Legacy of the West: Readings in the History of Western Civilization, Volume 1

Legacy of the West was designed to introduce college students in introductory surveys of European history to the heritage of Western civilization.  This heritage is a multifaceted one that includes religion, philosophy, and ethics; government and law; science; and economics.  The selection of readings is eclectic and challenging, as it contains the work of individuals who have profoundly influenced the development of Western culture and institutions.  A balance was sought that would allow the largest number of selections possibly while simultaneously providing relatively extensive readings, which have undergone a limited amount of internal editing in order to allow students to follow the development of the writers' ideas.