What really sets humankind apart from other species is our fondness of drugs. This vale of tears, full of plants and animals to tame, was the breeding ground for cultures and civilizations with a penchant for developing the noble art of pharmacy. The Neolithic revolution marked the coming into being and development of great states and empires, with the consequential increase in headaches. But that was no big deal, since shamans, witch doctors, physicians, priests, apothecaries, and/or sorcerers sought, and sometimes found, remedies to relieve migraines and a wide range of ailments. 
After a taste of this Epic History of Pharmacy …

Icon painting, the ultimate expression of Orthodox Christian art, reached its zenith in Ukraine between the 11th and 18th centuries. This book spans the entire period, showing the development of the style. The Ukrainian icon is a surprising synthesis of the traditions of Eastern Byzantine art and the stylistic characteristics of Russian icon painting. The introduction of this book explains the stages of development of icon-painting over five centuries in Ukraine’s major Centres of art - Kyiv, Chernihiv, Transcarpathia, Galicia, and Volhynia - and discusses the life and work of the masters of icon-painting. Despite the strict stylistic considerations imposed …

In 1905 Georgia travelled to Chicago to study painting at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1907 she enrolled at the Art Students’ League in New York City, where she studied with William Merritt Chase. During her time in New York she became familiar with the 291 Gallery owned by her future husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz. In 1912, she and her sisters studied at university with Alon Bement, who employed a somewhat revolutionary method in art instruction originally conceived by Arthur Wesley Dow. In Bement’s class, the students did not mechanically copy nature, but instead were taught the principles of …

Over the course of history, many wars have changed the political and cultural landscape of our world. While these events are defined by their upheaval and violence, they frequently contribute to the formation of the identity of entire generations or groups of people, and thus have significant cultural effects. Despite the physical and emotional destruction that occurs during these turbulent periods, they have inspired prolific artistic creation. In the wake of traumatic events over the centuries, a myriad of artists have produced works that immortalise the most dramatic moments of these wars in order to establish them in history forever. …

Taoist meditation is an essential aspect of spiritual practice in the Taoist tradition. Focused on harmony with nature and the Universe, it offers a path to inner peace and deep understanding of oneself and the world around us. Unlike other forms of meditation, it emphasizes flow and transformation, mimicking the natural movement of the Tao, the universal force. In Taoist literature, such as Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching", these principles are explored and guided, allowing for rewarding and enlightening practice. This book on Taoist meditation will be a valuable addition for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of these ancient …

One of Fr. Kentenich's great wishes was that the Schoenstatt Movement, founded a hundred years ago in an unknown valley leading down to the Rhine in Germany, should be present in the heart of the universal Church in Rome. In 1965 the leading representatives of the International Schoenstatt Movement promised their founder that they would build an international center in Rome. It took over forty years before this promise could be realized when the International Schoenstatt Center in Belmonte, Rome, was built. Fr. Kentenich's expectations, for the MATRI ECCLESIAE Shrine and Belmonte as a whole, found expression in the programmatic …

The Virgin and the Child are amongst the most favourite artistic themes since the Middle Ages. Mary was frequently depicted with the Christ Child.This religious scene showcases a mother and her son, sometimes accompanied by other protagonists. Originally distant and formal, the relationship between the two figures was expressed with tendernessat the end of the Middle Ages and became more human. Amongst the famous artists who have treated the subject of the Virgin and the Child are, most notably, Cimabue, Jean Fouquet, Quentin Metsys, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rubens, and many others. 300 pictures and more than 500 pages …