In his new book, historian Stephen Greenblatt uses the lens of history to illuminate a deeper history.

"The Swerve: How the World Became Modern" tells the story of an Italian scholar, Poggio Bracciolini, who, while combing through the stacks in a German monastery 600 years ago, discovered an ancient, dust-covered manuscript by Roman philosopher Lucretius. His epic poem, "On the Nature of Things," posited dangerous and heretical ideas: that the universe functioned without the use of gods, that religious fear was damaging to humanity, and that matter was made up of miniscule particles, colliding and swerving in eternal motion.

Lost to history for a millennium, the long-forgotten tome was brought to light by Bracciolini, then copied, painstakingly and by hand, by overworked monks (whose complaints are recounted in the book as well). And things got really interesting when Bracciolini brought his discovery back to Italy – to the shock of Church officials.

Greenblatt maintains that these events changed the course of modern thought, fueling the Renaissance and inspiring its artists, thinkers and scientists. Botticelli, Galileo, Freud, Darwin, Einstein and Thomas Jefferson are just a few of those whose minds were shaped by Lucretius’ words.

WEIGH IN:

Was Bracciolini’s moment of discovery the cultural swerve that opened the door to the modern world? How would things be different if Lucretius’ book had never seen the light of day? How have the ideas in The Nature of Things shaped your world view? What great thinkers, writers, artists and scientists have inspired you?

Guest:

Stephen Greenblatt, author of "The Swerve: How the World Became Modern" and Cogan University professor of humanities at Harvard University. He is the author of eleven books, including "Shakespeare’s Freedom, Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare and The Wonder of the New World."

Greenblatt appears at Writers Bloc this evening at 7:30, in conversation with Eric Idle.