Europe: A Cultural History [Hardcover]

Peter Rietbergen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415172292 | ISBN-13: 978-0415172295 | Publication Date: December 7, 1998 | Edition: First Edition

'From about 13,000 BC it began to get warmer in Europe..' begins this all-encompassing survey of European cultural history. This book is a major and original contribution to the idea of Europe and its formation, from its Celtic and German origins, the influence of the Greeks and the Romans, the role of Christianity and the fruitful, if sometimes bloody, contacts with other cultures such as Islam.
Peter Rietbergen portrays Europe's history as a series of four grand phases of continuity and change set in the context of political, social and economic developments. A large selecton of illuminating excerpts are included to support the arguments. Europe is comprehensive, thorough and highly readable, and it will provide a stimulus for discussion among students and general readers alike.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Dutch historian Rietbergen (Univ. of Nijmegen) offers a broad historical summary of European societal development over the last 5000 years. Religion gets very close attention, as do certain seminal developments: printing, gunpowder, migration from country to city, and industrialization. Interspersed excerpts from primary sources (Grotius, Chaucer, Michaelangelo) add some variety to the text, though not always gravity (Iron Maiden lyrics?). The final quarter of the book, dealing with the 20th century, turns more toward sociology with less convincing results?Rietbergen's prejudices (against the European Union, for instance) show through. Hundreds of more detailed books on European culture are available; this one's value is its breadth and synthesis. It would make a good primer for undergraduates or the interested lay reader, though it does presuppose some historical knowledge. For college and large public libraries only.?Robert Persing, Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

paper 0-415-17230-6 By Rietbergen (Modem History/Univ. of Nijmegen, Netherlands), a magisterial review of Europe's cultural history from the Roman Empire to the post-WWII era. Rietbergen denies that Europe is a strictly geographical expression: instead for him, Europe is ``a series of world-views, of peoples' perspectives on their reality, sometimes only dreamt or desired, sometimes experienced and realized as well.'' Despite the cultural diversity of Europe, the author perceives several unifying themes: one is Catholicism and its offshoots, which for centuries after the collapse of Rome defined the civilization of Europe. A modern unifying trend is the gradual evolution of many European countries toward constitutional and democratic government, which emphasizes the political and economic freedom of the individual. To present these themes historically, Rietbergen divides European history into four distinct cultural phases: the gradual emergence of a pan-European entity in the Roman Empire, which gave political unity to far-flung lands formerly dominated by Celtic and Germanic barbarians; the coalescence of a Christian Europe with a Roman character, which resulted in a uniquely European civilization in contrast to the eastern Christian and Islamic civilizations around the Mediterranean; the development of new ways of looking at man and the world with the emergence of humanism, the Renaissance, the great world explorations, and the Enlightenment; and the modem age, with its emphasis on consumption and communication, material culture and progress. The author concludes that Europe is evolving toward a future in which classical tradition, Christianity, and ethnic identity will have less cultural significance for Europe than in the past, but in which distinctive humane European values will continue to have an impact on the world. A thoughtful though ponderous meditation on the development of the ``European idea'' and its significance for the world. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; First Edition edition (December 7, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415172292
• ISBN-13: 978-0415172295
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,642,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rietbergen as a teacher vs Rietbergen as a writer, May 16, 2000

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Astrid - See all my reviews

This review is from: Europe: A Cultural History (Paperback)

As a student of the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, I had the honour to have a course given by P.Rietbergen. I enjoyed the classes very much for you must know that this writer is a brilliant story-teller who really takes you into the subjects he's telling about. This is a book you should read in your own free time and for your own development but not for study. Mister Rietbergen gives you a very clear image of the ancient times with not just the boring facts but with imagery and all, like in a novel. A very agreeable book, but one thing I found a pitty; Mr Rietbergen should have written it or in Dutch or, have it translated in English/American style. But that's my opinion. When you want to know more of Europe's history without having to read boring books, take this one!