Exploring the Humanities: Creativity and Culture in the West (Combined Edition)

Introduction to the Humanities, Combined Edition provides a comprehensive, color and illustration-filled compilation of the history of civilization. Volume One encompasses the development of art, culture, society, architecture and religion beginning with prehistory and the ancient Near East and progressing through the Renaissance periods. Volume Two examines humanity and its components from the reformation and reform in sixteenth-century Europe through to present day society. The volumes provide extensive social and cultural background material reinforced with fascinating information on key persons, events, ideas and inventions of the time period to provides readers with a ‘you are there’ experience. Cross-Cultural Influence features highlight influences exchanged between different cultures to give readers a look at contact and artistic exchanges between cultures. Thematic Parallels sections compare universal themes over different time periods and in different places across the world, providing readers with an extensive and fascinating look at humanity through the ages. Introduction to the Humanities, Combined Edition examines the following time periods: prehistory; the ancient near east; ancient Egypt; the Aegean world; the emergence of historical Greece; ancient Greece–classical to Hellenistic; ancient Rome; pagan cults, Judaism, and the rise of Christianity; the Byzantine Empire and the development of Islam; the early Middle Ages and the development of Romanesque; the development and expansion of gothic; the transition from gothic to early renaissance; the early renaissance in Italy and northern Europe and the high renaissance in Italy and early mannerism; the reformation and reform in sixteenth-century Europe; Absolutism and Baroque; from enlightenment to revolution in the 18th century; the early nineteenth century and the romantic movement; nineteenth-century realism; industry, and social change; the late nineteenth century; turn of the century to World War I; World War I through World War II; 1945 to 1989 — the cold war to détente; and after 1989.  For those interested in a comprehensive view of humanities throughout the ages.