Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World (Hinges of History)
by Thomas Cahill
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Book Summary Information
Author: Thomas CahillEdition: Paperback
Published: 2008-03-04
ISBN: 0385495560
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Anchor
Book Reviews of Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World (Hinges of History)
Book Review: From "History" to Diatribe
Summary: 1 Stars
The latest offering from Thomas Cahill is, at first, a fascinating, if somewhat unfocused exploration of what he views as significant developments that influenced Western Civilization. From the influence of Western Christianity to the impact of several key women (Eleanor of Aquitane, and Hildegard of Bingen), to many others including: Saint Francis, Saint Clare, Dante, Giotto, Benedict, Peter Abelard, Thomas Aquinas. The book is beautifully illustrated, with drawings and photographs that offer a rich tapestry. The illustrations go far beyond the previous offerings in the "Hinges of History" series. In the past, I have given favorable reviews to his other offerings.
So why do I give only one star? Quite honestly, the final chapter, which is an unrelated diatribe and gratuitous invective against the Catholic Church as a whole, is an incredible add-on that has nothing to do with the topic or theme of the book. The issues of pedophilia and cover-up by certain individuals within the Catholic Church are not to be condoned; rather, they are to be condemned and have been condemned. Mr. Cahill's offense is an unwarranted grafting of unrelated matters and personal invective onto what should be an exploration of significant cultural, social, and intellectual factors of the Middle Ages as they have impacted modern society. In addition, the author takes the individual instances of abuse (as abhorrent as they are) and universalizes them to encompass the entire breadth of the Church. This one chapter alone is akin to painting the faces of Hitler and Idi Amin on Grant Wood's "American Gothic" and calling it art!
Summary of Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World (Hinges of History)
From the bestselling author of How the Irish Saved Civilization, a fascinating look at how medieval thinkers created the origins of modern intellectual movements.After the long period of decline known as the Dark Ages, medieval 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, from the entry of women into professions that had long been closed to them to the early investigations into alchemy that would form the basis of experimental science. 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-acclaimed historian Thomas Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world.
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