential areas; Reading History from a Different Angle (three volumes) indicates that he has also attempted popular history writing, with a title emphasizing a shift in perspective and probably aimed at general readers rather than specialists; and A BBC History of the World, suggesting that he has been involved in the writing, compilation, or introduction of world history books. Taken together, Wang Hui's writing spans the two common categories of design and world history, ranging from landscape planning with a professional focus to historical narrative for a general audience. Because reliable records of his dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and career are unavailable, his personal background cannot be described in detail; readers are advised to learn about him through the content and format of his specific works.