The Western Perspective: Prehistory to the Renaissance, Volume A: To 1500 (with InfoTrac) - Softcover

Cannistraro, Philip V.; Reich, John J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0534610692 ISBN 13: 9780534610692

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2003

Synopsis

This is Volume A (to 1500) of THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Second Edition. True to its title, THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE focuses on the Western experience, while also placing that experience in the wider context of developments in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific. Accessible and clearly written, Cannistraro and Reich's text illustrates the causal connections across cultures and historical periods, conveying the record of human struggle and achievement, of conflict and community, of cultural diversity, of economic and technological developments, and of social change. The text's unique cultural perspective and theme and its unusually rich coverage of cultural history offer vivid images that communicate the full range of human experience. The "Perspectives" theme, which appears in every part and topic opener and in features, gives the book its unifying motif. Meanwhile, the book's flexible, modular structure ensures that you can easily adapt the text to your syllabus. THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE is also available in the following split options: THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Complete Volume, Second Edition (Contains Parts I-VIII) ISBN: 053461065X; THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Volume I: To 1715, Second Edition (Contains Parts I-VI) ISBN: 0534610668; THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Volume II: Since 1500, Second Edition (Contains Parts IV-VIII) ISBN: 0534610676; THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Volume A: To 1500, Second Edition (Contains Parts I-IV) ISBN: 0534610692; THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Volume B: 1300-1815, Second Edition (Contains Parts III-VII) ISBN: 0534610706; THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Volume C: 1789-Present, Second Edition (Contains Parts VI-VIII) ISBN: 0534610714; THE WESTERN PERSPECTIVE, Alternative Volume: Since 1300, Second Edition (Parts III-VIII, Topics 20-95) ISBN: 0534610684.

About this title

About the Author:

Born in New York City, Philip V. Cannistraro is an authority on modern Italian history and the Italian-American experience. He studied in both the undergraduate and graduate programs at New York University and is now Distinguished Professor at Queens College and at the Graduate School, the City University of New York. Professor Cannistraro serves on the boards of several journals and is editor of THE ITALIAN AMERICAN REVIEW. He has written or edited a number of books, including CIVILIZATION OF THE WORLD (with R. Greaves, R. Murphey, and R. Zaller, 3/e., 1997), LA FABBRICA DEL CONSENSO: FASCISMO E MASS MEDIA (1975), FASCISMO, CHIESA E EMIGRAZIONE with G. Rosoli, 1979), HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF FASCIST ITALY (1981), and IL DUCE'S OTHER WOMAN, a biography of Margherita Sarfatti (with B. Sullivan, 1993).

A native of England, John J. Reich was trained as a classical archaeologist and did both his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Manchester. He is an authority on Minoan civilization, pre-Roman Italy, and music. Professor Reich is associated with the Syracuse University study program in Florence, Italy. Reich lectures frequently in Europe and the United States on history, art, and the humanities and is the author of many scholarly articles and several books, including ITALY BEFORE ROME (1979).

Review:

"We plan our teaching and learning in a Learning Community format in Italy. Courses offered will include, W. Civ, Government, English Comp., World Literature, Humanities, Cultural Studies, Speech, Art and Design, Art History, Photography, Italian, and Walking for Fitness! Teaching methods will relate material in every course to every other. I recently introduced this text to the other faculty members who are now considering using it as a basic text for every student in the program. I think it will lend itself well to the Learning Community format and we are excited to proceed with preparing our teaching and learning using this resource."

"I would say the Cannistraro book is the best all-around text on the market. It is especially good on the cultural and social aspects, but gives the other aspects its due weight. What I have noticed is that the students read it. I always had my doubts about other texts."

"The text doesn't stray from the topic. On the contrary, reference back to the topic being discussed is offered with needed regularity. There is also a balance between what might be called interesting 'tid-bits' (the students like these), for example, Maria Theresa's calling Catherine the Great, 'Lady Prayerful,' with the overall flow of what was going on."

"This text is the best of its kind in print. It is clear and precise with sufficient facts to illustrate the themes and it does not push politically correct points of view as so many of its rivals try to do. Yet it has a solid political basis. The organization is generally good and the scholarship generally adequate for a work at this level and this breadth. Even students lacking preparation as so many do today, if they are diligent and are not overburdened with family problems or work can master the information. I recommend it highly and will continue to use it while teaching this course."

"My first impression ...is that it is concise, direct and easy to read. ...As history is cause and effect, the text is effective in presenting perspectives and guiding the reader along a critical thinking path."

About this edition

• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0534610692
• ISBN 13: 9780534610692
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 500