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Reformation: The Story of Civilization Part 6
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1957
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July 27, 2024
THE SIXTH OF AN "EPIC" AND MAGISTERIAL ELEVEN-VOLUME SERIES
Will (and later) Ariel Durant were awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, primarily for this 11-volume series, "The Story of Civilization," which is probably the last attempt we will ever see---in this age of increasing specialization---of a single historian (or couple) attempting a "universal history."
He wrote in the "To the Reader" section of this 1957 book, "'The Reformation' is not quite an honest title for this book. An accurate title would be: 'A History of European Civilization Outside of Italy from 1300 to 1564... Including the History of Religion in Italy and an Incidental View of Islamic and Judaic Civilization in Europe, Africa, and Western Asia.'"
He says, "Since man lives by permission of physical geography, it is his fate to be divided by mountains, rivers, and seas into groups that develop, in semi-isolation, their diverging languages and creeds, their climatically conditioned features, customs, and dress." (Pg. 143) He concludes, "From barbarism to civilization requires a century; from civilization to barbarism needs but a day." (Pg. 190)
About the Inquisition, he wrote, "no statistics can convey the terror in which the Spanish mind lived in those days and nights. Men and women, even in the secrecy of their families, had to watch every word they uttered, lest some stray criticism should lead them to an Inquisition jail. It was a mental oppression unparalleled in history." (Pg. 216) Later, he adds, "We can discover all the sins of the sixteenth century in our own age, and all of ours in theirs, according to their means." (Pg. 766)
He asserts, "Much is lost in history, but so much of worth has been preserved that not a hundred lifetimes could absorb it." (Pg. 786) He concludes, "Nothing of all these efforts was lost. The individual succumbs, but he does not die if he has left something to mankind." (Pg. 940)
Although often forgotten in modern times, the Durants' series was once a staple of "Book-of-the-Month Club" introductory promotions, and widely read. It is still of immense value for someone wanting a comprehensive and unified "view" of history from a single author (or later, two married authors).
Will (and later) Ariel Durant were awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, primarily for this 11-volume series, "The Story of Civilization," which is probably the last attempt we will ever see---in this age of increasing specialization---of a single historian (or couple) attempting a "universal history."
He wrote in the "To the Reader" section of this 1957 book, "'The Reformation' is not quite an honest title for this book. An accurate title would be: 'A History of European Civilization Outside of Italy from 1300 to 1564... Including the History of Religion in Italy and an Incidental View of Islamic and Judaic Civilization in Europe, Africa, and Western Asia.'"
He says, "Since man lives by permission of physical geography, it is his fate to be divided by mountains, rivers, and seas into groups that develop, in semi-isolation, their diverging languages and creeds, their climatically conditioned features, customs, and dress." (Pg. 143) He concludes, "From barbarism to civilization requires a century; from civilization to barbarism needs but a day." (Pg. 190)
About the Inquisition, he wrote, "no statistics can convey the terror in which the Spanish mind lived in those days and nights. Men and women, even in the secrecy of their families, had to watch every word they uttered, lest some stray criticism should lead them to an Inquisition jail. It was a mental oppression unparalleled in history." (Pg. 216) Later, he adds, "We can discover all the sins of the sixteenth century in our own age, and all of ours in theirs, according to their means." (Pg. 766)
He asserts, "Much is lost in history, but so much of worth has been preserved that not a hundred lifetimes could absorb it." (Pg. 786) He concludes, "Nothing of all these efforts was lost. The individual succumbs, but he does not die if he has left something to mankind." (Pg. 940)
Although often forgotten in modern times, the Durants' series was once a staple of "Book-of-the-Month Club" introductory promotions, and widely read. It is still of immense value for someone wanting a comprehensive and unified "view" of history from a single author (or later, two married authors).
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