西方文化读本（第二版）

　　《西方文化读本》用英语编写，力图为学习者展现西方文化的概貌。编者在选材时尽量将历史概述与具体故事、知识性和趣味性相结合，调动学习者对阅读的兴趣，斯巴达的勇士、埃及艳后的故事、歌德的爱情、尼采的哲学等等，这些对于大部分学生来说曾是道听途说来的模糊形象，都可以在这本书中找到清晰的介绍。为了适应课堂教学和语言操练的需要，作者在每篇选读文章后都配备了适合的练习。练习形式丰富多样，使学生在阅读之后可以通过练习来检查和巩固所学知识。

　　总主编：史宝辉， 北京林业大学外语学院院长、教授。主编：南宫梅芳、訾缨、白雪莲，北京林业大学外语学院教授，开设西方文化课程多年。

目 录


Unit 1 Ancient Greek Culture and Wisdom…1
Section A Greek Mythology…1
Section B City-States: Athens and Sparta…8
Section C Socrates …14
Unit 2 Roman Empire and Latin Culture…24
Section A History of Roman Empire…24
Section B All Roads Lead to Rome…30
Section C Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen and Her Love Affairs…36
Unit 3 The Bible and Its History…46
Section A History of the Bible…46
Section B The Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus…53
Section C Genesis…58
Unit 4 The Middle Ages and the Rise of Modern Europe…69
Section A The Middle Ages…69
Section B The Rise of the States…77
Section C The Rise of Universities in the Middle Ages…83
Unit 5 Renaissance and Church Reformation…95
Section A Renaissance…95
Section B The Reformation…102
Section C Henry VIII and His Six Wives…109
Unit 6 Enlightenment and the Origin of Modern Science…120
Section A The Age of Enlightenment…120
Section B On the Shoulders of Giants: Isaac Newton and Modern Science…127
Section C Francis Bacon: Fame and Disgrace…132
Unit 7 Romanticism and Realism…143
Section A Romanticism in Europe…143
Section B Romanticism in America…151
Section C Realism in Europe…157
Unit 8 Modernism and Contemporary Western Culture…172
Section A Modernism and Modernist Movement…172
Section B The Distinct Character of Contemporary American Culture …180
Section C How Contemporary American Society Tramples on Principles
of Integrity…187
Glossary…198