
Arnold Toynbee's ten-volume analysis of the rise and fall of civilizations, A Study of History, is acknowledged as one of the greatest achievements of modern scholarship. "Of all the books published so far in this century," Clifton Fadiman once said, "the one most assured of being read a hundred years from now is A Study of History." The Los Angeles Times called it "a veritable masterpiece of erudition and one of the most suggestive, stimulating and inspiring studies of this age." In The Study, Toynbee revolutionized the writing of history. By encompassing virtually all civilizations--the Egyptian, the Sumeric, the Mayan, the Iranian, the Japanese, the Hellenic, and the West, to name only a few--within the scope of his monumental work, he achieved the first all-embracing synthesis of world history. Before Toynbee, world histories were histories of the West, and only specialists wrote Babylonian, Arabian, or Aztec history. But Toynbee's scheme includes all nations and, more remarkably, by his emphasis on general patterns--on the genesis, growth and breakdown of civilizations--he was able to give a shape to this incredibly diverse material, making it comprehendable to the general reader.
This work investigates the recurring patterns of genesis, growth, and breakdown that define the life cycles of human civilizations. Arnold J. Toynbee, a prominent British historian, utilizes a comparative methodology to analyze global societies, moving beyond Western-centric historical narratives to establish a universal framework for understanding historical development.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and critics frequently acknowledge this work as a significant, if dense, contribution to the philosophy of history. Readers often note the academic rigor of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those interested in macro-historical analysis.
Page Count:
633
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192152351
ISBN-13:
9780192152350
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!