Lightbulb Moments in Human History tracks humanity's big ideas and the eccentricities of those who conceived them. Along the way you'll find answers to questions such as: Why did the Sumerians have temple prostitutes? Just how psychotic was the God of the Old Testament? Why did parents in ancient Greece encourage their young sons to take older male lovers? And what on earth inspired the Mayans to have tobacco enemas? Funny. Irreverent. Never boring. This is not the history you were taught in school. Scott Edwin Williams' Lightbulb Moments in Human History engages, entertains, and provides hope that while times are tough, we're not all going to hell in a handbasket.
| Introduction: Walking on the Moon |
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1 | (23) |
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Chapter One (I'm an) Apeman -- Remote Prehistory and the Palaeolithic Era |
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24 | (34) |
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A Brief Interlude I Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft |
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54 | (4) |
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Chapter Two We Built this City -- The Neolithic Revolution |
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58 | (21) |
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Chapter Three By the Rivers of Babylon -- Ancient Mesopotamia |
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79 | (23) |
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A Brief Interlude II Little Egypt |
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100 | (2) |
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Chapter Four Walk Like an Egyptian - Ancient Egypt |
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102 | (20) |
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Chapter Five Another Brick in the Wall - Ancient China |
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122 | (20) |
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Chapter Six While my Sitar Gently Weeps - Ancient India |
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142 | (21) |
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A Brief Interlude III (It's no) Sacrifice |
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160 | (3) |
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Chapter Seven I Left my Heart in Chichen Itza - Ancient Mesoamerica |
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163 | (21) |
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A Brief Interlude IV Personal Jesus |
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182 | (2) |
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Chapter Eight My Sweet Lord? - The Biblical World |
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184 | (21) |
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Chapter Nine Greece is the Word - Ancient Greece |
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205 | (37) |
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Chapter Ten Rome (If You Want to) - Ancient Rome |
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242 | (34) |
| Conclusion: Getting Better - The End of the Beginning |
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276 | (5) |
| Acknowledgments |
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281 | (2) |
| References |
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283 | |
Scott Edwin Williams is an optimistic smartass, writer, humorist, and history nerd. His fascination with humanity's lightbulb moments began as a child while watching the first moon landing. Scott splits his time between writing and making learning fun for his students. He lives in Sydney, Australia.
