THE AGE OF FAITH surveys the medieval achievements and modern significance of Christian, Islamic, and Judaic life and culture from Constantine to Dante —from 325 to 1300 A.D. Like the other volumes in The Story of Civilization series, this is an independent and self-contained work, which at the same time fits into the total plan of a comprehensive history of mankind. It includes the dramatic stories of St. Augustine, Hypatia, Justinian, Mohammed, Harun-al-Rashid, Omar Khayyam, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lion-Hearted, Saladin, Maimonides, St. Francis, St. Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon, and many others, til in the full perspective of integrated history. The greatest love stories in literature — of Héoise and Abélard, of Dante and Beatrice — are here retold with enthralling scholarship.
The "integral method" of this book aims to give a unified picture, and perhaps a new and wider perspective, of medieval life: to inspire the reader, for example, to see Christian civilization against the background of an Islamic civilization of great richness and complexity; to let him see that Christian philosophy was enormously indebted to Moslem and Jewish philosophy; and to view the Crusades not as the assault of civilization upon barbarism, but as the stimulating contact of a young culture with one of far greater maturity and subtlety.
In this spirit THE AGE OF FAITH covers the economy, politics, law, government, religion, morals, manners, education, literature, science, philosophy, and art of the Christians, the Moslems, and the Jews during an epoch that saw vital contests among the three great religions and between the religious and the secular view of human life. All the romance and poverty, serfdom and splendor, piety and immorality, feudalism and monasticism, chivalry and the Crusades, heresies and inquisitions, cathedrals and universities, troubadours and minnesingers, of a picturesque millennium are here gathered into one united, scholarly, and fascinating narrative. The publishers believe that the full and varied life of the Middle Ages has never before been so vividly and organically described.
The book aims to be philosophical history: without pretending to pass moral judgment on the characters of the drama, the author seeks to explain causes, currents, and results, and to find in events a logic and sequence that may illumine our own day. At the same time the burden of the tale is lightened with humor and wit, and philosophical analysis alternates with brilliant character studies of powerful personalities.
The work is divided into five "books" and thirty-nine chapters. Book I begins with the story of Julian the Apostate, who tried and failed to restore paganism in an Empire that Constantine had turned to Christianity. Further chapters describe the barbarian invasions, the epochal legislation of Justinian, and the civilization of Sasanian Persia.
Book II surveys the career of Mohammed, analyzes the Koran, recounts the astonishingly rapid conquest of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, North Africa, Sicily, and Spain by Islam; studies the caliphate at its height under Harun-al-Rashid; considers the Mohammedan religion in its theory and practice; and reviews all phases of Moslem life and thought.
Book III looks at the Talmud, and summarizes the contributions of medieval Jewry to religion, morals, commerce, finance, science, and philosophy.
Book IV sheds new light on the "Dark Ages" and gives a fresh perspective to feudalism and chivalry.
Book V, "The Climax of Christianity," opens with a dramatic chapter on the Crusades, studies the "Economic Revolution" that followed them, describes the "Gothic Glory" that rose from the new wealth, and sketches "The Morals and Manners of Christendom." A provocative but impartial chapter analyzes the creed, ritual, and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The book passes on to the literature, science, philosophy, and art of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, epitomizes the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and concludes with a chapter on Dante as the synthesis and culmination of medieval Christianity.
An Epilogue on "The Medieval Legacy" recapitulates the contributions of the Middle Ages to "modern" (a word frequently used in the twelfth century) life and thought. Its final sentence suggests the transition to Volume V, THE RENAISSANCE published 1953: "In passing from the Age of Faith to the Renaissance we shall be advancing from the uncertain childhood to the lusty and exhilarating youth of a culture that married classic grace to barbaric strength, and transmitted to us, rejuvenated and enriched, that heritage of civilization to which we must always add, but which we must never let die."
Description:
THE AGE OF FAITH surveys the medieval achievements and modern significance of Christian, Islamic, and Judaic life and culture from Constantine to Dante —from 325 to 1300 A.D. Like the other volumes in The Story of Civilization series, this is an independent and self-contained work, which at the same time fits into the total plan of a comprehensive history of mankind. It includes the dramatic stories of St. Augustine, Hypatia, Justinian, Mohammed, Harun-al-Rashid, Omar Khayyam, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lion-Hearted, Saladin, Maimonides, St. Francis, St. Thomas Aquinas, Roger Bacon, and many others, til in the full perspective of integrated history. The greatest love stories in literature — of Héoise and Abélard, of Dante and Beatrice — are here retold with enthralling scholarship. The "integral method" of this book aims to give a unified picture, and perhaps a new and wider perspective, of medieval life: to inspire the reader, for example, to see Christian civilization against the background of an Islamic civilization of great richness and complexity; to let him see that Christian philosophy was enormously indebted to Moslem and Jewish philosophy; and to view the Crusades not as the assault of civilization upon barbarism, but as the stimulating contact of a young culture with one of far greater maturity and subtlety. In this spirit THE AGE OF FAITH covers the economy, politics, law, government, religion, morals, manners, education, literature, science, philosophy, and art of the Christians, the Moslems, and the Jews during an epoch that saw vital contests among the three great religions and between the religious and the secular view of human life. All the romance and poverty, serfdom and splendor, piety and immorality, feudalism and monasticism, chivalry and the Crusades, heresies and inquisitions, cathedrals and universities, troubadours and minnesingers, of a picturesque millennium are here gathered into one united, scholarly, and fascinating narrative. The publishers believe that the full and varied life of the Middle Ages has never before been so vividly and organically described. The book aims to be philosophical history: without pretending to pass moral judgment on the characters of the drama, the author seeks to explain causes, currents, and results, and to find in events a logic and sequence that may illumine our own day. At the same time the burden of the tale is lightened with humor and wit, and philosophical analysis alternates with brilliant character studies of powerful personalities. The work is divided into five "books" and thirty-nine chapters. Book I begins with the story of Julian the Apostate, who tried and failed to restore paganism in an Empire that Constantine had turned to Christianity. Further chapters describe the barbarian invasions, the epochal legislation of Justinian, and the civilization of Sasanian Persia. Book II surveys the career of Mohammed, analyzes the Koran, recounts the astonishingly rapid conquest of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, North Africa, Sicily, and Spain by Islam; studies the caliphate at its height under Harun-al-Rashid; considers the Mohammedan religion in its theory and practice; and reviews all phases of Moslem life and thought. Book III looks at the Talmud, and summarizes the contributions of medieval Jewry to religion, morals, commerce, finance, science, and philosophy. Book IV sheds new light on the "Dark Ages" and gives a fresh perspective to feudalism and chivalry. Book V, "The Climax of Christianity," opens with a dramatic chapter on the Crusades, studies the "Economic Revolution" that followed them, describes the "Gothic Glory" that rose from the new wealth, and sketches "The Morals and Manners of Christendom." A provocative but impartial chapter analyzes the creed, ritual, and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The book passes on to the literature, science, philosophy, and art of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, epitomizes the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and concludes with a chapter on Dante as the synthesis and culmination of medieval Christianity. An Epilogue on "The Medieval Legacy" recapitulates the contributions of the Middle Ages to "modern" (a word frequently used in the twelfth century) life and thought. Its final sentence suggests the transition to Volume V, THE RENAISSANCE published 1953: "In passing from the Age of Faith to the Renaissance we shall be advancing from the uncertain childhood to the lusty and exhilarating youth of a culture that married classic grace to barbaric strength, and transmitted to us, rejuvenated and enriched, that heritage of civilization to which we must always add, but which we must never let die."