How did the concept of ‘the West’ – a single cultural inheritance extending from ancient Greece to modern times – come about?

The concept of ‘Western Civilisation’ is everywhere – from entertainment and politics to world markets and world history. But this history, both real and imagined, is nothing more than a powerful figment of our collective imagination. And to chart a future for the West, we must properly understand its past.

In The West: A New History of an Old Idea, prize-winning historian Naoíse Mac Sweeney debunks the myths and origin stories that underpin the history we thought we knew by exploring the lives of fourteen individuals who have been critical figures in the creation of Western idea. Spanning millenia and continents, representing various religions, traditions, and social classes, these fourteen people offer a new lens through which to view the modern West.

Naoíse Mac Sweeney has won numerous academic awards for her work on classical antiquity and myths both in the UK and the EU. Her previous book was shortlisted for major awards, and she has appeared on Thinking Allowed on BBC Radio 4 and was a reporter on BBC4’s Digging for Britain TV series with Alice Roberts.