The West: A New History of an Old Idea by Naoise Mac Sweeney
  • In person (Room 002, Rolle Building, University of Plymouth) and online (via Zoom)

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The standard story of Western Civilisation traces an unbroken line from ancient Greece and Rome through Renaissance Europe to modern democracies. 
We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread, leading through the centuries from classical antiquity to the countries of the modern West – a cultural genealogy that connects Plato to NATO. It is an idea often invoked in the speeches of politicians and the rhetoric of journalists, and which remains deeply embedded in popular culture. But what if it is wrong? 
In an epic sweep through the ages, prize-winning archaeologist and historian Naoise Mac Sweeney charts the history of this idea – an idea of enormous political significance, but which is nonetheless factually incorrect and obscures the wondrous, rich diversity of our past. She reveals how this particular version of Western history was invented, how it has been used to justify imperialism and racism and why it is no longer ideologically fit for purpose today. 
Told through the lives of 14 fascinating historical figures – including a formidable Roman matriarch, an unconventional Islamic scholar, an enslaved African American poetess and a British prime minister with Homeric aspirations – The West is a groundbreaking retelling of Western history and a powerful corrective to one of the greatest myths of all: Western Civilisation. 
Join Global Book Club Plymouth to discuss the origin myth of the West. 
• A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
"A forceful, well-written book, in which Mac Sweeney shows her command of a vast sweep of history" (Daily Telegraph)
"A bracing addition to the ongoing deconstruction of the historiographical pillars of western cultural supremacy" (Michael Wood, BBC History Magazine)
This free event is open to all. You can attend in person or online on Zoom using the following details:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85946064699?pwd=hQQNKyTf3tiajyd1BT31aQSlxEyEVs.1 
• Meeting ID: 859 4606 4699, Passcode: 406767 
Please email s.kay@blueyonder.co.uk for any queries.
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Global Book Club Plymouth is an initiative of Devon Development Education and is supported by the University of Plymouth. 

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