What The Past Did For Us

A book Adam Hart-Davis, one of the UK's favourite TV presenters. A tour through the Top Ten developments of each of the great civilisations of the past. From the Egyptians to the Romans, Babylonians to the Arabs, Adam takes us on an epic history of the world, looking at some of the great legacies left to us by ancient cultures. The book is an entertainingly written history of ancient cultures, capturing Adams enthusiasm for the subject. Adam tells the story of the Chinese inventors who came up with the mariners compass, paper money and gunpowder right through to the Ancient Indians who, according to Einstein taught us how to count as well as giving us the 12-month calendar year and 7-day week.

Hardcover. English. BBC Books. 2004. ISBN: 9780563522072. 240 pp. Good with dw. Book No: 55988