Pulitzer Prize winners Will and Ariel Durant explore humanity's culture and civilization in "The Lessons of History," examining great lives, ideas, and historical cycles. A concise survey of the culture and civilization of mankind, The Lessons of History is the result of a lifetime of research from Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Will and Ariel Durant.With their accessible compendium of philosophy and social progress, the Durants take us on a journey through history, exploring the possibilities and limitations of humanity over time. Juxtaposing the great lives, ideas, and accomplishments with cycles of war and conquest, the Durants reveal the towering themes of history and give meaning to our own. ContentsPrefaceI. HesitationsII. History and the EarthIII. Biology and HistoryIV. Race and HistoryV. Character and HistoryVI. Morals and HistoryVII. Religion and HistoryVIII. Economics and HistoryIX. Socialism and HistoryX. Government and HistoryXI. History and WarXII. Growth and DecayXIII. Is Progress Real?Bibliographical GuideNotesIndex