ebooks New Worlds; Ancient Texts: The Power of Tradition and the Shock of Discovery by Anthony Grafton in History

Review

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An Almost-Great BookBy Simple ScholarThe central thesis of Anthony Grafton’s “New Worlds; Ancient Texts” is that; despite the psychological disorientation that occurred among Europeans with the discovery of the New World; several scholars continued to use defunct ancient and scholastic texts in order to explain various scientific; theological; and philosophical conundrums. Grafton bases this argument on a historical dichotomy: before 1500; the unquestionable authority of the ancients; preserved through books; served as the foundation of knowledge. After 1500; the experiences of practical men – engineers; sailors; physicians; even clergy – challenged; if not dispelled; the incorrect assertions and contradictions of these old beliefs and customs. Grafton shows convincingly that many important and ‘modern’ thinkers of the sixteenth and seventeenth century still employed ancient texts to explain and to examine science; geography; politics; and theology.Although there is much truth to Grafton’s argument; he creates unnecessarily a medieval straw man. In order to prove that European scholars and literati relied heavily on ancient books; he downplays the philosophical and theoretical differences that existed within these books. The tension between Thomism and nominalism; the disagreement between the papacy and the conciliarists; and the friction between the followers of Plato and Aristotle provided the high middle ages with a tremendous diversity of opinion. Moreover; while Grafton is correct in acknowledging that the medieval period was more wedded to ancient texts than the early moderns; it is not true that the medieval scholars believed in scientific and philosophical positions solely because of the authority of the old texts. Like the early moderns; medieval scholars also thought that experience demonstrated what they believed to be correct (e.g. Anselm’s proof of God; Thomas Aquinas’ five proofs of God). The proper difference between medieval and early modern scholars; then; is not that the latter emphasized experience more than the former; but that the early moderns had access to new experiences.Nevertheless; Grafton’s “New Worlds; Ancient Texts” is a fine piece of scholarship. Full of pictures and blurbs on several wrongfully neglected historical figures such as John Mandeville and Garcilaso de la Vega; Grafton’s book would serve as an excellent introduction to early modern history for high school and undergraduate students.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Well worth discoveringBy reader 451Grafton's New Worlds; Ancient Texts is surprisingly accessible for a book on a quintessentially cultural subject: the impact of the fifteenth-century discovery of America on the classics and their position in European scholarship. It does not require more than superficial knowledge of ancient authors. It is clearly and economically written. It has useful captions on less well-known texts. And it is beautifully illustrated.Grafton explains that a scholastic culture centring on a few authors; especially Greco-Roman ancients; and on the Bible was already under challenge; in the early sixteenth century; by the `humanists'; writers who were rediscovering the classics in fresh translations or based on hitherto unavailable copies rescued from Constantinople. The discovery of the new world added fresh and dramatic impetus to this questioning of established authority. For example Aristotle; in his Meteorology; had written that no one could survive in the tropical zone; which was too hot. When the first Europeans crossed the equator; this began to look ridiculous. But the discoveries' impact was much broader; including that of tobacco; for example; challenging the main botanical and medical treatises; and spawning a pamphlet war as to whether it was the devil's tool. New Worlds; Ancient Texts examines a whole variety of such controversies; ranging from mapping; anthropology; medicine; and astronomy to philosophy. At the same time; it argues that the classics had a longer lease of life than is sometimes presumed; and retained relevance until well into the Enlightenment and beyond. This is an exciting work with lessons on travel; writing; and books which it is well worth reading both for its historical value and its implications about the nature of knowledge in general.13 of 15 people found the following review helpful. overseas overviewsBy Alvaro LewisNot the most stunning or innovative of Professor Grafton's works; makes a sweeping review from the expectations held by the world of humanists received from Greek; Latin; and Arabic forerunners to the explosion and expansion of these expectations due to America's discovery. Grafton is a smooth and engaging writer; who can bind the vast realms of his study into fine sentences and clear argumentation.The text consists of five chapters; intermittent miniature biographies of more interesting or less frequently known players; and luxurious black and white reproductions of images and manuscripts of the age. The text runs its course and neither references the small biographies nor acknowledges the handsome illustrations. It is very possible that one will skip over these images as accessory to follow the sweep of the author's narrative; only to revisit them later. Sweeps and anecdotes describe the nature of the investigation rather than patient analysis of sites and sights. This book seems to share only the prettiest berries plucked from Grafton's years as a tender of the tree.This book more than adequately accounts for the changes in European thought on account of the discovery not just of new lands; but of new worlds; new diseases; drugs; and; as important; the discovery of the limitations of many ancient texts. Again; Grafton is beguiling; informative and masterful at his craft. will be equally welcome reading for those who enjoy the period and those who wish to find a compelling way to enter it.