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Little History of the World, The

Publication Information

Author: Gombrich, E. H.

Illustrator:

Title: Little History of the World, The

Date: 2005

Publisher: Yale University

City: New Haven, CT

ISBN, paperback: 0-300-10883-4

ISBN, hardback:

Recommended audience:

ABE/ABLE: Yes

ESOL:

Family:

Young Adult: Yes

Picture:

General Information:

Book Type(s): nonfiction, reference

HSE Descriptor(s):

Summary:

Originally written in 1936 by a famous art historian and published in a new translation in 2005, this Euro-centric view of world events provides an accessible panorama of history, generalized but with sufficient detail to be interesting. Occasionally the rhetorical question, "Do you know...?" becomes pedantic and childish. A detailed table of contents allows the reader to select chapters by content. Concepts, length, and vocabulary require a GED level reader.

Teaching Ideas:

Since the book is long (though readable), teachers will probably want to excerpt chapters for study: Chapters 38-39 for study of WW I; 21-25 for the Middle Ages; Judaism (5), Buddhism (10),Christianity (16), and Islam (20) for comparison of religions. The passage in Ch. 39 on p. 270 beginning, "Imagine time as a river..." on the scope of recorded history is worthy of close study. Readers will not want to skip the final chapter, which was added to later editions and in which the author talks about living through curent history-- namely World War II, to discuss his change in views and why. Advanced students who read the entire book might want to imagine the history written by someone from China, Africa, or the Middle East to probe the Euro-centrism of the writer.

Teaching Strategies: