Ernst Gombrich’s Introduction to World History

The study of world history and humanities has always confused me. It’s always been a collection of intimidating names, dates, and events. This was until recently, when I finished a book called “A Little History of the World” by Ernst Gombrich. Although finishing the book hasn’t turned me into an expert on the subject, I will say this accessible book has opened my eyes to how wondrous and captivating history can be.

Ernst Gombrich presents humanity’s stories (from the early Egyptians to the end of World War II) as if it were a grandfather reading you a bedtime story, and even though many of the later chapters related to the Thirty Years’ War or the Age of Enlightenment went over my head, I still found his book to be a great introduction for anyone interested in world history.

Reading his work has provided me with a greater sense of curiosity as I’ll often find myself reading Wikipedia pages on King Louis XIV or watching Crash Course videos on the Mesopotamian civilization late at night. I’ve realized, even though the history of the world does contain many confusing facts and dates, it becomes something so beautiful when strung together into a series of events and explained as a collection of stories.

References

Gombrich, E.H. (2008) A little history of the world. Translated by C. Mustill. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.