Synopses & Reviews
Since its publication twenty years ago, J. M. Roberts's monumental History of the World has remained the "unrivaled World History of our day" (A. J. P. Taylor), selling more than a quarter of a million copies worldwide. Now in an equally masterful performance, Roberts displays his consummate skills of exposition in telling the tale of the European continent, from its Neolithic origins and early civilizations of the Aegean to the advent of the twenty-first century. A sweeping and entertaining history, The Penguin History of Europe comprehensively traces the development of European identity over the course of thousands of years, ranging across empires and religions, economics, science, and the arts. Roberts's astute and lucid analyses of the disparate spheres of learning that have shaped European civilization and our understanding of it make The Penguin History of Europe a remarkable journey through the last two centuries.
Synopsis
A completely revised and updated edition of this highly acclaimed account of human endeavor A work of breathtaking scope, The Penguin History of the World tells the story of humanity in its entiretyall the triumphs and tragedies, grandeur and folly that have shaped the human experience laid out in a single, authoritative book. Beautifully written and presented in a style that is at once comprehensive and accessible, celebrated historian J. M. Roberts leads us from the prehistoric conditions that gave rise to human life through to the complex world we find ourselves in today. Now in its sixth edition, this landmark bestseller has been completely overhauled by historian Odd Arne Westad to include new research and discoveries that have occurred since its original 1976 publication, making it as necessary and relevant as ever.
Synopsis
Since its publication twenty years ago, J. M. Roberts's monumental History of the World has remained the "unrivaled World History of our day" (A. J. P. Taylor), selling more than a quarter of a million copies worldwide. Now in an equally masterful performance, Roberts displays his consummate skills of exposition in telling the tale of the European continent, from its Neolithic origins and early civilizations of the Aegean to the advent of the twenty-first century. A sweeping and entertaining history, The Penguin History of Europe comprehensively traces the development of European identity over the course of thousands of years, ranging across empires and religions, economics, science, and the arts. Roberts's astute and lucid analyses of the disparate spheres of learning that have shaped European civilization and our understanding of it make The Penguin History of Europe a remarkable journey through the last two centuries.
About the Author
J. M. Roberts (19282003) was a celebrated and prolific British historian and the author of a number of books, including,
The Penguin History of Europe and
The Penguin History of the Twentieth Century. Odd Arne Westad has served as the Director of Research at the Nobel Institute and Professor of International History at the London School of Economics, and has published fifteen books on modern and contemporary international history, most recently, Restless Empire: China and the World Since 1750.
Table of Contents
List of Maps
List of Chronologies
Foreword
Book One: Heritages
1. Bedrock: Geography; The earliest Europeans; The Neolithic and agricultural revolutions; Migrants and immigrants; Mentalities; Early Aegean civilization
2. Ancient Greece: The importance of the classical past; The Greeks; The Greek diaspora; The city-state; Conflict in the Greek world; The Greek "achievement"; The beginnings of systematic enquiry; An attempt to summarize
3. The Making of the Roman World: Etruscan origins; Macedon and the Hellenistic age; Alexander the Great; The Hellenistic world; The rise of Roman power; The Punic Wars; Empire; Celtic Europe; Republican decay; Civil war; The Jews and the Roman empire; Jesus of Nazareth; St. Paul
4. Imperial Rome and World History: Establishing the empire; The imperial legacy; Law and order; Christianity and the empire; Imperial problems: the east; Imperial problems: Europe; Diocletian; Christian empire; Decline and fall in the west; Western Europe at the end of antiquity; The Merovingians
Book Two: Christendom
1. Re-definition: The age of Justinian; The burdens of empire; Changing religious destinies: monasticism; Bishops and popes; The western Church and the barbarians; Drifting apart; Doctrinal division; Byzantium and nearer Asia; Islam; The Arab conquests; An alternative civilization; Islam in Europe; Byzantium's new challengers; Slavs and Bulgars; Religious dispute
2. The Re-shaping of the West: Western Christendom; The papacy and the Franks; Charlemagne; The Carolingian heritage; A new empire; Italy and Mediterranean Europe; The Viking north; Anglo-Saxon England; The western Church at work; Church and State: issues of reform
3. Medieval Societies: Emerging from antiquity; A new agriculture; The social order; The beginnings of sustainable growth; Towns and trade; Technology; The Black Death and after; Social change
4. Frontiers and Neighbours: The World's Debate; Franks and Greeks; The Crusades; Eastern Europe and the Slavs; Kiev Rus; Christian Russia; Poland; Europe's emerging shape; A psychological frontier
5. The Civilization of the Middle Ages: The identification of an idea; The Church; Innovation and heresy; The Great Schism; New patterns of power; Kings and nations; England and France; Spain; Germany and Italy; A new political structure
6. New Prospects in the East: The Venetian republic; 1204 and the crippling of Byzantium; The Ottomans; The end of Byzantium; Ottoman Europe; Russia; The mind of the west; Renaissance; Printing; Re-orientation; The weight of the past; Enterprise; A new world; New visions of the world
Book Three: Launching Modern History 1500-1800
1. A New