The most accessible collection of primary sources available. The reader features 250 primary source documents; both textual and visual; drawn from a vast range of government documents; newspapers; speeches; letters; novels; and images. Twenty-five updated selections offer strengthened coverage of African American history and reflect the latest structure of America: A Narrative History; Ninth Edition.
#14659 in Books Stephen Greenblatt 2012-09-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.20 x 1.10 x 5.50l; .97 #File Name: 0393343405356 pagesThe Swerve How the World Became Modern
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. History; Knowledge; Plus FunBy ledis gazicI loved the way the book began with a sense of mystery; which kept me captivated and made me want to read on. It was a great way to get one's attention into what later became a serious historical narrative and/or the author's personal perspective. Although; as a Social Studies major and long time history teacher; I was familiar with most of the matter and topics he covered; I found Greenblatt's presentation to be fun and quite spellbinding. Of course; all cannot be taken at face value as this is a historical novel. Nevertheless; I liked the way the subject matter was presented. At the same time; I agreee with some critics that there are far better and more accurate historical accounts of the poem; naturalism; and that time period; I found Greenblatt's book highly enjoyable to read; but do plan to read more on the subject from other authors. In the meantime; I think this is a fun book and I have already shared it with friends.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Thought from the heartBy CustomerA fascinating look at the evolution of thought; books; libraries from classical Greece and Rome; from Epicurius and Leucretius to an unknown 15th Century Florentine scribe; scholar; book collector who rescued ideas now basic to modern western thought. Brilliant; moving; important.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Swerve: How the World Became ModernBy Meryl a FreedmanThis is a fascinating look at the influence of classical cultural documents on the early renaissance. It focuses on the scholarly research of Poggio Braccolini;whose love of classical literature led him to a discovery of one of the most important poems of the ancient era; On the Nature Of Things by Lucretius.He and others of his time faced profound internal struggles between the values of classical humanism they were reading in these texts and their Catholicism. They were influenced by the approaches of Epicurus and Lucretius; men of the ancient world; they had discovered; who accepted atheism and who had a world view that was remarkable as a precursor to a modern scientific ethos.These men; including Poggio; who rose from the ranks to become the Pope's secretary were often in the Papal inner circle; where such philosophies were extremely dangerous. Swerve is an insider's expose of the political and social intrigues of the Papal environment; which makes present day corruption seem sanitized and tame. In addition; it ties the intrigues of the early renaissance Papacy to how these ideas of the ancients survived suppression to influence the emergence of the modern world because of the scholasticism and reverence of these men. The Swerve: How the World Became Modern
