The Second One Thousand Years2001

The story of the last millennium is, in largest part, the story of the rise of the Christian West. This fascinating book, assembled by the editors of the journal First Things, explores the religious and social development of the West during the past one thousand years by looking at ten people who defined the millennium. Written by a team of renowned scholars, the book treats the second millennium century by century, choosing one historical figure as the prism through which to view each period. While the individuals chosen are not necessarily "representative" figures--in some instances they are people who opposed the "spirit of the times"--the compelling personalities limned in these chapters help us to understand better where we have come so far. Insightful, authoritative, and a pleasure to read, these narratives not only open intriguing windows on key dimensions of the Christian West but also provide a panoramic view from which to comprehend all of modern history--a view well worth pondering as we begin the third one thousand years.