Σύντομη ιστορία της Ευρώπης
John Hirst, 2004
★ 4.02 from 6.8k ratings on Goodreads
A short, opinionated history of the continent that tells the story through three inheritances — Greek reason, Christian faith, and Germanic warrior honour — and admits what historians cannot explain. A brisk lecture-hall voice carries you through big questions with plain curiosity, occasional awe, and room for what cannot be explained.
Feels like curiosity, awe and wonder. About death, faith and home.
Who it’s for
You may like it if you want a short, opinionated overview that links Greek reason, Christian faith and warrior honour without heavy jargon. Be aware that readers often find the Eurocentric framing selective and the later chapters uneven or oversimplified.
Why read it
It gives you a quick map of a huge subject and shows how a historian weighs three inheritances while admitting where explanation stops.
A page from the book
A historian admitting there is one thing he simply cannot explain.
Οι Έλληνες συχνά έπεφταν έξω στις εικασίες τους, πολύ έξω. Η βασική διαίσθησή τους ότι οι απαντήσεις θα έπρεπε να είναι απλές, βασισμένες στη λογική και στα μαθηματικά, θα μπορούσε να ήταν και αυτή εσφαλμένη, αποδείχθηκε όμως σωστή. Αυτή είναι η σπουδαιότερη κληρονομιά που ο ευρωπαϊκός πολιτισμός εξακολουθεί να οφείλει στους αρχαίους Έλληνες. Μπορούμε να εξηγήσουμε γιατί οι αρχαίοι Έλληνες ήταν τόσο ευφυείς; Δεν νομίζω ότι μπορούμε. Υποτίθεται ότι οι ιστορικοί είναι σε θέση να εξηγούν πράγματα, όταν όμως έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με τα σημαντικά –όπως, παραδείγματος χάρη, γιατί υπήρχαν στις μικρές πόλεις-κράτη μυαλά τόσο λογικά, τόσο οξυδερκή, τόσο διεισδυτικά– δεν έχουν καμιά πειστική εξήγηση. Το μόνο που μπορούν να κάνουν οι ιστορικοί, όπως και κάθε άλλος, είναι να αναρωτιούνται. What readers say
Readers find it a brisk, accessible overview that clarifies European history, though many object to its Eurocentric bias and selective, oversimplified coverage; some say later chapters become uneven and less coherent.
John Hirst.Hirst was an Australian historian who wrote popular histories to shake up the school curriculum; this book began as a set of lectures for first-year students. GREEK_PLACEHOLDER
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Questions readers ask
- Is Σύντομη ιστορία της Ευρώπης for me?
- You may like it if you want a short, opinionated overview that links Greek reason, Christian faith and warrior honour without heavy jargon. Be aware that readers often find the Eurocentric framing selective and the later chapters uneven or oversimplified.
- What is Σύντομη ιστορία της Ευρώπης like?
- A brisk lecture-hall voice carries you through big questions with plain curiosity, occasional awe, and room for what cannot be explained. Feels like curiosity, awe and wonder. About death, faith and home.
- What should I read after Σύντομη ιστορία της Ευρώπης?
- If you liked Σύντομη ιστορία της Ευρώπης, try The Voyage of the Beagle (Charles Darwin), Steve Jobs (Walter Isaacson) and A Brief History of Time (Stephen W. Hawking).
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