New Worlds, Ancient Texts : The Power of Tradition and the Shock of Discovery
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Book Description
Describing an era of exploration during the Renaissance that went far beyond geographic bounds, this book shows how the evidence of the New World shook the foundations of the old, upsetting the authority of the ancient texts that had guided Europeans so far afield. What Grafton recounts is a war of ideas fought by mariners, scientists, publishers, and rulers over a period of 150 years. In colorful vignettes, published debates, and copious illustrations, we see these men and their contemporaries trying to make sense of their discoveries as they sometimes confirm, sometimes contest, and finally displace traditional notions of the world beyond Europe.
About the Author
Anthony Grafton is Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton University. April Shelford is a graduate student in history at Princeton University. Nancy Siraisi is Distinguished Professor of History at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
New Worlds, Ancient Texts: The Power of Tradition and the Shock of Discovery,Anthony Grafton,April Shelford,Nancy Siraisi,Belknap Press,0674618769,Discovery And Exploration (General),Europe - General,General,History,History - General History,History: World,Intellectual History,North American,Reference,World - General,American history,Europe,Geographical discovery & exploration,History / General,The Americas,World history: c 1500 to c 1750
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