The Map of Knowledge

By Violet Moller,

Book cover of The Map of Knowledge: A Thousand-Year History of How Classical Ideas Were Lost and Found

Book description

'A lovely debut from a gifted young author. Violet Moller brings to life the ways in which knowledge reached us from antiquity to the present day in a book that is as delightful as it is readable.' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

In The Map of Knowledge Violet…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Map of Knowledge as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Lately, I've been worrying about the end of civilization, but this book made me think that maybe we'll make it through.

Last summer's wildfires, heat waves, and torrential rains can turn you pretty gloomy, and at first glance, Violet Moller's book wouldn't seem to allay those dark thoughts. But she details how the wisdom of the classical Greeks and Romans survived during Europe's Dark Ages because they were cherished by Arabic and Islamic scholars in a series of great centres of learning that stretched from Baghdad to Spain. 

Moller's book shows once again just how resilient people can be. 

A lively account of the ways in which the philosophical and medical ideas of the Greeks were transmitted to Rome, the Arab world, and medieval Italy. What Plato, Aristotle and Galen had said was often changed and even lost on the way, and only partially recovered in Renaissance Italy. A vivid reminder of the influence of the Greeks over many centuries.

From Vivian's list on Galen and Galenism.

Want books like The Map of Knowledge?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Map of Knowledge.

Browse books like The Map of Knowledge

Book cover of "On Second Thought" and Other Essays in the History of Medicine and Science
Book cover of Galen: Psychological Writings: Avoiding Distress, Character Traits, the Diagnosis and Treatment of the Affections and Errors Peculiar to Each Person'
Book cover of Hippocrates

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,172

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Middle Ages, the East–West dichotomy, and the Mediterranean?

The Middle Ages 431 books