The Western Heritage

Book excerpt: This authoritative book presents an engaging and accessible narrative account of the central developments in Western history. Seamlessly integrating coverage of social, cultural and political history, this book is presented in a flexible chronological organization, helping readers grasp the most significant developments that occurred during a single historical period, laying a useful foundation for the chapters to follow. Attempts to reflect the unprecedented impact of globalization on this century by featuring extensive coverage of popular culture, the relationship between Islam and the West, and the contribution of women in the history of Western Civilization. Some featured essay topics include ancient athletics, religious festivals, medieval games, diets, attitudes towards bathing, and the politics of rock music in the late 20th Century. Particular attention paid to women artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Rachel Ruysch, Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun, Lady Butler, and Elizabeth Whiteread—through Art and the West essays. Great coverage of the experience of women in Western civilization, particularly new scholarship on women in the ancient world and the Middle Ages, during the scientific and industrial revolutions and under authoritarian governments of the twentieth century. Major sections on Islam and the Ottoman Empire cover topics such as the rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire from the 17th through the 20th centuries; Islam and the Enlightenment; Islam and the Romantic movement; Islam and Modernity; the French colonization of Algeria, from 1830-1962; Islamic immigration in the 20th-century Europe, and Islamic terrorism before and after September 11, 2001. For use by history career professionals.