DAWN OF GENIUS by Alan Butler

What are the origins of  Western society? We look back to Ancient Greece for the birth of philosophy, science and the foundations of democracy. But long before the city-states of Greece flirted with geometry, astronomy and inclusive politics, there was a far more innovative and pioneering culture - the Minoans, who were perhaps the real progenitors of Western civilization. Alan Butler shares his unrivalled research in this compelling history of how we came to be what we are today, exploring the brilliance of Minoan culture from the enigma of the Phaistos Disc to accounts of the destruction of Atlantis. This book celebrates the culture that was shattered in an instant, and shows how its marvels and mysteries still resonate with us today.

256pp, 135mm x 216mm, softback, 2014