A Little History of the World

What is the book about?

Gombrich gives a high-level overview of human history, from about 3100 BC to World War I (with an addendum added years later covering World War II). His narrative style is engaging and the book reads like a story (he writes for children but treats them like adults). The book mostly focuses on Western civilization, with brief sojourns to the East.

Highlights

At Thermopylae, in 480 BC, in obedience to their law, the Spartans allowed themselves to be massacred by the Persians. Knowing how to die like that isn’t easy. But knowing how to live is, perhaps, even harder. And this is what the Athenians aimed to do. They weren’t looking for an easy, comfortable life, but one which had meaning. […] Something of benefit to those who came after.

If we want to avoid suffering, we must start with ourselves, because all suffering comes from our own desires. […] This is what the Buddha taught. If we can stop ourselves wanting all the beautiful and pleasant things in life, and can learn to control our greed for happiness, comfort, recognition and affection, we shan’t feel sad any more when, as so often happens, we fail to get what we want. He who ceases to wish for anything ceases to feel sad. If the appetite goes, the pain goes with it.

It’s a bad idea to prevent people from knowing their own history. If you want to do anything new you must first make sure you know what people have tried before.

In Germany the death of the last Hohenstaufen led to greater confusion than ever. No one could agree on a new king so none was chosen. And because there was neither a king nor an emperor, nor anyone else in control, everything went to the dogs. The strong simply robbed the weak of everything they had. People called it the right of might, or “fist-law”. Of course, might is never a right, nor is it right. It’s simply wrong.

“Never favour those who flatter you most, but hold rather to those who risk your displeasure for your own good. Never neglect business for pleasure, organise your life so that there is time in it for relaxation and entertainment. […] Be courteous to all, speak hurtfully to no man.” These really were the guiding principles of King Louis XIV of France, that remarkable mixture of vanity, charm, extravagance, dignity, indifference, frivolity and sheer hard work.

We all hope for a better future, it must be better.

Timeline

Ancient history

Middle ages

Renaissance

Age of Enlightenment

Industrial Revolution