Originally written for the author's children, the book explores the history of civilization beginning with early man and taking the reader through the creation of art, writing, religion, and more. All in short, simple to understand chapters.To qualify for inclusion in the book, Van Loon asked a simple question: 'Did the person or event in question perform an act without which the entire history of civilization would have been different?' 'The Story of Mankind' (1921) was awarded the Newbery Medal for its outstanding contribution to children's literature. The result is an informative, insightful, and entertaining story of mankind that is suitable for readers of all ages.-