Big Ideas. Bizarre Beliefs. Blunders & Breakthroughs.
From medieval monks to Renaissance rebels, humanity kept the flame of knowledge alive—sometimes by candlelight, sometimes by bonfire.
In this smart, irreverent, and unexpectedly optimistic sequel to
From Cave to Colosseum, Scott Edwin Williams charts our uneven crawl out of the so-called Dark Ages. Meet the polymaths, philosophers, poets, plague victims, and pious priests who collectively rebooted civilization.
Along the way, you’ll encounter bumbling crusaders, overzealous inquisitors, rebellious peasants, and Cedric, the very unlucky plague doctor.
This isn’t a textbook: It’s a sideways look at the big ideas—scientific, spiritual, educational, and cultural—that shaped a thousand years of history.
SOME MOVED US FORWARD. SOME DRAGGED US BACK.
AND SOME, INEXPLICABLY, DID BOTH.
LIGHT THE CANDLE. ILLUMINATE THE WORLD.

Big Ideas. Bad Decisions. Brilliant Mistakes.
From the invention of stone tools to the roar of the Colosseum, humans have stumbled forward powered by big ideas—with even bigger consequences.
In this smart, irreverent, and unexpectedly hopeful tour of the ancient world, Scott Edwin Williams traces the sparks that lit the fuse of civilization.
Along the way, he calls out conspiracy theorists, pokes fun at paleo-hippies, and explores the messy miracle of collective learning.
This isn’t a textbook. It’s a guided wander through the best (and worst) ideas our species ever had—from tool-making and storytelling to bureaucracy, religion, war, and philosophy (but thankfully, no social media).
Some ideas propelled us forward. Others exploded mid-launch.
Many somehow managed to do both.
Welcome to the history of progress, pratfalls, and lightbulb moments.
BUCKLE IN. LIGHT THE FUSE. LET’S GO.

AUTHOR ARRESTED IN MONA LISA MAYHEM!
"I could already picture the headline... But I hadn’t set out to cause an international incident."
After years of writing about the past from a safe distance, card-carrying history nerd Scott Edwin Williams—author of Lightbulb Moments in Human History—finally sets off to experience it firsthand. With his best friend and beer aficionado, CJ, in tow, he embarks on a whirlwind tour of Europe’s greatest historical sites.
Only they discover that history isn’t a passive observer. It lurks in alleyways—unpredictable, relentless, and hell-bent on robbing you of your dignity.
Part historical pilgrimage, part pub crawl, and all existential crisis, Unearthed is a celebration of family, friendship, curiosity, and finding meaning in the chaos.
Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson’s irreverent humor, Tim Moore’s misadventures, and travelers who know the best stories start when the itinerary falls apart.