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Centuries of Change: Which Century Saw the Most Change and Why it Matters to Us by Ian Mortimer
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
This is really original and fascinating concept, looking at the last thousand years of Western history, which century has seen the most change?
Ian Mortimer is an excellent historian, his works on the Middle Ages are both entertaining and academic. here he has widened his remit to look at the key factors causing change over time and the proportionate effects. Taking each century in turn Mortimer explores the changes that took place economically, societally and scientifically and looks at their impact on life. He also considers which individuals had the biggest influence through their work.
What makes this book more that just a personal view of history is the attempt to quantify some of the information and actually produce a more scientific conclusion than mere opinion. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and a range of statistical sources Mortimer actually comes up with an answer.
Ian Mortimer is an excellent historian, his works on the Middle Ages are both entertaining and academic. here he has widened his remit to look at the key factors causing change over time and the proportionate effects. Taking each century in turn Mortimer explores the changes that took place economically, societally and scientifically and looks at their impact on life. He also considers which individuals had the biggest influence through their work.
What makes this book more that just a personal view of history is the attempt to quantify some of the information and actually produce a more scientific conclusion than mere opinion. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and a range of statistical sources Mortimer actually comes up with an answer.
thunguyen's review against another edition
5.0
It starts with the amazing idea of looking at changes that are more than just technology advances as we saw in the 20th century. It ends with a beautiful note of what hasn't change in the last 1000 years and won't change in the future.
The writing and reading are both very pleasant. Lots of stories, philosophical musings, as well as a scientific approach to finding answers to all questions posed by the author.
The writing and reading are both very pleasant. Lots of stories, philosophical musings, as well as a scientific approach to finding answers to all questions posed by the author.
raviwarrier's review against another edition
3.0
I have high regards for Mortimer as a historian, however, with regards to this book, I was left a little wanting. The book narrates and expounds on the changes that happened in the West (mostly Europe) in the middle ages. While they may be significant, they really cannot be considered as the cause or catalyst of most big changes that mankind sees today.
The Euro-centric approach and view is not a complete view of the major changes that shaped humanity and modern society. Yes, those changes paved way for the Industrial Revolution and the European conquest of the world, but one cannot take a single vector in history and say that was the starting point.
For example, Mortimer touches upon the introduction of Arabic numerals in Europe, alongwith introduction of applied chemistry and medical sciences. It changed the way Europe counted things, yes, but even better would have been to discuss the changes the numeric system brought about in the Islamic world, namely, chemistry and medicine. That would have been the key change and not the mere adoption by the act of copying.
My problem is that the this isn't a history of the World as much as it's the history of the West.
The Euro-centric approach and view is not a complete view of the major changes that shaped humanity and modern society. Yes, those changes paved way for the Industrial Revolution and the European conquest of the world, but one cannot take a single vector in history and say that was the starting point.
For example, Mortimer touches upon the introduction of Arabic numerals in Europe, alongwith introduction of applied chemistry and medical sciences. It changed the way Europe counted things, yes, but even better would have been to discuss the changes the numeric system brought about in the Islamic world, namely, chemistry and medicine. That would have been the key change and not the mere adoption by the act of copying.
My problem is that the this isn't a history of the World as much as it's the history of the West.
sirchutney's review
informative
medium-paced
3.0
SPOLIER: the answer is 20th century.
Mortimer relates technology to change to arrive at a predictable answer. He draws together 50 of the major themes of the last thousand years in the western world. Then tries to get to grips with the nature of change.
The book is pretty much summarised here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/30/10-greatest-changes-of-the-past-1000-years
Mortimer relates technology to change to arrive at a predictable answer. He draws together 50 of the major themes of the last thousand years in the western world. Then tries to get to grips with the nature of change.
The book is pretty much summarised here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/30/10-greatest-changes-of-the-past-1000-years
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