author
P. V. N. (Philip Van Ness) Myers
1846–1937
A widely read American historian and teacher, he helped bring ancient, medieval, and modern history to generations of students through clear, ambitious textbooks. His work combined classroom experience with a strong belief that history should be broad, readable, and connected across civilizations.
2 Audiobooks
General History for Colleges and High Schools
by P. V. N. (Philip Van Ness) Myers
History as past ethics; an introduction to the history of morals
by P. V. N. (Philip Van Ness) Myers
About the author
Born in Tribes Hill, New York, in 1846, Philip Van Ness Myers became an American historian, educator, and textbook writer whose works were used extensively in schools and colleges. He is especially known for large survey histories such as A General History for Colleges and High Schools, along with volumes on ancient and medieval history.
Myers studied at Williams College and later taught before joining the University of Cincinnati, where he served as Professor of Economics and History. His writing aimed to make the long sweep of world history understandable to students, and his books were noted for covering many cultures within a single narrative.
He died in 1937. Today, he is remembered less as a literary stylist than as a careful popularizer of history whose textbooks helped shape how many English-speaking students first encountered the ancient world and the broader story of civilization.