西方人文思潮是西方文明数千年发展的积累，是西方文化的精华。学习西方思想文化典籍，阅读西方宗教、政治、社会、经济、科学、哲学及人文思潮领域里有代表性的论著，有助于学生从宏观上了解和把握西方人文思潮的发展脉络，提高对西方历史文化的整体认识，改善知识结构，提高综合素质。本书选取古希腊罗马时期到二十世纪各个时期的经典原著，力求从总体上勾勒出西方人文思想的发展脉络，反映西方历史文化的一个侧面。在介绍西方思想的同时，本教材提供了相应的中国人文背景，增加了大量图片，提供尽可能多的背景介绍和大量的中英文注释，以帮助提高阅读速度。

Unit 1 The christian Bible

 Part One Warm-up Activities

 Part Two Basic Readings

Genesis

Gospel According to Matthew

 Part Three Compare with China

Chinese Creation Stories

 Part Four Supplementary Reading

How Is Religion Different from Science and Superstition?

Unit 2 Greek & Roman Sages(1)

 Part One warm-up Activities

 Part Two Basic Readings

Socrates: The Apology

Plato: The Republic

 Part Three Compare with China

The "Axial Age"

 Part Four Supplementary Reading

The Teacher as Midwife

Unit 3 Greek & Roman Sages(3)

 Part One Warm-up Activities

 Part Two Basic Readings

Aristotle: The Politics

Cicero: On the Laws

 Part Three Compare with China

Great Learning and the Mean

 Part Four Supplementary Reading

Cicero Quotes

Unit 4 Medieval Christian Church Fathers

 Part One Warm-up Activities

 Part Two Basic Readings

St. Augustine: The Enchiridion

St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Contra Gentiles

 Part Three Compare with China

Neo-Confucianism and Later Confucian Philosop

 Part Four Supplementary Reading

St. Thomas Aquinas

Unit 5 Renaissance Adventurers

 Part One Warm-up Activities

 Part Two Basic Readings

Christopher Columbus: Journal and Letter

Nicolo Machiavelli: The Prince

 Part Three Compare with China

Rise and Fall of 15th Century Chinese Seapower

 Part Four Supplementary Reading

Criticism against and Hail for Columbus

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