A Little History of the World

First published in German in 1935, A Little History of the World tells the story of human history to children. Historian E.H. Gombrich was first inspired to write this book at age 26, when he attempted to describe the complicated nature of his studies to a child and found the challenge interesting. Though Gombrich is most famous for his expertise in the field of art history, this early work has impacted generations of children and adults with its relentless enthusiasm and curiosity for the history of the human experience. Translated into many languages, Gombrich’s history marvels at both the events of history and their implications. Beginning with the Stone Age, Gombrich summarizes humans’ most impactful moments—the good and the bad—while imparting lessons and encouraging the reader to question what it means to be human. This guide refers to the 2008 Yale University Press edition.

Summary

Gombrich begins A Little History of the World by laying out how the foundations of human society were built by the innovative Prehistoric humans. He then dedicates Chapters 3-6 to some of the earliest and most impactful early civilizations: the Egyptians, the Mesopotamians, the Jews, and the Phoenicians. While each of these societies had its own unique culture and history, Gombrich emphasizes their shared influence on today’s world by describing what they left behind, including monuments, religion, writing, technology, and more.