Who Made the West

<p>Who Made the West looks at the 30 most influential people in Western history. Some are familiar names-Washington Einstein Aristotle. Others may have slipped from many readers' memories--Charles Martel Gregory Pincus Philip the Fair. In either case Ian Alan Cheney's portrayals present the details that link influence with relevance. As a high school history teacher Cheney knows how to hold attention explain clearly and even entertain. The main success of the book is how well it puts each historical figure in a context of events periods movements inventions conflicts advances. In each case he relates how the past influences the present. Readers come away with a better understanding of how the main elements of history fit together to form Western civilization. </p>