Much of the history we were taught at school was Eurocentric, reinforcing our Western worldview and way of thinking. This brief review of the early Mediaeval period (roughly 500 AD to 1000 AD) looks at it differently: starting with the birth and flourishing of Islamic culture, turning to its Eastern contact with Tang China, its Western borders in Asia with Byzantium, and finally it’s struggle with Western Christendom.
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Resources supporting the Shepway and District u3a Science, Philosophy, and Spirituality discussion group, Season 2, Session 2.4 – The Rise of Christianity
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To understand the life and death of Jesus, we must understand his Jewish roots, the Hellenistic world , and Roman Rule. This article traces how the message of a crucified enemy of Rome became the core of Rome’s official religion – the Christian Church.
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Explore the intricate evolution of Western intellectual history in this 14-module seminar series turned article, ‘From Pythagoras to Particle Physics: A Journey through Western Thought.’ Discover how ancient Greek philosophy laid the bedrock for modern scientific inquiry, ethical frameworks, and democratic governance. Dive into pivotal moments in history, from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, and examine the challenges and opportunities posed by the Anthropocene epoch. This comprehensive overview offers thought-provoking insights into how the West’s intellectual trajectory has shaped our world, and critically assesses the future of democracy in light of emerging philosophical perspectives and real-world governance innovations.
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An introduction to the “embodied mind” perspective that is changing the way we think about what it means to be human. This article tells the story of how I stumbled across it, what it tells us, and how it came to be developed.
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