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The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

Masumi Ishinabe, "As Long as St. Peter Stands: My Guide to Rome" - The most comprehensive guidebook to Rome, covering art, history, religion, and everything else!

This book is the best!

There is probably no better work to appreciate the charms of Rome! It is such a wonderful work.

The reader who has discovered the charms of Rome through this book is sure to be awakened to a passionate spirit of travel."

This is exactly what it is! This book makes me want to go to Rome so badly!

The book offers an exciting and masterful commentary throughout.

The depth and breadth of the area is nothing short of astonishing. We assure you that your vague view of Rome will change.

The best Rome guidebook, here's the best of the best!

We highly recommend this product!
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

Masumi Ishinabe, "St. Peter's Basilica" - Recommended reference book to learn more about the history of this temple of beauty and its attractions.

St. Peter's Basilica is an architectural marvel that is overwhelming even without knowing its history.

However, you can enjoy its charms more by learning about its history and points of interest to see.

When I visited in 2019, I was simply overwhelmed by the scale and beauty of the place and could not take the time to enjoy it. I was so overwhelmed by the scale and beauty of the place that I didn't take the time to fully appreciate it.

So I made up my mind that the next time I go there, I would study hard before heading there.

It was the best reference book for me.

It is a very interesting work. I highly recommend this book.
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

Shoichi Sato, "Europe in Mission" - Recommended to learn about the founding of the Jesuits and Xavier! And the connection with Bernini.

The meditative methods of Ignatius de Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, had a great influence on Bernini's original work.

This was very interesting to me as a student of religion.

And if so, I would like to know more about that Ignatius de Loyola and the Jesuits themselves.

It was with these thoughts in mind that I picked up a copy of "Missionary Europe" by Shoichi Sato.

I highly recommend this work to anyone interested in the Jesuits, Ignatius de Loyola, or Xavier.
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

Takashina Shuji, "What Beauty Means to the Japanese" - What Characteristics of Japanese Beauty are Revealed by Comparing Western and Japanese Art

One cannot see one's own face directly. Only when it is reflected in a mirror can its features be captured. The image in the mirror is not only one's own, but also from the outside, from the viewpoint of others. Artistic expressions such as fine arts (architecture, painting, crafts) and literature (stories, poetry, drama) can be better characterized by accepting and contrasting the perspectives of different cultures (e.g., Western culture).

The author's words are the best I can say! Japanese culture" is not easy to be aware of when you are in Japan.

The book explains very clearly what their characteristics and uniqueness are.

It was just exciting and fascinating. It is a great book that I would highly recommend!
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

Takashina Shuji, "Baroque Light and Darkness" - Recommended commentary book to learn about the appeal of Bernini and what Baroque art is, along with the historical background.

The book explains in simple terms what the difference is between the art of the Renaissance heyday of da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and others and the Baroque, and how the Baroque technique came about.

In particular, Bernini's commentary on this work is a true gem. This will definitely make you want to make a Bernini pilgrimage.

This work is a must-have for those who want to learn not only about Baroque art itself, but also about its historical background. Why not pick up a copy?
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

Jacques Le Goff, "Medieval Western Civilization" - Was Medieval Europe really the Dark Ages? Recommended to learn about the process leading up to the Renaissance.

This work is not just a history book. It delves deeply into not only the course of history, but also into the lives and cultures of the people behind it.

This book is an invaluable source of information about the lives and beliefs of people in medieval Europe.

It was especially stimulating to hear about the ideas of purgatory and angels, and the relationship between humans and the forest. The explanations kept coming out that made me want to slap my knees and say, "Oh, I see!" I wanted to hit my knees and say, "Oh, I see!

Compared to ancient Rome and the Renaissance, medieval Europe is clearly minor. However, this period should not be overlooked if we consider that it is precisely because of this in-between period that later Europe came into being.

This work will surely be a great help to see European history in a larger perspective.
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

P. Grimal, "Roman Civilization" - Recommended reference book to learn about the overwhelming prosperity of the Roman Empire and its cultural background.

This work, like "Greek Civilization" and "Hellenistic Civilization," which we have previously introduced on this blog, is a valuable reference book that provides a detailed explanation of the background of civilizations that have occurred and what they have to offer.

The book will explain Rome from its origins to its prosperity and how the advanced civilization that sustained the empire was created. In particular, Roman law, building techniques, culture, and art, which are the basis of "Roman civilization," as the book's title suggests, are discussed in considerable detail.

I have to admit that it is a tough introduction to ancient Rome, but I would highly recommend this work to anyone who wants to learn more about Rome.
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

F. Chamoux, "Hellenistic Civilization" - A recommended commentary on what is the Hellenistic civilization, which is also connected to ancient Rome and Buddhism!

Why are we so fascinated by "Venus de Milo" and "Nike of Samothrace"? There was the cosmopolitan character of Hellenistic civilization.

Studying the Greek and Hellenistic civilizations gives us an idea of the major trends in "history and culture. These civilizations created the soil for the modern society in which we live. Learning about them is of great significance to us living in the modern world.

I strongly recommend reading this book as a set with "Greek Civilization" which I introduced in the last issue. It is extremely interesting. This is a great book. I can recommend it with confidence. Why don't you pick up a copy?
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

F. Chamoux, "Greek Civilization" - A recommended commentary to learn about the sources of European civilization that had a huge impact on the Roman Empire!

This work gives a comprehensive look at ancient Greece from many different perspectives, which was very gratifying to me as I wanted to know the connection between Rome and Greece. I highly recommend this work to anyone interested in ancient Rome.

There is too much in the book to actually describe in this article, but the sections on ancient Greek art were a real eye-opener.

Why is ancient Greek art so wonderful? Why was Greece able to create overwhelming beauty among so many civilizations in the world? This was interesting. It gave me goosebumps.
The Italian Renaissance and the Revolution of Knowledge

Pen BOOKS What is the Renaissance?" - A recommended introduction to a wide range of Renaissance masterpieces, including Florentine and Venetian.

When we think of the Renaissance, the first place that comes to mind is Florence, but there are just too many artists! While the names of the big names immediately come to mind when we think of the Renaissance, there are so many other artists. Frankly speaking, there are so many that it is confusing to know how to look at them and who created what flow of works.

Although Renaissance art is such a complicated subject, this "PenBOOKS What is the Renaissance?" explains each masterpiece in an easy-to-understand manner along the historical flow. The illustrations are also very rich, so it is very easy to visualize.