After the long period of cultural decline known as the Dark Ages; Europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship; art; literature; philosophy; and science and began to develop a vision of Western society that remains at the heart of Western civilization today.By placing the image of the Virgin Mary at the center of their churches and their lives; medieval people exalted womanhood to a level unknown in any previous society. For the first time; men began to treat women with dignity and women took up professions that had always been closed to them. The communion bread; believed to be the body of Jesus; encouraged the formulation of new questions in philosophy: Could reality be so fluid that one substance could be transformed into another? Could ordinary bread become a holy reality? Could mud become gold; as the alchemists believed? These new questions pushed the minds of medieval thinkers toward what would become modern science. Artists began to ask themselves similar questions. How can we depict human anatomy so that it looks real to the viewer? How can we depict motion in a composition that never moves? How can two dimensions appear to be three? Medieval artists (and writers; too) invented the Western tradition of realism. On visits to the great cities of Europe—monumental Rome; the intellectually explosive Paris of Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas; the hotbed of scientific study that was Oxford; and the incomparable Florence of Dante and Giotto—Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation; the colorful pageantry; and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world. Bursting with stunning four-color art; MYSTERIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES is the ultimate Christmas gift book.
#207538 in Books James Hayslip 1993-12-01 1993-12-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x 1.00 x 5.50l; .90 #File Name: 0385471475374 pagesISBN13: 9780385471473Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Good Follow Up to the First BookBy Book guyThis is a good follow up to the first book. It also cleared up quite a few inconsistencies from Oliver Stone's movie about the various husbands and lovers Le Ly had over the years. Very powerful to learn how the author established the East West Foundation with her credibility on the line with both her countries (Vietnam and the United States); Ky La her village; and even members of her immediate family. Most people seek revenge after ill treatment or least hold resentments and ill feelings towards those who they feel abused them. Le Ly is not one of those people. It's inspiring to see what can happen when one person puts the effort into making something become a reality; this despite trying to raise family through multiple husbands and dealing with her many pitfalls along the way. All this as she learns to adapt to her new life in America. A must read for those who want to learn what can happen if you put to action what you would like to see happen.Now that being said; I am still a bit confused on some details. I've read the first book "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" and I've seen Oliver Stone's movie "Heaven and Earth". I see how Oliver Stone took characteristics of all the husbands and loves in Le Ly's life and molded them into one U.S. marine. But I believe in the first book (I could be wrong) it was mentioned that she was 20 and Ed was 60 when they got married. But in the second book I believe its says that he was 55 after the two of them had been in the U.S. a few years.There are few things that I think Mr. Stone shouldn't have taken the liberty to deviate too much from what was written in the book. When her second husband dies he did die in a van officially in the police report by lighting a charcoal bbq in his van to try and keep warm on a cold night after he was kicked out of the house. Was it suicide or not? The book says that the police said it was common for homeless people living in cars to try and stay warm in their cars by lighting a charcoal bbq;thus not thinking about the carbon monoxide danger being created. But given recent events maybe it was suicide. To me it didn't seem like Le Ly knew for sure herself.The book also pointed out that she left Vietnam during the war and came back during the war. Then left again. Something that confused me after watching the movie first. There are other inconsistencies but I guess these details are things that should mentioned in the movie review; not the book review. Overall I think it is worth the read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A story by a remarkable person.By Paul DeLuraAs with Ms. Hayslip's first book it was a very candid and brutally honest narration of her life after her exodus from Vietnam. What is truly amazing is what this woman has accomplished since she has written this book. She has truly done all she says she wanted to do and much; much more. Google her name. The world could use many more like her.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. TiresomeBy SpeedyCookWhile reading about LeLy's life experiences was very interesting; the endless discussions she includes about her spiritual beliefs just became tiresome and dull. She has a deep belief in dreams; ancestor communication and ghosts which may work for her; but just seems like a mass of superstition and wishful thinking. She has a habit of jumping into bad relationships with mentally men which does not serve her well. However; she never seems to grasp the concept that she should try a different approach. Drags on and on.
