--- product_id: 16798894 title: "A History of the World in 100 Objects" price: "€ 58.55" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.be/products/16798894-a-history-of-the-world-in-100-objects store_origin: BE region: Belgium --- # A History of the World in 100 Objects **Price:** € 58.55 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A History of the World in 100 Objects - **How much does it cost?** € 58.55 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.be](https://www.desertcart.be/products/16798894-a-history-of-the-world-in-100-objects) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description "An enthralling and profoundly humane book that every civilized person should read." -- The Wall Street Journal The blockbuster New York Times bestseller and the companion volume to the wildly popular radio series When did people first start to wear jewelry or play music? When were cows domesticated, and why do we feed their milk to our children? Where were the first cities, and what made them succeed? Who developed math--or invented money? The history of humanity is one of invention and innovation, as we have continually created new things to use, to admire, or leave our mark on the world. In this groundbreaking book, Neil MacGregor turns to objects that previous civilizations have left behind to paint a portrait of mankind's evolution, focusing on unexpected turning points. Beginning with a chopping tool from the Olduvai Gorge in Africa and ending with a recent innovation that is transforming the way we power our world, he urges us to see history as a kaleidoscope--shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising. A landmark bestseller, A History of the World in 100 Objects is one f the most unusual and engrossing history books to be published in years. “None could have imagined quite how the radio series would permeate the national consciousness. Well over 12.5 million podcasts have been downloaded since the first programme and more than 550 museums around Britain have launched similar series featuring local history. . . . MacGregor’s voice comes through as distinctively as it did on radio and his arguments about the interconnectedness of disparate societies through the ages are all the stronger for the detail afforded by extra space. A book to savour and start over.” — The Economist Review: Beyond Chat Labels--An Intriguing Guide to 100 Fascinating Objects in the British Museum - "Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see." -- 1 Samuel 4:15 (NKJV) Let me address right away the objections that some will have to this outstanding resource: 1. The photographs are often dim and unclear. Yup. That's true. But the point of the book is to tell the story of the objects, not to highlight them as things of beauty as might be the case for a painting or a sculpture. 2. The electronic version costs a lot more than $9.99 and is almost as much as the hardcover. Yup. I thought that hardcover was inexpensive for what it is. Buy that one if you don't want to spend a lot for your Kindle. If you get past those problems, I think you'll love this book. It's like having several of the world's top authorities on each of 100 objects tell you deep meanings that you wouldn't grasp by visiting the British Museum on your own and staring at the objects. I was very impressed by the selection process, finding objects that convey interesting information at several levels. For instance, an object might tell you something about who made it and how it was used. These objects also have significance in terms of where the elements of the object came from (frequently indicating long-distance trade that you probably wouldn't have expected). Further, aspects of the objects may also reveal something about common human instincts that show up in many different cultures at about the same time. In addition, you get a sense of chronology that you probably didn't know in terms of what each civilization was doing at the same time. While it would be nice if 100 objects would tell all of human history, that's frankly impossible. A more accurate title for the book would probably be something like "Multicultural Dimensions of Human Experience Represented in 100 Objects from the British Museum." So don't let the title lead you to make unrealistic assumptions about the book. To me, a handful of the objects were so fascinating that I would have felt rewarded simply by having those few pages. Here are my favorites: --Olduvai Handaxe --Swimming Reindeer --Ain Sakhri Lovers Figurine --Jomon Pot --Jade Axe --Rhind Mathematical Papyrus --Minoan Bull-leaper --Mold Gold Cape --Chinese Bronze Bell --Ceremonial Ballgame Belt --Sutton Hoo Helmet --Maya Relief of Royal Blood-letting --Vale of York Hoard --Kilwa Pot Sherds --Ife Head --Taino Ritual Seat --Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent --Ming Banknote --Jade Dragon Cup --Mechanical Galleon --Kakiemon Elephants --Akan Drum --Hawaiian Feather Helmet --North American Buckskin Map --Australian Bark Shield --Jade Bi --Hokusai's The Great Wave --Suffragette-defaced Penny --Russian Revolutionary Plate --Throne of Weapons When you get the book, see what you think. I particularly liked the way that commenting scholars were selected who should have a superior cultural and historical perspective on the objects. One of my sons and his wife work in a well-known museum. I've recommended the book to them as a way to gain perspective on how to tell a collection's story in more complete and compelling ways. Bravo, Director MacGregor! Review: Clear Some Space In Your Mind - I believe I learned more per page reading this book than any I've ever read. A tour through all of history using objects collected (stolen?) by the British Museum, this book is a bravura execution of material culture and archaeological studies. In fact, I used several entries with my Advanced Placement Literature class in order to expose them to effective and interesting "close reading." MacGregor does with objects what literary critics do with a passage of poetry: he describes the object (lovely pictures ARE included), he gives a fascinating context of the period in which this object was used, and finally, provides an analysis of what the object "says" about the people, nation, and region that used or owned it. I find this method of historical explication incredibly engaging. Rather than begin with abstract concepts like democracy, Federalism, or ethnic cleansing, MacGregor begins with the concrete--a vase, a coin, a flower pot-- and says here's what this culture produced, here's what that says about them. This also dovetails nicely with what I teach in class regarding advertising; that we can come to understand the ideals of a nation by studying its advertisements. Interestingly, the objects MacGregor chooses also function as "advertisements" for their respective milieus. A testament to how well this book is written and constructed is that I read it incredibly quickly. Before I knew it, I was on object 56 at the 300 something page mark and I had no mental fatigue. The fact that the book is organized in 100 3 to 4 pages "chapters" helps a lot because I found myself reading a few objects here and there whenever I had some spare time. I recommend this book highly to anyone who has even a fleeting interest in archaeology or cultural materialism; your efforts, and the rather hefty price of the book will be worth it. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #100,016 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #36 in Art Encyclopedias #39 in Archaeology (Books) #145 in History of Civilization & Culture | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,888 Reviews | ## Images ![A History of the World in 100 Objects - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61AuQBE08nL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beyond Chat Labels--An Intriguing Guide to 100 Fascinating Objects in the British Museum *by D***L on December 13, 2011* "Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see." -- 1 Samuel 4:15 (NKJV) Let me address right away the objections that some will have to this outstanding resource: 1. The photographs are often dim and unclear. Yup. That's true. But the point of the book is to tell the story of the objects, not to highlight them as things of beauty as might be the case for a painting or a sculpture. 2. The electronic version costs a lot more than $9.99 and is almost as much as the hardcover. Yup. I thought that hardcover was inexpensive for what it is. Buy that one if you don't want to spend a lot for your Kindle. If you get past those problems, I think you'll love this book. It's like having several of the world's top authorities on each of 100 objects tell you deep meanings that you wouldn't grasp by visiting the British Museum on your own and staring at the objects. I was very impressed by the selection process, finding objects that convey interesting information at several levels. For instance, an object might tell you something about who made it and how it was used. These objects also have significance in terms of where the elements of the object came from (frequently indicating long-distance trade that you probably wouldn't have expected). Further, aspects of the objects may also reveal something about common human instincts that show up in many different cultures at about the same time. In addition, you get a sense of chronology that you probably didn't know in terms of what each civilization was doing at the same time. While it would be nice if 100 objects would tell all of human history, that's frankly impossible. A more accurate title for the book would probably be something like "Multicultural Dimensions of Human Experience Represented in 100 Objects from the British Museum." So don't let the title lead you to make unrealistic assumptions about the book. To me, a handful of the objects were so fascinating that I would have felt rewarded simply by having those few pages. Here are my favorites: --Olduvai Handaxe --Swimming Reindeer --Ain Sakhri Lovers Figurine --Jomon Pot --Jade Axe --Rhind Mathematical Papyrus --Minoan Bull-leaper --Mold Gold Cape --Chinese Bronze Bell --Ceremonial Ballgame Belt --Sutton Hoo Helmet --Maya Relief of Royal Blood-letting --Vale of York Hoard --Kilwa Pot Sherds --Ife Head --Taino Ritual Seat --Tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent --Ming Banknote --Jade Dragon Cup --Mechanical Galleon --Kakiemon Elephants --Akan Drum --Hawaiian Feather Helmet --North American Buckskin Map --Australian Bark Shield --Jade Bi --Hokusai's The Great Wave --Suffragette-defaced Penny --Russian Revolutionary Plate --Throne of Weapons When you get the book, see what you think. I particularly liked the way that commenting scholars were selected who should have a superior cultural and historical perspective on the objects. One of my sons and his wife work in a well-known museum. I've recommended the book to them as a way to gain perspective on how to tell a collection's story in more complete and compelling ways. Bravo, Director MacGregor! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clear Some Space In Your Mind *by M***D on June 18, 2013* I believe I learned more per page reading this book than any I've ever read. A tour through all of history using objects collected (stolen?) by the British Museum, this book is a bravura execution of material culture and archaeological studies. In fact, I used several entries with my Advanced Placement Literature class in order to expose them to effective and interesting "close reading." MacGregor does with objects what literary critics do with a passage of poetry: he describes the object (lovely pictures ARE included), he gives a fascinating context of the period in which this object was used, and finally, provides an analysis of what the object "says" about the people, nation, and region that used or owned it. I find this method of historical explication incredibly engaging. Rather than begin with abstract concepts like democracy, Federalism, or ethnic cleansing, MacGregor begins with the concrete--a vase, a coin, a flower pot-- and says here's what this culture produced, here's what that says about them. This also dovetails nicely with what I teach in class regarding advertising; that we can come to understand the ideals of a nation by studying its advertisements. Interestingly, the objects MacGregor chooses also function as "advertisements" for their respective milieus. A testament to how well this book is written and constructed is that I read it incredibly quickly. Before I knew it, I was on object 56 at the 300 something page mark and I had no mental fatigue. The fact that the book is organized in 100 3 to 4 pages "chapters" helps a lot because I found myself reading a few objects here and there whenever I had some spare time. I recommend this book highly to anyone who has even a fleeting interest in archaeology or cultural materialism; your efforts, and the rather hefty price of the book will be worth it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Refreshing Look at Humanity’s History *by M***H on September 19, 2025* History is usually explored through events. In our minds, it can easily become little more than a jumble of dates and titles. This book looks instead at history through objects that represent humanity’s progress. Some objects are humble, others made of precious materials. But all represent important developments in the story of our species’ journey through time. It’s an enjoyable read that illuminates our shared history without ever becoming dull or dry. ## Frequently Bought Together - A History of the World in 100 Objects - Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - A Little History of the World: Illustrated Edition (Little Histories) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.be/products/16798894-a-history-of-the-world-in-100-objects](https://www.desertcart.be/products/16798894-a-history-of-the-world-in-100-objects) --- *Product available on Desertcart Belgium* *Store origin: BE* *Last updated: 2026-10-06*