U. Eco History of European Civilization of the Middle Ages Barbarians Christians Muslims Book

The History of European Civilization project covers the period from ancient times to the twentieth century and is divided into three main blocks: Antiquity: Rome, Greece, Middle East; Middle Ages: Early Middle Ages, High Middle Ages, Late Middle Ages, fifteenth century; Modernity: sixteenth to twentieth century. In creating this extraordinary project, its compiler, Umberto Eco (1932-2016), a distinguished Italian scholar-philosopher, literary critic, and writer, was guided by a multidisciplinary principle: History, Philosophy, Mythology and Religion, Fine Arts, Literature, and Science. The articles in the sections are written by leading Italian specialists in each branch. 

The volume "The Middle Ages. Barbarians. Christians. Muslims" covers a huge period, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Renaissance. It was during this period that the foundation of Latin culture was laid in the culture of those peoples who gradually populated the empire. Latin became the basis for the languages spoken today by half the world, and the powerful influence of Christianity shaped the life we call European today. The edition covers a solid list of topics: the decline and new growth of cities, the development of trade and commerce, medicine and education, advances in science and technology, spiritual quests, daily life, the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, literature and historiography, theater and music, etc. It is also supplemented with rich illustrative material: world-famous masterpieces, first editions from many of the world's museums, etc. 

Number of pages: 704