Civilisation

An extraordinary look at an ordinary substance—and one we'd be dead without: salt. Salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning, and the story of this common household seasoning proves a fascinating one. In a kaleidoscope of history, Mark Kurlansky—bestselling author of  1968 and...

This audiobook narrated by acclaimed archaeologist and best-selling author Eric Cline offers a breathtaking account of how the collapse of an ancient civilized world ushered in the first Dark Ages....

Here in a single volume is the entire, unabridged recording of Gibbon's masterpiece....

A lively and engaging narrative history showing the common threads in the cultures that gave birth to our own....

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Guns, Germs and Steel examines the rise of civilization and the issues its development has raised throughout history. Having done field work in New Guinea for more than 30 years, Jared Diamond presents the geographical and ecological factors that have shaped...

Why did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains and governed by precursors of today's states? Find out....

Understand where we came from. Whether you're an avid student of the Bible or a skeptic of its relevance, The Book That Made Your World will transform your perception of its influence on virtually every facet of Western civilization. Indian philosopher Vishal Mangalwadi reveals the personal...

Civilization was born 8,000 years ago, between the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, when migrants from the surrounding mountains and deserts began to create increasingly sophisticated urban societies. In the cities that they built, half of human history took place. In Babylon...

In this, the first prose history in European civilization, Herodotus describes the growth of the Persian Empire with force, authority, and style....

This audiobook tells the gripping story of what happened after the Bronze Age collapsed—why some civilizations endured, why some gave way to new ones, and why some disappeared forever.

The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift, and a book in the best tradition of popular history -- the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe. Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great...

Through the story of his own family's history as slave and plantation owners, Alex Renton looks at how we owe it to the present to understand the legacy of the past. When slavery was abolished across most of the British Empire in 1833, it was not the newly liberated who received compensation...

A riveting and authoritative history of the single most important event in English history: The Norman Conquest....

A “meticulously researched” (The New York Times Book Review) examination of energy transitions over time and an exploration of the current challenges presented by global warming, a surging world population, and renewable energy—from Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning author...

From the world-leading expert on the Maya, a monumental history of a flourishing civilization across three millennia.

From the Birthplace of the Gods in New Zealand, to the Andean home of the Shining People, and the Yucatec temple cities of the People of The Serpent, \author Freddy Silva re-examines the world’s flood traditions and discovers an interconnected web of master seafarers, astronomers and magicians...

This audiobook gives a dramatic account of the Antonine plague, the mysterious disease that struck the Roman Empire at its pinnacle....

Here is a fascinating compact history of Chinese political, economic, and cultural life, ranging from the origins of civilization in China to the beginning of the 21st century. Historian Paul Ropp combines vivid story-telling with astute analysis to shed light on some of the larger questions of...

Brought to you by Penguin. A ridiculously funny history of Britain for adults from the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories, perfect for fans of Unruly by David Mitchell. Ah, Britain. So special. The greatest nation on earth, some say. And we did it all on our own...

The Age of Railways was an era of extraordinary change which utterly transformed every aspect of British life – from trade and transportation to health and recreation. Full Steam Ahead reveals how the world we live in today is entirely shaped by the rail network, charting the glorious...

From “one of America’s smartest and most charming writers” (NPR), an archaeological romp through the entire history of humankind—and through all five senses—from tropical Polynesian islands to forbidding arctic ice floes, and everywhere in between. Whether it’s the mighty pyramids of...

A sweeping new history of how climate change and disease helped bring down the Roman Empire Here is the monumental retelling of one of the most consequential chapters of human history: the fall of the Roman Empire. The Fate of Rome is the first book to examine the catastrophic role that climate...

When a travel writer is stuck on home soil in the middle of a pandemic he meets Kris Rodgers, one of Britain's eminent metal detectorists. Dipping a toe in the hobby, Nigel quickly finds himself swept up in the world beneath the surface. Above the ground are a cast of fascinating and passionate...

Embark on an epic world history adventure where ancient trade routes clash with empires to forge global connection. Perfect for transforming your daily commute into an immersive journey across Eurasia, this narrative reveals how fragile paths conquered harsh landscapes. Travel alongside the...

COVID-19 and the History of Pandemics and Epidemics It can come in waves - like tidal waves. It changes societies. It disrupts life. It ends lives. As far back as 3000 B.C.E. (the Bronze Age), plagues have stricken mankind. COVID-19 is just the latest example, but history shows that life...

The year 753 B.C. has been immortalized as the birth year of Rome, the Eternal City, which according to legend was founded by the brothers Romulus and Remus. When Remus was killed, allegedly by Romulus or one of his followers, Romulus's new city found itself with a male-to-female ratio that was severely unbalanced, and the Romans on Palatine Hill had trouble spawning the next generation.

Discover the epic history of communication, where the rise of written language rescued humanity's fragile memories. Perfect for an educational daily commute, this awe-inspiring journey explores the cognitive shock of capturing spoken words outside the human body. Transitioning from...

Discover the epic history of ancient civilizations and the environmental conflicts that shaped a monumental empire. Transform your daily commute into an immersive journey through the sacred landscapes of an ancient metropolis. This awe-inspiring narrative brings the political power and...

Experience the epic European history of a fortress city that survived countless empires, sieges, and modern wars. Transform your daily commute into an immersive journey through time, walking the ancient banks of the Sava and Danube rivers. From a Roman frontier outpost to a bustling modern...

Discover how Ice Age foragers sparked an agricultural revolution that birthed civilization and social inequality. Perfect for an inquisitive daily commute, this immersive historical journey explores the dramatic climate shifts that forced humanity to trade nomadic freedom for permanent...

Uncover a lost African empire where ancient hydraulic engineering conquered the hyper-arid Sahara Desert. Perfect for your morning commute, this awe-inspiring historical journey resurrects a thriving oasis kingdom from the sands of antiquity. Witness how scattered nomadic tribes transformed into...

Uncover the captivating culinary history and food science of how controlled spoilage became our tastiest survival tool. Whether you are commuting to work or relaxing in the kitchen preparing dinner, this awe-inspiring microhistory will satisfy your intellectual curiosity. By mastering the...

Trace the epic history of human innovation through the revolutionary technology that built ancient and modern empires. Perfect for your daily commute, this mind-expanding narrative transforms an overlooked everyday object into the ultimate protagonist of civilization. Satisfy your curious mood...

Transform your commute into an epic journey through ancient history, tracing the rise and fall of a mighty empire. This immersive urban biography transports you to the bustling marketplace and cutthroat political arena that defined civic life for generations. Walk among fierce orators, ambitious...

Experience a gripping journey through medieval history as a devastating pandemic forces humanity to fight for survival. Perfect for an engaging daily commute or deep learning, this atmospheric true story traces the lethal spread of disease across 14th-century Europe. Listen as bustling trade...

Explore the epic ancient history of a wealthy realm that invented money and sparked a dramatic clash of empires. Perfect for your morning commute, this captivating narrative brings the windswept landscapes of western Anatolia back to life. You will witness how a small but strategic crossroads...

Journey through 11,000 years of ancient history and imperial conquest to uncover the ultimate story of urban survival. Perfect for a daily commute or immersive armchair travel, this sweeping narrative brings an enduring desert oasis back to life. Experience the relentless march of civilization...

Transform your commute into an immersive journey through the ancient civilizations and diverse heritage of India. Ditching dense academic lectures, this evocative audio travelogue transports you directly into the bustling marketplaces, sacred temples, and lively kitchens of the past. Perfect for...

Step onto ancient trade routes to witness the rise of empires and the dawn of globalization in this epic world history. Whether you need an immersive escape during your daily commute or crave a deep-dive into ancient civilizations, this captivating narrative transports you to the bustling...

Uncover the dramatic collapse of ancient history's greatest superpower amidst economic crisis and bloody civil war. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive historical narrative transports you from the absolute height of imperial dominance to its ultimate political extinction. Listen as a...

This gripping microhistory reveals how an unassuming ancient wild grass became the ultimate architect of global history. Perfect for an eye-opening daily commute, this story-driven journey tracks an everyday plant that built ancient cities, fueled international trade routes, and engineered the...

Journey into the epic ancient history of the Near East to witness the dawn of writing, early law, and mighty empires. Perfect for an educational commute or focused listening, this immersive narrative sweeps you from the muddy banks of the Tigris to the dazzling courts of warring city-states...

Experience the sweeping ancient history of an empire built by divine kings and forged in the fire of epic conquests. Perfect for your daily commute or a focused learning session, this immersive narrative transports you straight to the awe-inspiring banks of the mighty Nile. Stand alongside the...

Discover the resilient survival of a mighty Balkan empire forged at the violent crossroads of two continents. Perfect for transforming your daily commute into an enlightening historical deep dive, this narrative reveals how a small, heavily contested territory defied the odds to become a...

Master the sweeping history of Western civilization and uncover the ideological conflicts that forged our modern world. Perfect for an educational commute, this fast-paced narrative abandons dry academic dates in favor of the gripping, connected story of human progress. From the ancient...

Discover the ancient history of a lost civilization that engineered thriving urban cities in the unforgiving Sahara. Perfect for your morning commute, this deep-dive into archaeology unravels the mystery of how an ingenious society conquered extreme environmental shifts. Listen as calm...

Explore the ultimate turning point in human history when nomadic foragers traded wild freedom for settled agriculture. Perfect for your morning commute, this thought-provoking narrative transforms the sudden rise of ancient farming into a gripping ecological mystery. Step back in time to witness...

Journey into the epic archaeological history of the Khmer Empire and discover how laborers built an ancient metropolis. Perfect for deep-focus learning on your daily commute, this immersive narrative transports you to a tropical urban landscape shaped by water, rice, and monumental ambition...

Delve into the gripping economic history of wealth, power, and the fierce battle between empires and ordinary citizens. Perfect for your daily commute, this thought-provoking narrative reveals how forced tributes evolved into the complex financial systems that fund modern states. Discover the...

Unearth the hidden history of human civilization through the grounding, tactile craft of ancient pottery. Whether you are seeking a contemplative commute or an immersive listen for your weekend creative flow, this narrative transforms humble clay into the ultimate silent witness of our past...