Four Points of the Compass
The Unexpected History of Direction
(Autor) Jerry BrottonNorth, south, east and west: almost all societies use the four cardinal directions to orientate themselves, to understand who they are by projecting where they are. In Four Points of the Compass, Jerry Brotton takes the reader on a journey of directional discovery. He reveals why Hebrew culture privileges east; why Renaissance Europeans began drawing north at the top of their maps; why early Islam revered the south; why the Aztecs used five colour-coded cardinal directions; and why no societies, primitive or modern, have ever orientated themselves westwards. He ends by reflecting on our digital age in which we, the little blue dot on the screen, have become the most important compass point. Throughout, Brotton shows that the directions reflect a human desire to create order and that they only have meaning, literally and metaphorically, depending on where you stand.
Jerry Brotton
Jerry Brotton is a British historian, author, and academic known for his expertise in the fields of Renaissance art and culture. He is best known for his book "The Renaissance Bazaar: From the Silk Road to Michelangelo", which explores the cultural exchange between Europe and the Islamic world during the Renaissance period. Brotton's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex historical concepts easily understandable to a wide audience. His work has had a significant impact on the study of art history and cultural exchange, shedding new light on the interconnectedness of different civilizations throughout history.
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