First published 2011
Neil MacGregor examines how humans shaped civilization through the objects they created. The British Museum director selects one hundred artifacts that span two million years of history across the globe. Each item reveals a pivotal moment in human development. MacGregor explores when people began wearing jewelry and making music. He investigates the domestication of cattle and the rise of the first cities. The book traces the invention of mathematics and the creation of money. From ancient hand axes to modern credit cards, these manufactured objects tell the story of human innovation. MacGregor argues that our identity emerges through what we make and use. The book connects individual artifacts to broader patterns of cultural change. It shows how invention and creativity drive human progress across continents and millennia.
Genres: history, reference, anthropology, non-fiction, art-history, academic
Vibes: educational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: educational, informative
Setting: British Museum
Period: 2 Million Years
707 pages · Hardcover · Viking