Our Oriental Heritage

The Story of Civilization, Volume 1

De: Will Durant

Narrado por: Robin Field

Duración: 50 h y 17 m

Resumen del Editor

The first volume of Will Durant's Pulitzer Prize-winning series, Our Oriental Heritage: The Story of Civilization, Volume I chronicles the early history of Egypt, the Middle East, and Asia. In this masterful work, readers will encounter:

• Sumeria, birthplace of the first cities and written laws
• the Egyptians, who perfected monumental architecture, medicine, and mummification more than 3,500 years ago
• the Babylonians, who developed astronomy and physics, and planted the seeds of Western mythology
• the Judeans, who preserved their culture forever in the immortal books of the Old Testament
• the Persians, who ruled the largest empire in recorded history before Rome
• Indian philosophy, Chinese philosophers, and Japanese Samurais

©2013 Will Durant (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

So Great

This is the third or fourth time I have read/listened to this series and I was surprised at how much 'new' information I received this time. But this is the charm and value of Durant's awe-inspiring work - that he covers so much that it is impossible to fully enjoy in only one exposure. I hadn't heard Robin Field before, and after some initial disappointment that he wasn't Grover Gardner, I became a fan.

Most Informative. read Sophie's World first.

Read Sophie's World before you read this. Not related at all, but that book is kind of a entry into the world of philosophy and it's connection mankind, and the thought process you should be having before you read this kind of book. For sure this is not for starters but the way the author wrote, (and narrator read), absolutely amazing and easy to understand, and as always you should be taking this with a grain of salt. Ask yourself how did the ancient people think and maybe you can live through the centuries with your sheer thought power. This books helps you do your daily chores much better, it did for me. Ciao.

Interesting perspective

Having been written in the 30s before WWII and Mr Durant's ideas about the possibilities of Japan and China and knowing what is in store in the future is interesting.

I'm not as interested in the art history as maybe I should be. I found the political aspects of early civilization the most interesting.

I learned a lot about early civilization. A great start to a great series.

I recommend it very highly.

Wonderful Historical Summary

A must read book . Thoughly entertaining. A masterpiece in its synthesis of much history across such a broad swath of topical categories in each civilization addressed. Durant has an uncanny ability to relate things that happen in one culture to similar events or characteristics in others. I loved the way he uses writings of the times to describe or point out what was happening. Not much has changed about the nature of man as a human being. Sure technology and knowledge have changed but the nature of of man remains locked in a vise of.egotism. conquest, subjugation, greed. power, and empire building. Of particular note was the degree of ruthlessness and cruelty exhibited across cultures and time. Not much progress on civility has actually been accomplished over the ages.

First of 11 Exceptional History Books

Excellent start to the Story of Civilization series. The Durants provide an “integrated” history, which looks across several avenues: political, warfare, culture (art, literature, poetry), language, technology, etc. In this volume, his objective review of the Bible is my favorite. Narrator is so-so, not the same one as the other volumes.

Amazing

Will Durant just keeps getting better with every reading. What an incredible telling of the foundations of what we now call the Middle East and Asia.

Epic

An epic deep dive into the ancient civilizations of the east from Egypt to Japan. Covers historical chronology, technology, lifestyles, theologies, occupations, customs, art and architecture, literature, government, and so much more. If you want one sweeping work that covers 4,000 years of history across the continent of Asia- this is the book. Pace of the narration is perfect at 1.2x in my opinion.

Pre-WWII View of the World

Fascinating - insightful - out of step with today’s “political correctness” but don’t let that hold you back from appreciating it’s worth.

The reader, as too often happens, mangles words, showing lack of understanding. Most annoying to me was mispronunciation of “impious,” making it seem a word related to imps rather than to piety. Sigh….

Ignore the flaws. It is worth the listen.

Great book. Audible part needs a bit of polishing

A little too slow. I had to accelerate it which made the voice sound a bit mechanic. Also, the continuous reading of "quote, end quote, note, end note" is quite irritating and unnecessary. I love the book and I wish it could be reread more fluidly. Quotation marks should not be enunciated any more than periods and commas should. Otherwise the reading would have been well intoned. I would like an updated version without the irritations. I hope the rest of these magnificent books is read without the above mentioned.

1930s View of Civilization

Great work that was the first book in the Durants’ civilization series of works. Impressive in scope. The views of China, Japan, and India are from the 1930s before World War II, which is very fascinating to me. He indicated that war with Japan was coming soon to the Western powers. Mr. Durant’s discussion of Oriental culture may not be modern PC, but they were the views of the West at the time this work was written. Highly recommended to historians and those interested in how civilizations change and are influenced by trade and cultural exchange. Mr. Durant writes with humanistic humor in some of his commentaries, which gives the work personality and makes it seem less academic.