Civilisation

In this sweeping narrative, Clark shows how Western Europe evolved in the wake of the collapse of the Roman Empire to produce the ideas, books, buildings, works of art, and great individuals that make up our civilization. He takes us from Iona in the ninth century to France in the twelfth, from Florence to Urbino, from Germany to Rome, England, Holland, and America. Against these historical backgrounds he sketches an extraordinary cast of characters--the men and women who gave new energy to civilization and expanded our understanding of the world and of ourselves. He also highlights the works of genius they produced--in architecture, sculpture, painting, philosophy, poetry, music, and science and engineering. From Raphaels School of Athens to Brunels bridges we encounter masterpieces created by a talent that could not be contained within any system of thought or action.