Prof. David Wengrow (Why) Do We Need a New History of Humanity?
Date of Event: 10/30/2026 11:00–12:00, Place: Building B, aula B9
Renowned British archaeologist and the professor of University College London, David Wengrow, will visit the University of Hradec Králové on 30 October. The co-author of the international bestseller "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity" will offer a fresh perspective on the history of human societies in his lecture: "(Why) Do We Need a New History of Humanity?", challenging traditional ideas about the origins of civilizations, inequality, and social hierarchies. The lecture will take place from 11:00 to 12:00 in aula B9, Building B, Philosophical faculty, UHK.
David Wengrow
David Wengrow is Professor of Comparative Archaeology at University College London and is widely known as one of the most prominent and original voices in today’s global landscape of the social sciences and humanities. As an archaeologist, he has long focused on the civilizations of ancient Egypt and the Near East, while his work extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of archaeology into anthropology and social theory. He gained international recognition particularly through the book "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity".
A new understanding of human history
„A New History of Humanity“ (2021), co-authored with David Graeber, became an international bestseller and sparked exceptionally lively academic debate. Wengrow is not only a leading archaeologist, but also a bold and provocative thinker who challenges assumptions that are often taken for granted in our understanding of history – for example, the idea that the emergence of agriculture, cities, and civilizations inevitably had to lead to hierarchy, inequality, and authoritarian power.
His other works, including „What Makes Civilization?“ (2010) and „The Origins of Monsters“ (2014), likewise connect archaeology with approaches from disciplines such as anthropology, history, and political philosophy. They demonstrate how a deeper understanding of the distant past can fundamentally reshape the way we think about contemporary society and its possible alternatives.
Hradec university´s talks will explore questions of human history
These themes will also form the central thread of the Hradec Králové lecture entitled (Why) Do We Need a New History of Humanity? During the lecture, David Wengrow will explore why we should reconsider traditional narratives about the development of human societies. He will show that human history does not necessarily have to be understood as a story of inevitable progress from simple societies towards increasingly complex and hierarchical forms of social organization, but can also be seen as a story of remarkable human creativity, experimentation, and the freedom to choose between different ways of organizing social life.
The discussion will be held in English.
