Museums: A History

The book Museums: A History provides a comprehensive synthesis of museums worldwide, from their earliest origins to the present, exploring how they have evolved to meet the needs of the cultures that create them. It emphasizes the significance of objects and collecting, and how the exportation of the European museum model has led to international adaptations that are critical tools for understanding the world in diverse societies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 326 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

This extensive history of museums traces its origins, beginning with the origins of collecting in prehistory, and follows the evolution of museums from grave goods to treasure troves, from the Alexandrian Temple of the Muses to the Renaissance cabinets of curiosities, and onto the diverse array of modern institutions worldwide. The development of museums as public institutions is explored within the context of world history, with a particular emphasis on the significance of objects and collecting. The book examines how the successful exportation of the European museum model and its international adaptations have created public institutions that are critical tools in diverse societies for understanding the world. Rather than focusing on a specialized aspect of museum history, this volume provides a comprehensive synthesis of museums worldwide, from their earliest origins to the present.

Museums: A History unfolds the captivating story of how museums respond to the needs of the cultures that shape them. Readers will gain an understanding of:

The comprehensive history of museums, spanning from prehistoric collections to the present
The evolution of museums, presented within the context of world history
The development of museums considered in diverse cultural contexts
A global perspective on museums
The object-centered history of museums
Museums as memory institutions
A recurring theme throughout the book is that museums have evolved to become institutions where objects and learning are intertwined to aid human beings in understanding the world around them. Illustrations enhance the discussions.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 220 x 153 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538171516