Holy Face

St. Patrick 387 – 461 AD

Around 431

(four hundred thirty one)

Pat came to Eire

like the rising sun.

Where his faith equaled his bravery

And in the mighty strength of the

Trinity, he ended slavery.

Brahmagupta 598 - 668

For zero and numbers under,

thank India’s Brahmagupta;

Nor in Europe nor Arabia did this thought erupt-a!

Now, zero, the word, comes from the zephyr of spring,

Whereon math took wing.

Eleanor /Aquitaine 1122 - 1204

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Seemed to Henry II a royal pain.

Wealthy, beautiful, she gave him sons

Whilst of help one day and trouble the next, she brought him tons.

Ibn Battuta 1304 – 1369

A traveling man, Ibn Battuta

Went 75,000 miles by camel,

ship, and afoota

He went from Morocco to Arabia, the Caucaus, India, China, and Timbuktu so he had tales to tell,

Which he told well.

Andrei Rublev 1360 – 1430

Andrei Rublev, icon-painter,

Brushed his prayer, and though his colors are fainter,

His serene figures still reach forth unto the heart,

Setting a contemplative standard for sacred art.

[Note: A Clerihew is a quatrain whose first lines include the name of a character in history, and whose 3rd and 4th lines are not supposed to scan, keeping it light-hearted.]

Millennium of the Holy Face

This text covers the period from 450 - 1450 AD. This lively narrative will bring life to a foundational era often forgotten in contemporary education.

An opening chapter explains the significance of the Veil of Manopello for the history of the European Middle Ages. Another gives the background for the names that inevitably come up during this era which is commonly dated at or close to the fall of the Roman Empire: Jesus himself, of course, but also Aristotle and Arius and a few others.

The history of each century (or half-century, for example, chapter 8 [Link] includes information about non-western cultures, both because it is important to understand the history of the entire world and because the actual meaning of western culture is thrown into better relief as we reflect on non-western cultures.

The text also includes some of the scientists of this era. So often, the history of science is presented as if it progressed from Greece through Rome to the Renaissance, being altogether on pause during the "middle ages." Not at all; in spite of piracy and broken roads, there was continuity of learning during these thousand years. For example, very much of what we attribute to Isaac Newton is bridged by the work of Robert Grossteste, Bishop of Lincoln.

As history progresses, of course, Europe builds more and more relationships with cultures to the east, west, and south. Their specific contributions to western history and culture are fascinating and point the student to new avenues of study.

No single book can be comprehensive; we hope this one is at least inviting.

As WB Clerihew, Chesterton's friend, suggested, each character has a verse to remember him by.

A closing chapter introduces some of the personalities who are best known for the engagements which ushered in a new era, Gutenberg, Columbus, Luther, Juan Diego.

- 265 Pages (First Edition)