{"product_id":"isidore-of-seville-on-the-nature-of-things-paperback","title":"Isidore of Seville, on the Nature of Things - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eCalvin B. Kendall\u003c\/b\u003e (Commentaries by), \u003cb\u003eCalvin B. Kendall\u003c\/b\u003e (Translator), \u003cb\u003eFaith Wallis\u003c\/b\u003e (Commentaries by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor scholars in the European Middle Ages, Isidore, bishop of Seville (560? -- 636) was one of the most influential authorities for understanding the natural world. Isidore's \u003ci\u003eOn the Nature of Things\u003c\/i\u003e is the first work on natural science by a Christian author that is not a commentary on the creation story in Genesis. Instead, Isidore adopted a classical model to describe the structure of the physical cosmos, and discuss the principles of astronomy, physics, geography, meteorology and time-reckoning. Into this framework he incorporated an eclectic array of ancient and patristic erudition. The fact that \u003ci\u003eOn the Nature of Things\u003c\/i\u003e presents an essentially Greco-Roman picture of the universe, but amplified with Christian reflections and allegories, played a crucial role in the assimilation of ancient science into the emerging culture of the Middle Ages. It exerted a deep and long-lasting influence on scholars like Bede, one of whose earliest works was an adaptation of \u003ci\u003eOn the Nature of Things\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eOn the Nature of Things\u003c\/i\u003e provides a new window into vital intellectual currents, as yet largely unexplored, flowing from Visigothic Spain into Celtic Ireland, Anglo-Saxon England, and Merovingian France. This is the first translation of this work into English. The introduction places the work in the context of Isidore's milieu and concerns, and traces the remarkable diffusion of his book. A chapter-by-chapter commentary explains how Isidore selected and transformed his source material, and added his own distinctive features, notably the diagrams that gave this work its medieval name \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Wheels (Liber rotarum).\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCalvin B. Kendall\u003c\/strong\u003e is Emeritus Professor of English, University of Minnesota. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFaith Wallis\u003c\/strong\u003e is Associate Professor in the Department of History at McGill University, Montreal.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 8.2 x 5.8 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 12, 2016\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51775768330528,"sku":"9781781382943","price":107.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/5adcab33e2eb5387128428d08a4e55f7.webp?v=1780466671","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/isidore-of-seville-on-the-nature-of-things-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}