Naoise Mac Sweeney The West

We tend to imagine Western Civilisation as a golden thread, leading through the centuries from classical antiquity to the countries of the modern West - a cultural genealogy that connects Plato to NATO. It is an idea often invoked in the speeches of politicians and the rhetoric of journalists, and remains deeply embedded in popular culture. But what if it is wrong? Told through 14 lives, the prize-winning archaeologist and historian charts the history of this idea - one of enormous political significance, but which is nonetheless factually incorrect and is no longer ideologically fit for purpose today.