'The Golden Thread' Offers Comprehensive History of Western Civilization Amid Academic Debate

A substantial new two-volume history, titled "The Golden Thread," has been released, presenting a comprehensive exploration of Western civilization. The work, which totals 1,968 pages and weighs approximately 12 pounds, is described as both a prodigious product and an achievement at a time when the study of Western civilization has faced challenges in academic settings.

The authors, Allen Guelzo and James Hankins, contend in their introduction that "the recent generations of Westerners who believe that the West is uniquely evil have been taught nothing at all about it." They advocate for the idea that understanding one's own civilization should take precedence, arguing that its vital importance cannot be grasped without prior knowledge.

"The Golden Thread" is presented as a textbook accessible to the general reader. Unlike many broad surveys, the work aims to incorporate compelling details and make arresting conclusions. Each page is noted for its readability and insight. The book is also lavishly illustrated with maps and reproductions of art, and includes timelines, primary source excerpts, and mini-essays on key figures and trends.

The first volume, covering the ancient world and Christendom, was written by Hankins, a former Harvard professor who reportedly left the institution over its discontinuation of Western civilization instruction. The second volume, focusing on the modern and contemporary West, was authored by Allen Guelzo, a Lincoln scholar.

A central theme of "The Golden Thread" is the depth of Western civilization's roots. The Greeks are credited with providing the ideal of self-government, the appreciation of beauty, the importance of eloquence, and a commitment to reason. The Romans are highlighted for their republican example and a system based on the rule of law.

The text details how the conversion of Germanic tribes to Roman Catholicism led to a shared cultural and educational tradition in Europe. Despite the shortcomings of subsequent confessional states, this period is seen as having established the foundation for the modern understanding of human dignity and rights. Hankins notes that "the fourteen centuries dominated by the Christian confessional state... impressed these noble human values on the conscience of the modern West."

The narrative also addresses the role of accident and contingency, such as how the failure to reconstitute the Western Roman Empire led to a system of competing European states that fostered innovation and allowed for republican experiments in Italian city-states and Northern European free cities. The medieval papacy's overreach is cited as a factor in discrediting theocracy and holy war in the West. Furthermore, the isolation of Atlantic-bordering European states prompted exploration that transformed the world and paved the way for the eventual ascendancy of Britain and the United States.

Beyond the book itself, the authors have launched a Substack to further explore the themes of "The Golden Thread." Additionally, the publisher, Encounter Books, has collaborated with Hillsdale College to develop a curriculum for teachers, aiming to revive instruction in Western Civ. The project is compared to the efforts of the 14th-century poet Petrarch in renewing interest in classical culture. The success of this educational revival in institutions is acknowledged to be dependent on factors beyond the authors' control, but the book itself is presented as a significant contribution to the endeavor.