Arnold J. Toynbee

British historian (1889–1975)

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Lived 1889–1975, aged 86United Kingdom

United Kingdom WritersWriter / Author

Wikipedia
58 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1889–1975
Aged 86
Awards
5
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

He tried to crack the code of why civilizations rise and collapse — not through kings and battles, but through challenge, response, and spiritual fiber. For two decades mid-century, his 12-volume *A Study of History* made him the most widely read historian alive.

Biography

About

Arnold Joseph Toynbee was born 14 April 1889 in England and built his career as a research professor of international history at the London School of Economics and King's College London. From 1918 to 1950 he was regarded as a leading specialist on international affairs, and from 1929 to 1956 he directed studies at Chatham House, where he produced 34 volumes of the *Survey of International Affairs* — a reference work that became essential reading for British foreign policy circles. His real mark came with *A Study of History*, published in 12 volumes between 1934 and 1961, a sprawling attempt t…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Arnold J. Toynbee

Arnold J. Toynbee

said1971

We shall have to share out the fruits of technology among the whole of mankind.

— Surviving the Future (1971; Oxford UP, 1972) p. 95

Arnold J. Toynbee

saidDec 1966

A city that outdistances Man's walking powers is a trap for Man.

— "Has Man's Metropolitan Environment Any Precedents?", Ekistics, vol. 22, no. 133 (December 1966) pp. 385–7

Arnold J. Toynbee

said1965

[E]very oasis is an island that has water inside it but not round it.

— Between Niger and Nile (London: Oxford UP, 1965) 20. Cyrenaïca's Green Mountain

Arnold J. Toynbee

said10 Oct 1963

We have been Godlike in our planned breeding of our domesticated plants and animals, but we have been rabbitlike in our unplanned breeding of ourselves.

— "Man and Hunger: The Perspectives of History", entered into the Congressional Record by Senator Ernest Gruening (10 October 1963)

Arnold J. Toynbee

said4 Jun 1963

The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenceless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenceless against ourselves.

— "Man and Hunger: The Perspectives of History", Speech to the World Food Congress (4 June 1963). Printed in K. Y. Ng (ed.) The Population

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