Pilgrimage Volume 1: A History of Western Civilization from Antiquity to the High Middle Ages

Pilgrimage Volume 1: A History of Western Civilization from Antiquity to the High Middle Ages

By Richard Allington, PhD & Joseph J. Reidy, PhD · Published by TAN Books

Overview

How did the clash of ancient empires, Greek philosophy, Roman law, and the birth of the Catholic Church forge the modern world? In an era that increasingly seeks to dismantle or misrepresent Western heritage, Pilgrimage Volume 1: A History of Western Civilization from Antiquity to the High Middle Ages provides a breathtaking, academically rigorous, and unapologetically Catholic narrative of human history.

Spanning from the dawn of history in the Fertile Crescent through the glorious peak of medieval Christendom in AD 1300, historians Richard Allington, PhD, and Joseph J. Reidy, PhD, guide students on a journey through the providential unfolding of the West. Written with rich, engaging prose, this masterwork equips high school students and lifelong learners to confidently navigate secular perspectives while deepening their Catholic faith.

Key Topics Explored

• A Catholic Approach to History: Understand history as a discipline seeking truth through evidence, human motivation, and divine providence.
• The Wisdom and Folly of Greece: Discover how classical philosophy prepared the ancient world for the arrival of the Gospel.
• The Death and Rebirth of Rome: Trace the fall of the empire and its spiritual transformation into Christian Europe.
• The Ambition of Justinian & The First Great Schism: Unpack the complexities of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Church history, and early theological divides.
• Charlemagne’s City of God: Examine the fusion of Roman heritage, Germanic culture, and Catholic faith under the Holy Roman Empire.
• The High Middle Ages: Marvel at the cathedral-building era, the rise of universities, and the flowering of scholastic thought.

Praise for Pilgrimage

“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.”
— Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco

“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... If Chesterton were to rewrite Gibbon, you might wind up with something like PILGRIMAGE.”
— Fr. J. Augustine Wetta, OSB, Author of Humility Rules

“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.”
— Msgr. Michael Witt, Professor of Church History, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

Intended Audience

Designed primarily as a comprehensive high school textbook for Catholic schools, co-ops, and homeschool families, Pilgrimage is written with such rich prose and scholarly depth that it double-functions as an indispensable resource for seminarians, catechists, and lifelong learners of any age.

FAQs

Is this book suitable for homeschooling curriculum?
Yes. Pilgrimage was specifically crafted to provide high school students with a standalone, expansive history text that bridges Catholic theology and disciplinary historical rigor, eliminating the need for secular supplemental texts.

What time period does Volume 1 cover?
Volume 1 covers the origins of human civilization in the Neolithic period and Fertile Crescent up through classical antiquity (Greece and Rome), the birth of the Church, and the culmination of medieval Europe around AD 1300.

Can an adult read this for personal study?
Absolutely. While built for secondary education, the prose is witty, sophisticated, and deeply informed by modern historical scholarship, making it an enjoyable read for adult history enthusiasts.