Walls: A History of Civilization in Blood and Brick“A lively popular history of an oft-overlooked element in the development of human society” (Library Journal)—walls—and a haunting and eye-opening saga that reveals a startling link between what we build and how we live. With esteemed historian David Frye as our raconteur-guide in Walls, which Publishers Weekly praises as “informative, relevant, and thought-provoking,” we journey back to a time before barriers of brick and stone even existed—to an era in which nomadic tribes vied for scarce resources, and each man was bred to a life of struggle. Ultimately, those same men would create edifices of mud, brick, and stone, and with them effectively divide humanity: on one side were those the walls protected; on the other, those the walls kept out. The stars of this narrative are the walls themselves—rising up in places as ancient and exotic as Mesopotamia, Babylon, Greece, China, Rome, Mongolia, Afghanistan, the lower Mississippi, and even Central America. As we journey across time and place, we discover a hidden, thousand-mile-long wall in Asia's steppes; learn of bizarre Spartan rituals; watch Mongol chieftains lead their miles-long hordes; witness the epic siege of Constantinople; chill at the fate of French explorers; marvel at the folly of the Maginot Line; tense at the gathering crisis in Cold War Berlin; gape at Hollywood’s gated royalty; and contemplate the wall mania of our own era. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “provocative, well-written, and—with walls rising everywhere on the planet—timely,” Walls gradually reveals the startling ways that barriers have affected our psyches. The questions this book summons are both intriguing and profound: Did walls make civilization possible? And can we live without them? Find out in this masterpiece of historical recovery and preeminent storytelling. |
What people are saying - Write a review
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified
Walls: A History of Civilization in Blood and Brick
User Review - Publishers WeeklyFrye, a teacher of ancient and medieval history, offers an accessible history of walls and wall builders. Starting at the 4,000-year-old Great Wall of Shulgi, in Sumer, Frye—writing in a breezy and ... Read full review
User Review - Flag as inappropriate
Wait this book was only talking about animals in the preview
Contents
15 | |
33 | |
47 | |
63 | |
77 | |
Hadrians Walls | 93 |
Paradise Lost | 103 |
Defenseless behind Walls | 115 |
Walls and the Apocalypse | 145 |
The Horrible Bombard | 163 |
Beyond the Pale | 177 |
The Last Battles | 201 |
A Hell of a Lot Better Than a War | 213 |
Love Your Neighbor but Dont Pull | 231 |
Acknowledgments | 249 |
Index | 277 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abandoned already American ancient appear army arrived Asia attack barbarians barriers battle became become Berlin border walls brick building built carried Central century China Chinese city walls civilian civilization Constantinople construction death defenders described destroyed early East East German efforts emperor Empire enemy entire established Europe fear fight finally force fortifications frontier gates Gauls German Greek guards Hadrian hand hundred Huns Italy king known labor land late later least less Line lived Long Wall longer Mesopotamians miles military Mongols mountains never nomads northern numbers once original pass perhaps Persian protection raids region remained River Roman Rome ruins seemed society soldiers sort Spartan steppe stone things thousand took towns troops turned University Press unwalled wall builders warriors West Western women workers writing