Lightbulb Moments in Human History

<p><strong>Big Ideas. Bizarre Beliefs. Blunders & Breakthroughs.</strong></p><p>From medieval monks to Renaissance rebels humanity kept the flame of knowledge alive-sometimes by candlelight sometimes by bonfire. </p><p>In this smart irreverent and unexpectedly optimistic sequel to </p><p><em>From Cave to Colosseum</em> Scott Edwin Williams charts our uneven crawl out of the so-called Dark Ages. Meet the polymaths philosophers poets plague victims and pious priests who collectively rebooted civilization. </p><p>Along the way you'll encounter bumbling crusaders overzealous inquisitors rebellious peasants and Cedric the very unlucky plague doctor. </p><p>This isn't a textbook: It's a sideways look at the big ideas-scientific spiritual educational and cultural-that shaped a thousand years of history.</p><p><strong>SOME MOVED US FORWARD. SOME DRAGGED US BACK.</strong></p><p><strong>AND SOME INEXPLICABLY DID BOTH.</strong></p><p><strong>LIGHT THE CANDLE. ILLUMINATE THE WORLD.</strong></p>