Ancient Man: The Beginning of Civilizations

audiobook

Ancient Man: The Beginning of Civilizations

by Hendrik Willem Van Loon

EN·~2 hours·19 chapters

Chapters

19 total

CONTENTS

0:00

PREHISTORIC MAN

4:05

THE WORLD GROWS COLD

7:26

THE END OF THE STONE AGE

10:13

THE EARLIEST SCHOOL OF THE HUMAN RACE

2:48

THE KEY OF STONE

15:31

THE LAND OF THE LIVING AND THE LAND OF THE DEAD

14:54

THE MAKING OF A STATE

16:50

THE RISE AND FALL OF EGYPT

8:13

MESOPOTAMIA, THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THE RIVERS

4:48

Description

In this sweeping yet intimate account, the author invites listeners to walk hand‑in‑hand through the first chapters of our species’ story. Rather than a dry textbook, the narrative moves like a personal expedition, pausing at mysterious rivers of time and scaling solitary peaks of discovery. The tone is warm and reflective, urging curiosity and compassion as we trace humanity’s earliest steps.

The early sections paint a vivid picture of prehistoric life, describing the rugged world of our ancient ancestors—hair‑covered, fire‑naïve hunters who survived on raw bounty from forests and cliffs. Using the latest archaeological findings, the book reconstructs their appearance, habits, and the harsh environments that shaped them. Listeners are encouraged to contemplate the mystery of where we came from, while the guide reminds them to seek other perspectives and keep an open, humane outlook.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~2 hours (148K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Sjaani and PG Distributed Proofreaders

Release date

2006-02-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Hendrik Willem Van Loon

Hendrik Willem Van Loon

1882–1944

Best known for making world history feel vivid and readable, this Dutch American writer, historian, and illustrator brought big ideas to a wide audience. His classic The Story of Mankind won the very first Newbery Medal and helped define popular history for younger readers.

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