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Sources of Western Tradition Volume 1 6th Ed + Atlas + History Handbook

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This successful two-volume primary source reader emphasizes the history of ideas. Each of its 300 sources is accompanied by an introductory essay and review questions.

Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 1981

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399 people want to read

About the author

Marvin Perry

153 books24 followers
Marvin Perry was a professor of history at Baruch College, City University of New York.

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5 stars
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4 stars
119 (34%)
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83 (24%)
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30 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Kristin.
180 reviews12 followers
December 7, 2013
I used this textbook in my Western Civilization class this fall and really liked it. The book is clear, comprehensive and relatively readable. I think it does a particularly effective job of drawing out ideas and institutions in each period it covers that ultimately help shape the Western tradition. My main criticism of the book is that it tries to do too much - my students were overwhelmed with information. I would like to see it streamlined a little, focusing in on the most significant figures and reserving the rest for higher-level courses. Despite this small issue, I will definitely be teaching from this book in the future. Of all the Western civilization textbooks I've read, it is the most effective at covering the material in a way that highlights the ultimate significance of events.
Profile Image for Little Timmy.
7,331 reviews58 followers
March 28, 2019
While not the best school text book I have read it was very well detailed and laid out. Lots of reference material presented. Recommended
Profile Image for Christina.
1,155 reviews47 followers
November 3, 2015
I read this for a class and i found it intriguing but not exactly to my tastes.
1 review
April 8, 2020
I have been using this textbook for my western civilization classes and it is very easy to follow. It does a great job of presenting information relevant to each time period and not being a text that I dread reading. The book seemed to be a very good resource to prepare me for class discussions on several topics mentioned in the book and I would recommend it to someone who wants to know a little bit more about different ideas and events throughout a wide period of time.
Profile Image for Lilia Elizondo.
18 reviews
April 23, 2023
Found this book for free in a used books bin, so as a lover of history I really enjoyed it. I can't say how great it is for a college course, but as a reading just for fun, it's great. It's extremely easy to understand, and you can use it as a good reference for some history courses. It really helped me memorize some important speeches and documents that are really important for classes and (very cheesy) life. It's just really good for history nerds.
Profile Image for Lis.
58 reviews48 followers
April 13, 2015
Perry does an excellent job of portraying the history of this world. He stays as unbiased as can be expected and as is possible. I do not agree with everything that is said because I believe in the history of the Bible, but he does a good job, nevertheless. I enjoyed learning more about the Western Civilization and hearing the viewpoints of historians on these cultures and what can be gathered from them.
3 reviews
May 10, 2025
Marvin Perry is goated, nough said [I read each line from front cover to back]
Profile Image for Zulhilmi Zakaria.
39 reviews8 followers
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May 24, 2017
Reading this book is one kind of very challenging things that i ever did in my life. Well, you know, it's history. This book tells about the Western Civilization as focusing from French Revolution in 18th century until the 21st century of the modern world. I'seen a lot in their history, how the human struggle to find meaning, parties that claimed to uphold justice, but what do mean by "Justice" at the very first place.

Marx defined it by advocating the revolution of worker to bring down Capitalism. Lenin interpreted Marx differently, same goes to Stalin. Adam Smith came with the idea of 'laissez fairre ' that promoting how we should have liberty and freedom of market from government intervention in order to fulfill both parties of exchanging interest. This was the very essential idea of capitalism. However, there should not have a monopoly. Just look how many people that rich physically, materially, but poor spiritually. Like Hamza Yusuf put it, "we have poverty people in the street, and in the Wall Street."

"Western Civilization ended up in the cul de sac" like Malcolm X put it. There is no way out from this lustful and arrogance civilization.

I don't know how to continue this. Just read this book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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