The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind
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The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind

By H. G. Wells
Michael Caine
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length47h 33m

About this audiobook

Spanning the entirety of human existence from the primordial sludge to the aftermath of the Great War, this ambitious volume seeks to unify history into a single narrative of life. It emphasizes the common heritage of mankind, arguing against nationalism and for a unified world state to prevent future catastrophes. A monumental effort of synthesis, it frames history as a race between education and disaster.

Audiobook details

GenreHistory
Length47 hrs 33 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateFeb 24, 2026
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1BOOK I THE MAKING OF OUR WORLD
25BOOK VI CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM
2I THE EARTH IN SPACE AND TIME
26XXX THE BEGINNINGS, THE RISE, AND THE DIVISIONS OF CHRISTIANITY
3II THE RECORD OF THE ROCKS
27XXXI SEVEN CENTURIES IN ASIA (CIRCA 50 B.C. TO A.D. 650)
4III NATURAL SELECTION AND THE CHANGES OF SPECIES
28THE OUTLINE OF HISTORY
5IV THE INVASION OF THE DRY LAND BY LIFE
29SCHEME OF CONTENTS
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6V CHANGES IN THE WORLD’S CLIMATE
30BOOK VI (Continued) CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM (Continued)
7VI THE AGE OF REPTILES
31THE OUTLINE OF HISTORY
8VII THE AGE OF MAMMALS
32XXXIII CHRISTENDOM AND THE CRUSADES
9BOOK II THE MAKING OF MEN
33BOOK VII THE MONGOL EMPIRES OF THE LAND WAYS AND THE NEW EMPIRES OF THE SEA WAYS: XXXIV THE GREAT EMPIRE OF JENGIS KHAN AND HIS SUCCESSORS (The Age of the Land Ways) (pt. 1)
10X THE LATER POSTGLACIAL PALÆOLITHIC MEN, THE FIRST TRUE MEN (Later Palæolithic Age)
34BOOK VII THE MONGOL EMPIRES OF THE LAND WAYS AND THE NEW EMPIRES OF THE SEA WAYS: XXXIV THE GREAT EMPIRE OF JENGIS KHAN AND HIS SUCCESSORS (The Age of the Land Ways) (pt. 2)
11XIII THE RACES OF MANKIND
35BOOK VIII THE AGE OF THE GREAT POWERS
12XIV THE LANGUAGES OF MANKIND
36XXXVI PRINCES, PARLIAMENTS, AND POWERS
13BOOK III THE DAWN OF HISTORY
37XXXVII THE NEW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS OF AMERICA AND FRANCE (pt. 1)
14XV THE ARYAN-SPEAKING PEOPLES IN PREHISTORIC TIMES
38XXXVII THE NEW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS OF AMERICA AND FRANCE (pt. 2)
15XVI THE FIRST CIVILIZATIONS
39XXXVII THE NEW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS OF AMERICA AND FRANCE (pt. 3)
16XVII SEA PEOPLES AND TRADING PEOPLES
40XXXVII THE NEW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS OF AMERICA AND FRANCE (pt. 4)
17XVIII WRITING
41XXXVII THE NEW DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS OF AMERICA AND FRANCE (pt. 5)
18XIX GODS AND STARS, PRIESTS AND KINGS
42BOOK IX THE NEXT STAGE IN HISTORY: XLI THE POSSIBLE UNIFICATION OF THE WORLD INTO ONE COMMUNITY OF KNOWLEDGE AND WILL
19XX SERFS, SLAVES, SOCIAL CLASSES, AND FREE INDIVIDUALS
43TIME CHARTS AND CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
20BOOK IV JUDEA, GREECE, AND INDIA (pt. 1)
44CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE (pt. 1)
21BOOK IV JUDEA, GREECE, AND INDIA (pt. 2)
45CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE (pt. 2)
22BOOK IV JUDEA, GREECE, AND INDIA (pt. 3)
46FOOTNOTES: (pt. 1)
23BOOK V THE RISE AND COLLAPSE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: XXVIII FROM TIBERIUS GRACCHUS TO THE GOD EMPEROR IN ROME (pt. 1)
47FOOTNOTES: (pt. 2)
24BOOK V THE RISE AND COLLAPSE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: XXVIII FROM TIBERIUS GRACCHUS TO THE GOD EMPEROR IN ROME (pt. 2)
48IMPRINT | DISCLAIMER

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