A History of Western Civilization contains such a breadth of knowledge that high school students will hardly need any other resource. From the origins of history until the year 1300, the units within this first volume of the Pilgrimage Series focus on the achievements of the ancient Fertile Crescent, Greece, Rome, and the Early Church, and on the fusion of these legacies in medieval Christendom. With great care, the authors have provided a historical narrative that is designed to convey a range of topics in a way that prepares students to engage with secular perspectives while deepening their Catholic Faith.
Some topics include:
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A Catholic approach to history
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The wisdom and folly of Greece
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The death and rebirth of Rome
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The first great schism
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The ambition of Justinian
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Charlemagne’s City of God
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The High Middle Ages
Thanks to the diligent work of Richard Allington, PhD and Joseph Reidy, PhD, students will be well-equipped to understand all these topics and more. This textbook is designed for high school students, but the knowledge within these pages is beneficial to the life-long learner of any age.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Allington and Reidy share with readers valuable insights into human history as they journey through the centuries from a Catholic perspective, revealing how Christianity inspired many of the greatest developments in human thought. Through evidence-based research and by uncovering human motivations, the authors explain why an incident in history happened and how religion is a fundamental component of human culture.”
— Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco
“Congratulations to the authors. I would strongly recommend this book for study and reference, and encourage its use, noting it is also useful for general inquiry for matters pertaining to Church history.”
— Most Rev. Fabian W. Bruskewitz, Bishop Emeritus of Lincoln
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Pilgrimage. It is going to make an important contribution to a revival of the study of Western Civilization, a study that has been sorely neglected these past three decades. I pray this project will be successful.”
— Msgr. Michael Witt, professor of Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
“I have been waiting for a book like this for a very long time. In an age that seeks to discredit the achievements of Western Civilization, Allington and Reidy boldly celebrate the scientific, political, economic, social, and historical impact of the Judeo-Christian ethos. This book is a long time coming and should prove an excellent choice for anyone seeking a balanced overview of Western History. In addition to being an excellent piece of literature (the prose is rich and witty) this book could be used as a textbook, an apologetics resource, or just a fun summer read. If Chesterton were to rewrite Gibbon, you might wind up with something like Pilgrimage.”
— Fr. J. Augustine Wetta, OSB, author of Humility Rules: St. Benedict’s Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self Esteem
“Pilgrimage is a work that provides an approachable and digestible introduction for Catholic parents and their students to the complexities of the premodern world and the place of the Catholic Church within it. The authors are to be commended for their lucid style and engagement with the scholarship. Their chapters are clear and to the point. While embedded in a deeply Catholic framework, Allington and Reidy are very aware of the most recent scholarship and intelligently alert the reader to contemporary scholarly concerns in nearly every chapter. They explain how a Catholic approach to history can be academic and faithful at the same time. In addition, the book is beautifully produced and engaging to read. It is highly to be recommended.”
— Donald S. Prudlo, Warren Professor of Catholic Studies, The University of Tulsa
“Pilgrimage presents an expansive survey of Western Civilization from the Neolithic Revolution to the death of Pope Boniface VIII. Allington and Reidy provide a narrative of the past that possesses a depth and complexity not often seen in history books targeted at Catholic families. The authors stress the importance of viewing the past on its own terms—warts and all—from a multitude of perspectives. This disciplinary rigor is what sets this book apart from its competitors. As JPII, Ratzinger, and others argue, each academic discipline offers a unique approach to Truth and must abide by its own methods in order to reveal a fuller and richer understanding of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God but corrupted by sin. This book does precisely that, acknowledging the limitations of the source material while still attempting to draw its readers into a world that is often so unlike our own.”
— Daniel Davy, Associate Professor of History, Ave Maria University
- Format:
- Perfectbound
- Publish:
- 05/06/25
- Pages:
- 600
- Pdf:
Download Preview: Pilgrimage: A History of Western Civilization Volume I: From Antiquity to the High Middle Ages Preview (PDF)
- Height:
- 9.00
- Width:
- 6.75
