A world lit only by fire review. A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age by William Manchester 2022-11-07
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"A World Lit Only by Fire" is a book written by William Manchester, first published in 1992. It is a historical examination of the Middle Ages, covering a wide range of topics including the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of feudalism, the impact of the Vikings and Magyars, the Norman Conquest, and the Crusades.
One of the main themes of the book is the way in which the Middle Ages were a time of great transition and upheaval. Manchester argues that the period was marked by violence, insecurity, and uncertainty, as feudal lords and other powerful figures struggled for power and influence. At the same time, he also highlights the many cultural and intellectual achievements of the era, such as the development of the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture, the proliferation of monasteries and universities, and the emergence of great works of literature and art.
One of the most interesting aspects of "A World Lit Only by Fire" is the way in which Manchester brings to life the many different figures and events of the Middle Ages. He uses a wide range of primary sources, including chronicles, letters, and other documents, to provide a rich and detailed picture of the period. He also does an excellent job of putting these events into context, explaining the broader social and political forces at work and the ways in which they shaped the course of history.
Overall, "A World Lit Only by Fire" is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that offers a vivid and engaging portrayal of the Middle Ages. It is a must-read for anyone interested in this important period of history and the many ways in which it has shaped the world we know today.
Godflesh
The author captures an essential aspect of Medieval world in describing the lack of individuality among most Europeans: "The most baffling, elusive, yet in many ways the most significant dimensions of the medieval mind were invisible and silent. Two words: Notre Dame. If Leonardo had been born 2 centuries earlier, his ideas and thoughts would have been lost among the illiteracy of the age. I read a lot of history, but not much on the Medieval-Renaissance period. Augustine, Abelard, Acquinas, Chaucer? This quote is at Location 568 in my copy.
A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age by William Manchester
With the rediscovery of classic Greek and Roman literature, many Renaissance artists and intellectuals became prominent within the bosom of the Catholic establishment itself. The Middle Ages were hell. They knew nothing else, and found their joys when and where they could. Although people were still dirty and violent; that didn't change much. The only one one that I found any hint of an answer to was the last one, and that only within the first 28 pages. Their political and religious corruption was matched only by their sexual depravity.
It opens your mind up and creates a desire to know more and a sense of satisfaction that you now have a grasp of knowlege that before you read this was just a cloudy picture. But there are more problems. Telephone, internet, satellites - I heard about an earthquake in New Zealand first thing in the morning, checked The Board Which Shall Remain Nameless next thing to see if Kiwis I used to know had checked in, was reassured that they had, sent an email to someone I used to know, and heard back from her within a couple of hours. Occasionally those statements border on being flatly wrong. That would be a true biography.
webapi.bu.edu: Customer reviews: A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance Portrait of an Age
William Manchester, A World Lit Only by Fire pg 15-16 Published in 1992, A World Lit Only by Fire is a book examining Medieval Europe and the Renaissance, through the lens of some of the most significant figures of the age. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. . First off one, cannot technically sell indulgences to forgive sins since, an indulgence is what one receives after completing the sacrament of confession. All historical research done in the last 100 years is ignored. The final section focuses on Magellan as a symbol of the Enlightenment.
How can they be so uncivilized??? The ugliness and brutality of medieval life, Manchester argues, was made possible by an institutionalized mindless. The book is divided into three parts: The Medieval Mind, The Shattering and the last part, One Man Alone. Also he's a believer in the Great man view of history also pretty old hat since behind every great man are the toilers who made all his discoveries possible and the events which allowed him to express his greatness. His basic theses are. I wondered if it was written fast to gain the popular reader who wants sensational history with a large dose of "We're so much smarter, we moderns. .
Reviews: A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age by William Manchester
Heroism is the exact opposite — always deliberate, never mindless. Gutenberg's invention freed humanity from the oppressing darkness of ignorance and now, as the world becomes more complicated, so many are reaching for the easy solution of ignorance and fundamentalism. I value what I learned from it - especially about Magellan, which was straight-forward and clear, and more than I remember ever learning before, thank you very much grades 1-10 history. In a portrait of an Italian clergyman, Girolamo Savonarola, who defied a decadent Pope and was excommunicated and burned for his trouble , Manchester describes a man of the people, beloved by the common folk. Again, in the first millennium of the common era Manchester says there were exactly two innovations worth notice: the windmill and the water wheel. The Renaissance was a time when art and Literature highly opened up to people. .
Calvin was leading an entire religion and sought to correct the corruption of the Catholic Church. I've read a number of books about the middle ages in the past couple of years, any are better than this and all are well received and praised. Protestantism, Inquisition, Bad Popes, Humanism, Visogoth, Henry VIII, Erasmus, Huns. The Phoenix would then spring out from the ashes to be born again. The web of driving traits behind their accomplishments almost assures that. Any old source is a good source. The book's cover says "National Bestseller," and that may indeed have been so it was first published in 1992.
The book is an interpretation of historical events of a unique era: of cannon and longbow, Wars of the Roses and Age of Discovery, Erasmus and Luther, a struggling emperor of an entity created by Charlemagne and - within the same person - the first true King of a united Spain with its colonial empire upon which the sun never set Charles V ,. A world of shadows. At worst, it is poorly researched and reviled by most historians. Asbridge is great for the Crusades, Jones is simply unstoppable in regards to general English History, and Bauer is probably the most well rounded historian I have ever read. If you are looking for a starting point for the Intellectual History of Europe during the Dark Ages and Renaissance; this book might be a good way to go. We - being those addicted to fantasy novels and the Renaissance Faire, and especially the younger and more naive among us - tend to romanticize the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
webapi.bu.edu: Customer reviews: A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance
Magellan in Context Manchester starts off writing a biography of Magellan, but in his attempt to put a context to his life, motivations and adventures, ends up expanding his scope until some six centuries of the medieval period are swallowed up by the story. It does not account for the thinking of the time, the progress of history, nor does it find anything positive to say about anyone save the emerging humanists and Ferdinand Magellan - clearly the idol of the author. The organization of the book seemed poor almost from the very start. The Earth at one point traps Robert making Robert have to struggle free harder and harder faster and faster causing Robert to be temporary blind from the gas. Weeks go by, and I fretfully search the used bookeries for another copy; always one shows up, usual My daughter brought this book to my attention about 10 years ago.
. However, I still like this book. . It tells the story of a continent that is seeped in darkness, and of its slow ascent into light. The Renaissance was a time of change, to say the least - but even the most extreme news and innovation took time to spread.
