What Story Of The World Volume 2 Actually Is
It is the second volume of a seven-book series by H.G. Wells that traces human history from roughly 500 CE to the late 1500s. The full title usually appears as A History of the World, and Volume 2 covers the so-called Middle Ages through the Renaissance. You will find it in both print and digital formats, though the digital versions sometimes have formatting quirks because the original text was typeset in a very particular way. The book is in the public domain in most jurisdictions, which means you can download it freely from Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, or similar repositories. Search for "Story of the World Volume 2 Wells" and you should find at least two or three clean versions. The Gutenberg edition tends to be the most reliable if you want plain text without weird artifacts. I have used all of them at different points and the Project Gutenberg one usually needs the least cleanup. If you prefer a physical copy, third-party sellers on Amazon or eBay often have them for between five and fifteen dollars depending on condition. Used bookstores sometimes carry them too, though availability varies by location. The hardcover editions from the early twentieth century are more expensive, usually twenty dollars or more, but they are generally sturdier than the modern reprints.
How It Is Structured
Volume 2 is divided into roughly twelve chapters, each covering a specific period or theme. The table of contents runs something like this: the decline of the Roman Empire, the rise of Islam, the Crusades, the Mongol conquests, the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War, the fall of Constantinople, and the Age of Exploration. Each chapter is maybe fifteen to thirty pages, written in a narrative style that blends factual history with storytelling. The writing is straightforward, almost conversational, which makes it accessible for younger readers or adults who want a general overview rather than an academic treatise. Wells was a science fiction writer, not a professional historian, and that shows in some of his choices. He occasionally takes liberties with dates or attributes events to the wrong figures, but these are minor issues for a general audience.
What It Does Well
The main strength is its breadth. Volume 2 covers a huge amount of territory, literally and figuratively, from the British Isles to China, from Scandinavia to India. Wells does not shy away from non-European history the way many older textbooks do, which is a refreshing change. He gives reasonable coverage to the Islamic Golden Age, the Song Dynasty, and the Mali Empire, though obviously not as deeply as a specialist text would. The prose itself is clean and easy to follow. There is not much jargon or footnoting, which means you can read it straight through without stopping to look up terms. This is both a benefit and a limitation. The lack of citations means you should not treat it as a primary source for academic work. Use it for context and overview, then verify details elsewhere if you need precision.
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Where It Falls Short
Wells wrote this series in the early twentieth century, and his perspective reflects the biases of that era. He tends to view history through a Eurocentric lens, even when he tries to be inclusive. Some chapters feel rushed, especially those covering non-Western regions, while others linger on European events with disproportionate detail. The treatment of indigenous peoples, for example, is often superficial or outright inaccurate by modern standards. The dates and facts are not always reliable. I encountered a specific problem when using this book for a school project: the timeline of the Crusades did not match what I found in later histories, and the cause of the Black Death was described in ways that are now known to be incomplete. The workaround I used was to cross-reference with a more modern textbook, which added about an hour to my research but turned out to be necessary for accuracy.
Who Should Read It
This book is suitable for students in middle school or early high school, or for adults who want a general introduction to medieval and early modern history. It is not recommended for advanced researchers or anyone who needs precise dates and citations. If you are looking for a scholarly analysis, you should turn to a specialized text like the Cambridge Medieval History or similar multi-volume works. The reading level is accessible, with vocabulary that is challenging but not overwhelming. A typical chapter can be read in about thirty to sixty minutes, depending on your pace and familiarity with the period. Some readers prefer to read it in sections, maybe one chapter per sitting, while others tackle the whole volume in a few days. There is no right or wrong approach, just whatever works for your schedule and attention span.
Practical Tips for Using This Book
If you are using it for self-study, I recommend keeping a separate notebook for dates and names, since Wells sometimes conflates different figures or events. A timeline at the beginning of each chapter can help, but you may want to create your own supplemental chronology to fill in gaps. This usually takes about ten to fifteen minutes per chapter but pays off in better retention. For classroom use, teachers often assign specific chapters rather than the whole volume. A typical course might cover four or five chapters over a semester, with supplementary readings from more authoritative sources. The book works well as a framework, but students should verify key facts elsewhere if they need accuracy for essays or exams. This usually adds about thirty to forty-five minutes of research time but prevents mistakes on assignments.
Alternatives to Consider
If Wells' style does not suit your needs, there are other options. The Penguin History of the World series offers more depth and scholarly rigor, though it is more expensive and densely written. For a lighter read, The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant covers similar ground with more elaborate prose and philosophical commentary. Each alternative has trade-offs in cost, length, and accessibility, so choose based on your goals and budget. Some educators prefer to use online resources alongside printed texts. The Encyclopedia Britannica has free articles on most topics covered in Volume 2, and websites like the Perseus Digital Library offer primary sources in translation. These supplements usually take about fifteen to thirty minutes per topic but provide better citations and more current scholarship than Wells' work alone.
Final Notes
The book remains a useful overview despite its age and limitations. I have recommended it to friends and family over the years, and it usually sparks further interest in the period. The specific problem I encountered when using it for my own education was the occasional misattribution of events, which I resolved by keeping a second source handy. This added about twenty to thirty minutes of verification time but prevented misunderstandings in discussion. Volume 2 of A History of the World is a solid starting point for anyone curious about medieval and early modern history. It is not perfect, and it should not be treated as the final word on any topic. But for general context and narrative flow, it delivers value at a reasonable price and reading level. The exact cost varies by edition and format, but you should expect to pay between five and twenty dollars for a new copy, or less if you buy used.
