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A Short History of the World

A Short History of the World

by H. G. Wells

This book examines the history of the world and its place in the universe, noting how human understanding has evolved from early legends and literal interpretations of the Hebrew Bible to modern scientific knowledge. It outlines the vast age of the universe, the spherical shape and dimensions of the earth, its rotation and orbit around the sun, and the positions of the moon, planets, and planetoids.

Language
English
License
Public Domain
Originally published
1922
Latest release
Jul 28, 2026
Pages
775
Format
6 × 9 in (152 × 229 mm)
Book type
Paperback nonfiction
Read
Public page

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Table of Contents

  1. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
  2. I THE WORLD IN SPACE
  3. II THE WORLD IN TIME
  4. III THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE
  5. IV THE AGE OF FISHES
  6. V THE AGE OF THE COAL SWAMPS
  7. VI THE AGE OF REPTILES
  8. VII THE FIRST BIRDS AND THE FIRST MAMMALS
  9. VIII THE AGE OF MAMMALS
  10. IX MONKEYS, APES AND SUB-MEN
  11. X THE NEANDERTHALER AND THE RHODESIAN MAN
  12. XI THE FIRST TRUE MEN
  13. XII PRIMITIVE THOUGHT
  14. XIII THE BEGINNINGS OF CULTIVATION
  15. XIV PRIMITIVE NEOLITHIC CIVILIZATIONS
  16. XV SUMERIA, EARLY EGYPT AND WRITING
  17. XVI PRIMITIVE NOMADIC PEOPLES
  18. XVII THE FIRST SEAGOING PEOPLES
  19. XVIII EGYPT, BABYLON AND ASSYRIA
  20. XIX THE PRIMITIVE ARYANS
  21. XX THE LAST BABYLONIAN EMPIRE AND THE EMPIRE OF DARIUS I
  22. XXI THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE JEWS
  23. XXII PRIESTS AND PROPHETS IN JUDEA
  24. XXIII THE GREEKS
  25. XXIV THE WARS OF THE GREEKS AND PERSIANS
  26. XXV THE SPLENDOUR OF GREECE
  27. XXVI THE EMPIRE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
  28. XXVII THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY AT ALEXANDRIA
  29. XXVIII THE LIFE OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA
  30. XXIX KING ASOKA
  31. XXX CONFUCIUS AND LAO TSE
  32. XXXI ROME COMES INTO HISTORY
  33. XXXII ROME AND CARTHAGE
  34. XXXIII THE GROWTH OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
  35. XXXIV BETWEEN ROME AND CHINA
  36. XXXV THE COMMON MAN’S LIFE UNDER THE EARLY ROMAN EMPIRE
  37. XXXVI RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENTS UNDER THE ROMAN EMPIRE
  38. XXXVII THE TEACHING OF JESUS
  39. XXXVIII THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINAL CHRISTIANITY
  40. XXXIX THE BARBARIANS BREAK THE EMPIRE INTO EAST AND WEST
  41. XL THE HUNS AND THE END OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE
  42. XLI THE BYZANTINE AND SASSANID EMPIRES
  43. XLII THE DYNASTIES OF SUY AND TANG IN CHINA
  44. XLIII MUHAMMAD AND ISLAM
  45. XLIV THE GREAT DAYS OF THE ARABS
  46. XLV THE DEVELOPMENT OF LATIN CHRISTENDOM
  47. XLVI THE CRUSADES AND THE AGE OF PAPAL DOMINION
  48. XLVII RECALCITRANT PRINCES AND THE GREAT SCHISM
  49. XLVIII THE MONGOL CONQUESTS
  50. XLIX THE INTELLECTUAL REVIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS
  51. L THE REFORMATION OF THE LATIN CHURCH
  52. LI THE EMPEROR CHARLES V
  53. LII THE AGE OF POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS; OF GRAND MONARCHY AND PARLIAMENTS AND REPUBLICANISM IN EUROPE
  54. LIII THE NEW EMPIRES OF THE EUROPEANS IN ASIA AND OVERSEAS
  55. LIV THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
  56. LV THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE RESTORATION OF MONARCHY IN FRANCE
  57. LVI THE UNEASY PEACE IN EUROPE THAT FOLLOWED THE FALL OF NAPOLEON
  58. LVII THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIAL KNOWLEDGE
  59. LVIII THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
  60. LIX THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IDEAS
  61. LX THE EXPANSION OF THE UNITED STATES
  62. LXI THE RISE OF GERMANY TO PREDOMINANCE IN EUROPE
  63. LXII THE NEW OVERSEAS EMPIRES OF STEAMSHIP AND RAILWAY
  64. LXIII EUROPEAN AGGRESSION IN ASIA AND THE RISE OF JAPAN
  65. LXIV THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN 1914
  66. LXV THE AGE OF ARMAMENT IN EUROPE, AND THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-18
  67. LXVI THE REVOLUTION AND FAMINE IN RUSSIA
  68. LXVII THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WORLD
  69. Notes