What Happened
This massive project attempts to condense the entire story of life and human development into a single, cohesive narrative. It begins with the formation of the earth and the slow evolution of biological life before pivoting to the rise of early cities in the fertile river valleys of the ancient world. The account tracks the recurring, often violent friction between nomadic tribes and established states, eventually documenting the global impact of modern science and the resulting shift in international power dynamics, concluding with a grim assessment of mechanized, industrial combat in the early twentieth century.
Key figures
- H. G. Wells
The author who frames the entirety of human existence
- Jengis Khan
A nomad leader whose empire reshaped eastern and western life
- The Persians
An expansive force that clashed frequently with the Greek city-states
- Mithras
A solar figure whose cult challenged early Christianity in Europe
What it's really about
- Nomadism versus civilization
- Nomads act as a plow breaking up stagnant states
- The expansion of power
- Humans gain control over substances but struggle with application
Why it's memorable
- Imagining the timeline of earth as a paper strip 260 miles long.
- A Spartan soldier striking blindly at an enemy even after losing his sight.
Where it lands
The narrative closes with a somber warning that military experts now view civilians not as bystanders, but as primary targets for aerial obliteration.
For your book club
- Does the author favor the nomad or the city-dweller?
- Can history be summarized without losing the essential texture of events?