Civilization Archives | National Humanities Center

Civilization

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A History of Citizenship: Sparta to Washington

By Peter Riesenberg (NHC Fellow, 1978–79) Dr. Riesenberg's book describes the development of citizenship, one of the fundamental ideas and institutions of western civilization, during its long first phase:  from the Greeks to the French and Americans of the late eighteenth century.  It treats Greek theory and actuality, citizenship under the Roman Republic and Empire, … Continued

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Barbarism and Civilization: A History of Europe in Our Time

By Bernard Wasserstein (NHC Fellow, 2002–03) The twentieth century in Europe witnessed some of the most brutish episodes in history. Yet it also saw incontestable improvements in the conditions of existence for most inhabitants of the continent – from rising living standards and dramatically increased life expectancy, to the virtual elimination of illiteracy, and the … Continued

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Reinventing Eden: The Fate of Nature in Western Culture

By Carolyn Merchant (NHC Fellow, 2000–01) This revised edition of Carolyn Merchant’s classic Reinventing Eden has been updated with a new foreword and afterword. Visionary quests to return to the Garden of Eden have shaped Western Culture. This book traces the idea of rebuilding the primeval garden from its origins to its latest incarnations and offers a … Continued

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This Fleeting World: A Short History of Humanity

By David Christian (NHC Fellow, 2006–07) This Fleeting World is the smallest book of big history, telling the story of the universe and history of humanity in less than one hundred pages. Prize-winning historian David Christian covers it all in this compact, accessible, and inspiring guide to the history of everything, from stars and empires to … Continued