This past October, we had the profound honor of accepting the 2024 Oswald Spengler Prize alongside co-winner Culture Critic and joining the esteemed ranks of past winners: Jordan Peterson, Walter Scheidel, and Michel Houellebecq. The prize is awarded every two years by the Oswald Spengler Society to recognize work promoting the study of culture andContinue reading “Our Acceptance Speech for the 2024 Oswald Spengler Prize”
Author Archives: Adam Bottenfield
The Printing Revolution: How Mass Media Destabilized the West
Gutenberg’s printing press was revolutionary for Western civilization—it increased the spread of information, led to widespread literacy, and catalyzed scientific development as new inventions and discoveries could be shared on a mass scale. It’s certainly a contender for “most important invention of all time”, and its positive effects on society cannot be overstated. However, asContinue reading “The Printing Revolution: How Mass Media Destabilized the West”
How to Change the Culture, According to Charlemagne
Most cultural movements aren’t grass-roots—they’re top-down. Charlemagne’s cultural rebirth, the “Carolingian Renaissance,” proved how real cultural change is accomplished through a concerted effort by society’s elites… Let’s explore how Charlemagne transformed the West. In the late 8th and early 9th century, Charlemagne ruled vast lands from Northern Spain to the North Sea. Charlemagne was aContinue reading “How to Change the Culture, According to Charlemagne”
A Lesson in Cultural Preservation from Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel might be the most aesthetic place on earth. It’s a cultural icon today, but at one point it served as a prison, and then was almost completely lost to history. It’s story highlights the need to vigilantly guard our cultural heritage. Mont-Saint-Michel is what’s called a tidal island—a piece of land that’s connected to theContinue reading “A Lesson in Cultural Preservation from Mont-Saint-Michel”
The Monk Who Saved Western Civilization
Thermopylae, Tours, Vienna—throughout the West’s history were a number of battles that scholars can point to and say ”this was the moment the West was saved.” Rescued from destruction at the last minute with the fate of a continent resting on a knife’s edge, battles offer a discrete point of separation between a culture’s continuationContinue reading “The Monk Who Saved Western Civilization”
Just War Theory in Antiquity
To fight or not to fight – that is the central question of Just War Theory. Though wars are usually waged in pursuit of man’s basic needs – land, wealth, a beautiful face – a theory developed in the western world suggesting that they need not always be fought for selfish reasons. Some wars mightContinue reading “Just War Theory in Antiquity”
Milites Christi: A Brief History of Medieval Warrior Bishops
In a time that honored martial prowess and piety above all else, the warrior bishop was the physical embodiment of the medieval ethos: a literal soldier for Christ, baptizing souls with water and blood – a militant dealer of sacraments and death. Like a metamorphic gemstone forged under the intense heat and pressure of tectonicContinue reading “Milites Christi: A Brief History of Medieval Warrior Bishops”
A Crash Course in Western Church Architecture
I recently posted about the need to return to traditional church architecture. In this post, I’d like to explain exactly what is traditional church architecture in the West, using a cathedral to illustrate each aspect. The design of a traditional cathedral is theologically based and instructive in the Faith. Though beautiful, its construction is notContinue reading “A Crash Course in Western Church Architecture”
Threads of History: Louis IX and the 7th Crusade
Saint King Louis IX, jewel of the Capetian Dynasty, was the model Christian king. Living a life of chivalry and piety, his adventurous life culminated in his leadership of the 7th Crusade. The incredible, yet tragic, excursion would forever influence Christendom’s view of holy war. Many admirers regard Louis as the ideal Christian ruler –Continue reading “Threads of History: Louis IX and the 7th Crusade”
[Video] The Two Qualities that Made Charlemagne Great
After his death in 814 A.D., Charlemagne’s legacy as a great leader continued to live on as folklore, blurring the line between history and legend. So how did he do it? What qualities did Charlemagne embody that contributed to his success as a leader, ensuring he’d be remembered for centuries to come? Full Transcript CharlemagneContinue reading “[Video] The Two Qualities that Made Charlemagne Great”