Chronologically organized, The Western Humanities presents the cultural achievements of western civilization--art and architecture, music, history, literature, philosophy, theater, film and the other arts--within their historical context. By examining the historical and material conditions that influenced the form and content of the arts and humanities, the authors provide students with a clear framework, a deeper understanding of the meaning of cultural works, and a broader basis for analyzing and appreciating the cultural achievements of the West. Hundreds of illustrations bring the arts and humanities to life, while extensive pedagogy consistently asks students to think about, interpret, and apply the information throughout the text and at the end of each chapter.

This chronologically organized introduction to the Western humanities (art, music, history, literature, and drama) establishes the historical context of each era before the arts are discussed. Hundreds of illustrations appear throughout the text, "Personal Perspectives" boxes bring to life the events of the day, and brief sections at the end of each chapter describe the cultural legacy of the era discussed. Volume II ofThe Western Humanitiescovers the period from the Renaissance through the present.

Provides an introduction to the philosophy, visual arts, music, and theatre of Western civilization from Ancient Greece to our own times.

With humor, lucidity, and unflinching rigor, the acclaimed authors of Who Killed Homer? and Plagues of the Mind unsparingly document the degeneration of a central, if beleaguered, discipline—classics—and reveal the root causes of its decline. Hanson, Heath, and Thornton point to academics themselves—their careerist ambitions, incessant self-promotion, and overspecialized scholarship, among other things—as the progenitors of the crisis, and call for a return to “academic populism,” an approach characterized by accessible, unspecialized writing, selfless commitment to students and teaching, and respect for the legacy of freedom and democracy that the ancients bequeathed to the West.

Chronologically organized, The Western Humanities presents the cultural achievements of western civilization-- art, music, history, literature, theater, film and the other arts-- within their historical context. By examining the historical and material conditions that influenced the form and content of the arts and literature, the authors provide students a deeper understanding of the meaning of cultural works and a broader basis for appreciating the humanities. Hundreds of illustrations appear throughout the text, "Slices of Life" boxes bring to life the events of the day, and brief sections at the end of each chapter describe the cultural legacy of the era discussed.