MUSEUM. WORLD HISTORY VOLUME 3. THE CONQUEST OF THE WORLD, 1850–2020, 2ND EDITION

The third volume of the monumental series "Museum. World History" invites you on a fascinating journey through the history of museology. This time, we will move to the turbulent period from the mid-19th century to the present, tracing the evolution of museums against the background of global social, political and cultural changes. It is a story about institutions that have become not only treasuries of the past, but also arenas of ideological struggles and spaces for artistic experiments.

• Global perspective: Analysis of the development of museums on all continents, from London to remote colonies.
• Museum as a mirror of the era: Showing how museums reflected and shaped changing political and social realities.
• Role in conflicts: A study of the impact of world wars and totalitarianism on the fate of museum collections and institutions.
• Avant-garde and propaganda: Presentation of museums as spaces for innovative artistic activities and propaganda tools.
• Contemporary challenges: Reflection on the role of museums in democratic societies and their adaptation to new realities.
• Closure due to the pandemic: Stopping at the moment when the global pandemic presented museums with unprecedented challenges.

The history of museums becomes truly global in the second half of the 19th century. The symbolic beginning of this period is the year 1851, when the World Exhibition was organized in the Crystal Palace in London. From that moment on, the museum becomes a symbol of modern civilization, with all its consequences. It colonizes conquered countries, collects their heritage, participates in both world wars, becoming a victim and beneficiary of totalitarianism. It is a space for avant-garde artistic activities and a propaganda machine operating on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Today, there are over one hundred thousand museums in the world. In democratic countries, they play a special role as places of culture, social life and renewing identities. Their collections are constantly growing, their surfaces are expanding, and their seats are taking on previously unknown forms. The third volume of the series stops at the moment when museums around the world were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic.

The series "Museum. World History" is a monumental work that allows you to understand the role of museums in shaping our civilization. Volume 3 is a fascinating story about how museums became arenas of global struggles and spaces for artistic experiments. It is a must-read for all lovers of history, culture and art who want to deepen the role of museums in shaping our identity and understanding the world.