A History Of The World In 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor (Allen Lane, £20.00) (From York Press)

A History Of The World In 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor (Allen Lane, £20.00)

8:50am Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Books By Bill Spence

THIS is how history should be taught. In a new edition Neil MacGregor takes us through an unforgettable journey of time and place.

Inspired by objects from the British Museum he shows how each object, no matter how small, sums up the history of the world at the time in which it was made, used or hidden.

He puts five objects into 20 groups starting from 2,000,000 BC to 2010 AD and gives us facts that brings the past vividly to out imagination. The Vale of York hoard, found near Harrogate, reveals that Vikings were not only plunderers but tradesmen too and not only in Britain and Scandinavia but also in central Asia and Eastern Europe. This hoard relates to the time when Athelstan, King of Wessex, defeated the Vikings and united England for the first time. The Hebrew Astrolabe, thought to be from Spain, shows a country tolerant of religions bringing together the extensive knowledge of Muslim, Christian and Jewish peoples that still shape our world today. It is difficult not to write about more of the objects because they all are equally touching in the stories that the author unfolds for us. With Neil McGregor we know we are going to get the best; his knowledge is amazing but it is his love and admiration for not only the objects themselves but with a world and people they represent that makes this book totally absorbing. This book should be one that every household should own because it puts our own lives into perspective; I cannot praise it highly enough.