Topics in History.. books and movies to supplement
Frederick F. Cartwright, Disease and History
Sutton Publishing
ISBN 0-750-93526-X
Chapters 1 through 7 are most relevant to the AP European History course, including detailed and graphic accounts of the devastation caused by the plague in Europe in the 1350s.
Robert Darnton, The Great Cat Massacre (French cultural history)
Basic Books, Inc.
ISBN 0-465-02700-8
This amazing book about eighteenth-century France examines the views of ordinary and extraordinary people in France during the Enlightenment. Included in this strange history is a primitive version of "Little Red Riding Hood," an account of a massacre of cats, a bizarre description of a city, and a curious file kept by a French police inspector.
Paul DeKruif, Microbe Hunters (history of science )
Harcourt Brace and Company
ISBN 0-156-00262-0
This is the story of the scientists who discovered microbes and invented vaccines: Leeuwenhoek, the first person to view microbes; Spallanzani, who found that microbes multiply; Pasteur, whose vaccine for rabies convinced the world that disease could be conquered; and Ehrlich, who discovered that arsenic could cure as well as kill.
Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel (scientist looks at history)
W. W. Norton and Company
ISBN 0-393-31755-2
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book is more than just European history. It attempts, on a grand scale, to understand the impact that environment and biological factors had on history. Why did some people fail to domesticate animals? Why did food production spread at different rates on different continents? Perhaps the most compelling section of the book is part 3, "From Food to Guns, Germs, and Steel," in which the author discusses the evolution of germs, writing, technology, government, and religion. This is not the easiest read, but students who have read it give it the highest rating.
Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World (philosophy)
Berkley Books
ISBN 0-425-15225-1
Sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail: "Who are you?" and "Where does this world come from?" Soon she is enrolled in a correspondence course covering Socrates to Sartre. But who is Hilde? To solve the riddle, Sophie has to use every aspect of philosophy she is learning. But the truth is far more unnerving than she expected. This is a book that takes time to digest. Don't plan on reading it quickly.
Bernard Jaffe, Crucibles (history of science)
Dover Publications
ISBN 0-486-23342-1
Beginning with Trevisan and his search for the "philosopher's stone," the reader learns about Joseph Priestley's search for phlogiston ending with his discovery of oxygen, Lavoisier's creation of a new language for chemistry, Mendeleyev and his "table of the elements," and Marie Curie's isolation of radium. The book ends with an account of the development of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. I recommend it highly.
Mark Kurlansky, Cod: Biography of a Fish That Changed the World
Penguin Books
ISBN: 0-140-27501-0
Simply put, it's an unbelievable book. The codfish really did have an extraordinary impact, and its history affects many other aspects of human endeavor.
Mark Kurlansky, Salt: A World History
Penguin Books
ISBN: 0-142-00161-9
Homer called salt a divine substance. Today, we take it for granted. Without it, we would not be alive. Drilling for salt led to drilling for oil, and the money made from salt funded the building of the Great Wall of China as well as the Erie Canal!
William Manchester, A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance
Back Bay Books
ISBN 0-316-54556-2
From tales of chivalrous knights to the barbarity of trial by ordeal, no era has been a greater source of awe, horror, and wonder than the Middle Ages. But a rebirth occurs -- an explosion of energy that spawned some of history's greatest poets, philosophers, painters, adventurers, reformers, and villains.
Garry Wills, Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit
Doubleday
ISBN 0-385-49411-4
Popes in the Roman Catholic church were not always very saintly, as you learned if you read Manchester. Although a little difficult to get into at first, this book is historically more accurate and compelling than the Manchester book, which tends to be sensationalistic and reports some rumors as fact.
Sutton Publishing
ISBN 0-750-93526-X
Chapters 1 through 7 are most relevant to the AP European History course, including detailed and graphic accounts of the devastation caused by the plague in Europe in the 1350s.
Robert Darnton, The Great Cat Massacre (French cultural history)
Basic Books, Inc.
ISBN 0-465-02700-8
This amazing book about eighteenth-century France examines the views of ordinary and extraordinary people in France during the Enlightenment. Included in this strange history is a primitive version of "Little Red Riding Hood," an account of a massacre of cats, a bizarre description of a city, and a curious file kept by a French police inspector.
Paul DeKruif, Microbe Hunters (history of science )
Harcourt Brace and Company
ISBN 0-156-00262-0
This is the story of the scientists who discovered microbes and invented vaccines: Leeuwenhoek, the first person to view microbes; Spallanzani, who found that microbes multiply; Pasteur, whose vaccine for rabies convinced the world that disease could be conquered; and Ehrlich, who discovered that arsenic could cure as well as kill.
Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel (scientist looks at history)
W. W. Norton and Company
ISBN 0-393-31755-2
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book is more than just European history. It attempts, on a grand scale, to understand the impact that environment and biological factors had on history. Why did some people fail to domesticate animals? Why did food production spread at different rates on different continents? Perhaps the most compelling section of the book is part 3, "From Food to Guns, Germs, and Steel," in which the author discusses the evolution of germs, writing, technology, government, and religion. This is not the easiest read, but students who have read it give it the highest rating.
Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World (philosophy)
Berkley Books
ISBN 0-425-15225-1
Sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail: "Who are you?" and "Where does this world come from?" Soon she is enrolled in a correspondence course covering Socrates to Sartre. But who is Hilde? To solve the riddle, Sophie has to use every aspect of philosophy she is learning. But the truth is far more unnerving than she expected. This is a book that takes time to digest. Don't plan on reading it quickly.
Bernard Jaffe, Crucibles (history of science)
Dover Publications
ISBN 0-486-23342-1
Beginning with Trevisan and his search for the "philosopher's stone," the reader learns about Joseph Priestley's search for phlogiston ending with his discovery of oxygen, Lavoisier's creation of a new language for chemistry, Mendeleyev and his "table of the elements," and Marie Curie's isolation of radium. The book ends with an account of the development of nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. I recommend it highly.
Mark Kurlansky, Cod: Biography of a Fish That Changed the World
Penguin Books
ISBN: 0-140-27501-0
Simply put, it's an unbelievable book. The codfish really did have an extraordinary impact, and its history affects many other aspects of human endeavor.
Mark Kurlansky, Salt: A World History
Penguin Books
ISBN: 0-142-00161-9
Homer called salt a divine substance. Today, we take it for granted. Without it, we would not be alive. Drilling for salt led to drilling for oil, and the money made from salt funded the building of the Great Wall of China as well as the Erie Canal!
William Manchester, A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance
Back Bay Books
ISBN 0-316-54556-2
From tales of chivalrous knights to the barbarity of trial by ordeal, no era has been a greater source of awe, horror, and wonder than the Middle Ages. But a rebirth occurs -- an explosion of energy that spawned some of history's greatest poets, philosophers, painters, adventurers, reformers, and villains.
Garry Wills, Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit
Doubleday
ISBN 0-385-49411-4
Popes in the Roman Catholic church were not always very saintly, as you learned if you read Manchester. Although a little difficult to get into at first, this book is historically more accurate and compelling than the Manchester book, which tends to be sensationalistic and reports some rumors as fact.
Movies/Documentaries
Amadeus
Amusing, irreverent, and controversial portrait of one of the greatest composers of Western music -- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- includes clips of some of his greatest works.
Gandhi
Powerful story of India's struggle for independence.
Life Is Beautiful
Deals with Italian fascism and its impact on the lives of people. It is very moving.
Becket
A depiction of Thomas Becket's struggle with the king of England while remaining true to his own principles. The dialogue is great, and the acting is exceptional.
A Man for All Seasons
Focuses on Thomas More's conflict with Henry VIII.
Jacob Bronowski's "Ascent of Man"
A television series (which inspired the book of the same name, above) on the history of science discussing the intellectual, social, cultural, and political history of the centuries of European history that we study.
James Burke, The Day the Universe Changed
Wonderful episodes show the impact that events both large and small had on the history of Western Europe and the world. Sample titles: "Printing Transforms Knowledge," "Just What the Doctor Ordered."
Sister Wendy's Story of Painting
Lively, informative, and somewhat controversial, Sister Wendy has a lot to say about art and artists that is worth seeing. Each episode will make the beginner aware and more appreciative of great works in art history.
Amusing, irreverent, and controversial portrait of one of the greatest composers of Western music -- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -- includes clips of some of his greatest works.
Gandhi
Powerful story of India's struggle for independence.
Life Is Beautiful
Deals with Italian fascism and its impact on the lives of people. It is very moving.
Becket
A depiction of Thomas Becket's struggle with the king of England while remaining true to his own principles. The dialogue is great, and the acting is exceptional.
A Man for All Seasons
Focuses on Thomas More's conflict with Henry VIII.
Jacob Bronowski's "Ascent of Man"
A television series (which inspired the book of the same name, above) on the history of science discussing the intellectual, social, cultural, and political history of the centuries of European history that we study.
James Burke, The Day the Universe Changed
Wonderful episodes show the impact that events both large and small had on the history of Western Europe and the world. Sample titles: "Printing Transforms Knowledge," "Just What the Doctor Ordered."
Sister Wendy's Story of Painting
Lively, informative, and somewhat controversial, Sister Wendy has a lot to say about art and artists that is worth seeing. Each episode will make the beginner aware and more appreciative of great works in art history.