The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477-1806 (Oxford History of Early Modern Europe)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Truly Splendid
  • For all of you Dutch I have only one word "READ !!!!!"
  • Flawed but Interesting Book
  • Comprehensive, learned but dull history
  • Not for beginners
The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477-1806 (Oxford History of Early Modern Europe)
Jonathan Israel
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

NetherlandsNetherlands | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
WesternWestern | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age
  2. The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road, 15671659: The Logistics of Spanish Victory and Defeat in the Low Countries' Wars (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History) The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road, 15671659: The Logistics of Spanish Victory and Defeat in the Low Countries' Wars (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History)
  3. Empire: How Spain Became a World Power, 1492-1763 Empire: How Spain Became a World Power, 1492-1763
  4. A Worldly Art: The Dutch Republic, 1585-1718 A Worldly Art: The Dutch Republic, 1585-1718
  5. Enlightenment Contested: Philosophy, Modernity, and the Emancipation of Man 1670-1752 Enlightenment Contested: Philosophy, Modernity, and the Emancipation of Man 1670-1752

ASIN: 0198207344

Book Description

The Dutch Golden Age, the age of Grotius, Spinoza, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and a host of other renowned artists and writers was also remarkable for its immense impact in the spheres of commerce, finance, shipping, and technology. It was in fact one of the most spectacularly creative episodes in the history of the world. Jonathan Israel gives the definitive account of the emergence of the United Provinces as a great power, and explains the subsequent decline in the eighteenth century. He places the thought, politics, religion, and social developments of the Golden Age in their broad context, and examines the changing relationship between the northern Netherlands and the south, which was to develop into modern Belgium.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Truly Splendid.......2005-08-12

This book truly is the difinitive work on Dutch history. The sheer volume and description of detail makes the book very informative. The vivid writing style and the subdivision of the chapters gives the reader the ability to speed through the book in addition to breaking down and digesting each main idea clearly. The maps, charts, and graphs are clear and give the reader an illustration to the detail of the text. Also, the explanation of the Dutch Republican government, which is anything but simple, was clear and precise. I plan on using this book in my classes for reference. A truly great book.

5 out of 5 stars For all of you Dutch I have only one word "READ !!!!!".......2003-02-10

The best historybook I have ever read with no doubt. I think in a small 1300 pages I never learned so much about my own history than I learned in the 2 weeks I spend to read this book. By now I have read it 3 times and if only have time I would pick ip up and read it again and again till I can dream whats in there. The 17th & 18th century is with no doubt one of the most interesting parts in the history of the world. Strangely it was my own country that played the most important role in this very interesting time.

And so many Dutch that earn the right to be named here, so many founders of our nations. Perhaps to them this is the most honarable a man could ever do to them, since they are all named in the book and how !!! I think about John Van Oldenbarnevelt, Hugo De Groot, John & Cornelius De Witt, Micheal De Ruyter, Rembrandt Van Rijn and last but not least Spinoza !!

An amazing achievement that will set out to be THE standard work about the Republic for years to come.

I have read the Dutch version, and that one is a really special one, seperated in 2 books, hardcover !! And everty page printed on photopaper, beautifully released !!! So when you are Dutch you can beter go to a local bookstore to get the Dutch version, since its simply more beautifull, although the price (about $ 130,- is another thing that can keep you away from it.) is worth it every penny !! You will not be regreted.

For non Dutch people, when you want to come over and tour our little nice country, be sure to read this book from beginning till end and back. It will tell you everything you ever need to know to understand our culture & history.

3 out of 5 stars Flawed but Interesting Book.......2001-08-27

This is a frustrating book to review. It is one of the worst-edited books I have read in a long time, yet it contains a wealth of intersting information. It is comprehensive and well-enough explained to interest a lay reader, but it is difficult to read beyond what is necessary given the dryness of the subject matter. First, the good: Israel presents almost a year-by-year discussion of Dutch politics, economics, and demographics. His presentation is highly detailed, generally offering his arguments first, then backing them up with substantial data. Israel has pulled together statistics of population growth, economic activity, and political positions in a wealth of tables. Finally, he defines his terms clearly, then uses them consistently. Now, the bad: This is one of the worst-edited books I can imagine. Israel's excessive use of commas in the most inappropriate places makes reading this work a chore. His meaning is obscured by the incorrect use of punctuation. In short, his editor should [have done a better editing job]. Second, the editing goes downhill toward the end of the book. Whereas the first 2/3 of the text clearly presents the major political events, then follows them with the appropriate economic, social, and demographic consequences, the latter part of the book reverses this presentation. This leaves the reader to infer major political events (like the French invasion of 1792-1794) from the discussion of demographics, economics, or social trends. A consequence of this decline in editing is that the explanation of why the Dutch republic declined is not presented clearly. If the reader pays close attention and has a good grounding in economics, he can understand what must have been going on behind the scenes. But the big story of the sudden decline of one of the major maritime powers in the world is not clearly told. Finally, Israel often uses text where a table would be more appropriate. He will take three pages to go through the voting record of each city in each province, rather than summarize the data in a table. The 1100 pages of the book could easily be reduced by several hundred without impacting the support of Israel's arguments and make the book much more readable in the process.

3 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, learned but dull history.......2000-02-13

Professor Israel's book is the first volume in what is clearly intended to be a new series of definitive texts, Oxford University Press's History of Early Modern Europe. The book is certainly superbly produced (albeit a bit short of maps), and is packed with information on a fascinating subject. No doubt the Dutch achievement in the seventeenth century was amazing - after rebelling from Spain the Dutch turned themselves into a world power,became the freest and most advanced society in Europe (although Dutch freedom had its limits, as Professor Israel makes clear) and produced a galaxy of stunning artists - Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals etc. All this based on nothing but hard work and daring, and founded on a country that Dutchmen made themselves - "God made the world, but the Dutch made Holland", as they say. So a great subject, a magnificent looking book, and a first rate scholar who really knows his stuff and who has published a number of excellent books. And yet, it doesn't quite get there...I don't agree with those who say that this book is in the same league as Simon Schama's. I am a historian, but found the book very hard going. I think one problem was the author's obsessive focus on the internal rivalries of the Dutch provinces and towns. By the time the states of Friesland and the States of Zeeland and the States of Holland and the States-General had all fallen out with themselves yet again for the umpteenth time my eyes were starting to glaze over...I'm sure it's very important to understanding Dutch history but I felt the material on internal rivalries and jealousies needed to be shortened and the issues clarified for the non-specialist. As well as being overburdened with material on internal politics other aspects of the Dutch achievement were covered very sketchily. I was surprised for such a large book to have so little on the Dutch seaborne empire - Israel is mainly interested in the VOC as a factor in Dutch internal politics. There is one chapter on the overseas empire but it is not very detailed and Israel is clearly not especially interested in it. As a citizan of a country named, after all, after a Dutch province and whose first European discoverer was a Dutchman I was disappointed to see so little on the DUtch in North America, Brazil, Ceylon, South Africa and the East Indies. The book is essentially a detailed internal political history of the Seven Provinces in 1100 pages. I also would have liked to know more about art and literature. Perhaps the book basically reflects a tendency in modern European historical writing to focus on internal politics and European affairs and to minimise and downplay the European overseas empires. For a great world seapower like the Netherlands this seems very limiting. Older works on the Dutch empire by C R Boxer and others still remain essential reading.

3 out of 5 stars Not for beginners.......2000-01-27

I am afraid I have to disagree with my fellow readers. Israel's account of the rise and fall of the Dutch Republic is exhaustive and certainly impressive, but it is a difficult read. This book is for only those with a burning interest in the subject and a willingness to tolerate dry, academic prose.

I learned a lot, which was my goal, but not without some, in my judgment, unnecessary frustration. Too often, Israel assumes that the reader has a much deeper knowledge of the subject matter than I believe is warranted. He frequently makes use of terms and refers to historical characters that are not explained until much later in the text. The organization of the chapters within each section does not help. It would have been better, I think, to begin each section with an overview of political events and follow with broader commentary on Dutch society and religious development, for example. This way the reader could put the latter into the context of the former. Israel does this in his section, "The Early Golden Age", but not with "The Later Golden Age." The narrative flow suffers as a result. Someone more expert in Dutch history would not find this a problem, but if this is to be the definitive and most accessible account of the rise and fall of the Dutch Republic, as the professional critic suggests, then it is a serious flaw.

I have a bias towards maps. I think history books should include a lot of them. They help readers place events. This book could use more, but the real problem here is that the maps Oxford's editors did produce for Israel are of poor quality.

In short, this is a book for the serious student of Dutch history and not for those looking for a good, accessible introduction to the subject. Turn to Israel after reading a book that provides such an introduction.
Early Modern Europe: An Oxford History
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • An Emminently Readable Survey of Early Modern Europe
  • Very useful and compelling
  • "Sailling in serene awareness towards its doom"
Early Modern Europe: An Oxford History

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture) Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)
  2. The Trial of Tempel Anneke: Records of a Witchcraft Trial in Brunswick, Germany, 1663 The Trial of Tempel Anneke: Records of a Witchcraft Trial in Brunswick, Germany, 1663
  3. Early Modern Europe, 14501789 (Cambridge History of Europe) Early Modern Europe, 14501789 (Cambridge History of Europe)
  4. The Foundations of Early Modern Europe 1460-1559 (The Norton History of Modern Europe) The Foundations of Early Modern Europe 1460-1559 (The Norton History of Modern Europe)
  5. Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe (New Approaches to European History) Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe (New Approaches to European History)

ASIN: 0198205287

Book Description

This book offers a new kind of introduction to Europe between 1500 and 1800. `Early modern' is the term used by historians for the period between the end of the Middle Ages and the start of the nineteenth century. It is a description born of hindsight. Europe was travelling towards something we recognize, called `modernity': the journey was begun, but not finished. The contributors to Early Modern Europe set out to convey the feel of the changes in life, beyond the raw historical data. Their chapters are extensively illustrated with carefully chosen images which complement the text. The book considers the evolving economy and society -- the basic facts of life for the majority of Europe's people. It shows how the religious and intellectual unity of western culture fragmented and dissolved under the impact of new ideas. It examines politics, not just as the rise and fall of empires, but for the emergence of modern attitudes and techniques in governing.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars An Emminently Readable Survey of Early Modern Europe.......2004-02-08

Early Modern Europe is a survey of European history from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Its three parts, one for each of the centuries the book covers, are each a collection of three essays by period historians. Scattered throughout are numerous illustrations and a few maps; though, oddly, the origins of many of the illustrations aren't cited except in the List of Illustrations. With so many authors it can be difficult to maintain a consistent tone and theme throughout. I found the style of nearly every author in Early Modern Europe to be, while not identical, at least similar enough that transitions between essays were fluid.

Perhaps to make this survey seem more like a narrative and less pedantic cited works for each essay are relegated to the back of the book. Also, I can't recall a single end- or foot-note. I would have preferred the bibliography to be placed with each essay and that the text to have been supplemented with footnotes. But lest that criticism seem too harsh I will say that the authors achieved the monumental task of reducing the historical fact, and conjectures, of three centuries into eleven relatively short essays (including the Prologue and Epilogue) without losing too much.

Anthony Pagden's, "Prologue: Europe and the World Around" was particularly interesting to me. This essay covers how the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, and the coming of Christianity, influenced the Europeans conception of themselves and their relationships to others. It explains, if only superficially, the European sense of "unity" and the belief in the superiority of Western Civilization; I use superficial not in its negative sense but to mean "on or nor the surface" i.e. the scanty 28 pages devoted to the subject can only be a survey rather than a critical analysis.

The other essays in the book cover the life of the masses, war, religion, politics, and economics. Such a range of topics gives you a general sense of the times. And that is really the power of this book - a framework in which to locate other more intense readings on the particulars.

5 out of 5 stars Very useful and compelling.......2002-10-16

Have used the book as back-up to a high school Modern History course this semester. It is extremely well-written in many of the chapters and summarizes and encapulsates key points and moments during this period. It also updates the current state of scholarship in the field in places and overall is an interesting read. Worth the money if this is a time period of interest to you.

4 out of 5 stars "Sailling in serene awareness towards its doom".......2000-10-21

A very interesting analysis of a world that wanted to go forth but did was afraid to break ultimately with its past.Behind the cabinet of Monarchist-Europe a world of new ideas,classes and ways of worshipping God were emerging stealthy and in the end will make any return to the past impossible.My favorite chapters were those of Alison Rowlands and Robin Briggs.I stayed a bit puzzled with Euan Cameron's aphoristic remark in page 87-we must not forget the class struggles in Augsburg,the revolt of the Netherlands or the role played by Brittish middle class in the establishment of a moderate religious tolerance for the first time-and T.C.Blanning's "natural end of Early Modern Europe".Germany was a problem for Europe in the seventeenth century also;is not better to stay attached to the feature of "authority" in this period?This attitude was gone for good after the Napoleonic expansion,despite his latter defeat.Why not be 1796(Italian expedition)a good suggestion?
Meanings of Manhood in Early Modern England (Oxford Studies in Social History)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Meanings of Manhood in Early Modern England (Oxford Studies in Social History)
    Alexandra Shepard
    Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
    Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
    Customs & TraditionsCustoms & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    MenMen | Gender Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    ASIN: 019929934X

    Book Description

    This path-breaking study explores the diverse and varied meanings of manhood in early modern England and their complex, and often contested, relationship with patriarchal principles. Using social, political and medical commentary, alongside evidence of social practice derived from court
    records, Dr Shepard argues that patriarchal ideology contained numerous contradictions, and that, while males were its primary beneficiaries, it was undermined and opposed by men as well as women.
    Early Modern Italy: 1550-1796 (Short Oxford History of Italy)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Early Modern Italy: 1550-1796 (Short Oxford History of Italy)

      Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
      RenaissanceRenaissance | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
      RenaissanceRenaissance | World | History | Subjects | Books
      All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. Italy in the Age of the Renaissance: 1300-1550 (The Short Oxford History of Italy) Italy in the Age of the Renaissance: 1300-1550 (The Short Oxford History of Italy)
      2. Italy in the Nineteenth Century: 1796-1900 (Short Oxford History of Italy) Italy in the Nineteenth Century: 1796-1900 (Short Oxford History of Italy)
      3. Italy in the Central Middle Ages: 1000-1300 (Short Oxford History of Italy) Italy in the Central Middle Ages: 1000-1300 (Short Oxford History of Italy)
      4. Italy in the Early Middle Ages: 476-1000 (Short Oxford History of Italy) Italy in the Early Middle Ages: 476-1000 (Short Oxford History of Italy)
      5. Liberal and Fascist Italy: 1900-1945 (Short Oxford History of Italy) Liberal and Fascist Italy: 1900-1945 (Short Oxford History of Italy)

      ASIN: 0198700423

      Book Description

      Early Modern Italian history has traditionally been presented in the context of the absence of a unified Italian state, foreign domination and of relative decline to former wealth and power. This new volume calls on a wealth of recent research to portray the complex history of the early modern Italian states on their own terms. A leading team of historians traces Italian material and cultural bonds of identity and solidarity beyond their common political narrative - from the Reformation through the hopes and frustrations of reform, renewal and restructuring of social and economic power to the eventual collapse of the Old Regime.
      From Courtesy to Civility: Changing Codes of Conduct in Early Modern England (Oxford Studies in Social History)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        From Courtesy to Civility: Changing Codes of Conduct in Early Modern England (Oxford Studies in Social History)
        Anna Bryson
        Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        Ethics & MoralityEthics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        Customs & TraditionsCustoms & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Etiquette | Reference | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
        Tudor & StuartTudor & Stuart | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Ireland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
        Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
        All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        ReferenceReference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
        ASIN: 019821765X

        Book Description

        In any society, a foreigner learning the language must also learn what passes for good manners. The same is true for the historian trying to understand the social rules of a period and why these change. This book explores the nature and development of early modern conceptions of good manners, and examines some of the particular forms of everyday behaviour which these conceptions implied. `Courtesy' and `Civility' were among the values central to Tudor and Stuart assumptions and fears about the social and political order.
        Domestic Dangers: Women, Words, and Sex in Early Modern London (Oxford Studies in Social History)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Domestic Dangers: Women, Words, and Sex in Early Modern London (Oxford Studies in Social History)
          Laura Gowing
          Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          Tudor & StuartTudor & Stuart | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Ireland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          HistoryHistory | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
          Similar Items:
          1. Oedipus and the Devil: Witchcraft, Religion and Sexuality in Early Modern Europe Oedipus and the Devil: Witchcraft, Religion and Sexuality in Early Modern Europe
          2. Gender, Sex, and Subordination in England, 1500-1800 Gender, Sex, and Subordination in England, 1500-1800

          ASIN: 0198207638

          Book Description

          `What else is woman but a foe to friendship ... a domestic danger?' Sexual morality was central to the patriarchal society of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England, as demonstrated by this quotation taken from a biblical commentary by St John Chrysostom. In a fascinating and original book, Laura Gowing considers what gender difference meant in the practice of daily life, examining the working of gender relations in sex, courtship, marriage, conflict and verbal disputes. Her focus is the richly detailed and hitherto unused records of litigation over sexual insult, contracts of marriage and marriage separation in London c.1560-1640. Gowing takes a new approach to these legal testimonies. She reads them as texts with complicated layers of meaning in order to reveal precisely how culture, language, stories and experience connected. Arguing that women's and men's sexual honour had such different meanings as to make them incommensurable, she reveals how, in every area of sex and marriage , women were perceived as acting differently, and with different results, from men. This is the first analysis of women's special experiences in the metropolis, and presents powerful evidence for women's use of legal agency. From the formal world of law to the daily world of the street, Domestic Dangers reveals the organization of gender relations and the shape of women's lives in early modern London.
          The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Germany (Oxford Studies in Social History)
          Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
          • The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Europe
          The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Germany (Oxford Studies in Social History)
          Ulinka Rublack
          Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Germany | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
          Social HistorySocial History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
          CriminologyCriminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          OffendersOffenders | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          Similar Items:
          1. The Burgermeister's Daughter: Scandal in a Sixteenth-Century German Town The Burgermeister's Daughter: Scandal in a Sixteenth-Century German Town
          2. Autobiography of an Aspiring Saint (The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe) Autobiography of an Aspiring Saint (The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe)
          3. Tortured Subjects: Pain, Truth, and the Body in Early Modern France Tortured Subjects: Pain, Truth, and the Body in Early Modern France
          4. Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe (New Approaches to European History) Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe (New Approaches to European History)
          5. Women's Worlds in Seventeenth-Century England: A Sourcebook Women's Worlds in Seventeenth-Century England: A Sourcebook

          ASIN: 0198208863

          Book Description

          'The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Germany' is a fascinating study of 'deviant' women. It is the first scholarly account of how women were prosecuted for theft, infanticide, and sexual crimes in early modern Germany, and challenges the assumption that women were treated more leniently than men. Ulinka Rublack uses criminal trials to illuminate the social status and conflicts of women living through the Reformation and Thirty Years War, telling, for the first time, the stories of cutpurses, maidservants' dangerous liaisons, and artisans' troubled marriages. She provides a thought-provoking analysis of labelling and sentencing processes, and of the punishments inflicted on those found guilty. Above all, she brilliantly engages with the way 'ordinary' women experienced authority and sexuality, household and community.

          Customer Reviews:

          4 out of 5 stars The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Europe.......2001-11-27

          In patriarchal societies, the stories of women are usually thought to be undocumented, but The Crimes of Women Early Modern Germany by Ulinka Rublack is an attempt to rectify that mistake. Drawing on court records - many accompanied by interesting and informative illustrations made by the official recorder - Rublack studies how gender, class and social relationships shaped the crimes and punishments experienced by women in Early Modern Germany. She demonstrates that this period of time was one of great change for women, in that the elites of society began to enforce a new ethic of patriarchal order and a stricter policing of the boundaries of female behavior. Previous to this change, many criminal activities were punished within the confines of the criminal's social world; because the dominant perception of femininity was the "embodiment of unruly desire" (15), women faced harsh corporal or capital punishment for a large list of transgressions. For this study, the author focused largely on peasant or working class women, and the crimes that fell under the general categorization of fornication, infanticide and incest. Because the accused were frequently without parents or community support, they had little recourse but to submit to the brutal punishment, and try to go on with life. When women were incorporated into the extended kinship network, they still were not secure; many women were subjected to incestuous relationships with the patriarchal members of the family, including cousins, uncles and stepfathers. Not all women were victims, however; Rublack claims that in many instances women resisted the rigid social and moral policies, appropriating the roles and language of men in order to create a better life for themselves.
          In The Crimes of Women Rublack dealt with the themes that historians love to use - gender, class, and the role of women in society. The author discussed the importance of reciprocal friendships and gift giving in Early Modern Germany, continuing the study that began in The Gift in Sixteenth Century France and Convents and the Body Politic. Rublack even discusses how the exchange of clothing between an employer and her servant helped to create a bond, helping to link the "maidservant's sense of her past and of her value" (104). In many cases, however, these marginalized members of society were forced to take the clothing - and other household items - to supplement their income and to survive in this difficult time. Though the actual economic value of these crimes was inconsequential, those women who were caught were usually punished severely, in order to maintain the "proper" hierarchy of society.
          The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio of Guy Bishop of Amiens (Oxford Medieval Texts)
          Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
          • Song of the Battle of Hastings
          The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio of Guy Bishop of Amiens (Oxford Medieval Texts)
          Frank Barlow
          Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover

          GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          MedievalMedieval | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
          MedievalMedieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
          EpicEpic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
          LatinLatin | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
          EuropeEurope | History | Humanities | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books
          ASIN: 0198207581

          Book Description

          The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio is one of the most discussed sources for the Norman Conquest of England. Its authorship and date cannot be established entirely beyond dispute, but the weight of scholarly opinion supports a date of composition of 1068 or earlier, by Guy, bishop of Amiens, thus making it the earliest surviving account. Whatever its date, the Carmen remains a source of intrinsic interest and importance, and one used by some of the great chroniclers of the period, such as Orderic Vitalis. It is an epic poem, concerned with some of the most momentous events of a remarkable year, in which Halley's comet was a disturbing portent of undisclosed disasters. For this second edition, Frank Barlow has written an entirely new and substantial historical introduction, incorporating the scholarly research of a generation. He has also provided a fresh translation and notes, as well as revising the Latin text of the 1972 edition by Catherine Morton and Hope Muntz.

          Customer Reviews:

          4 out of 5 stars Song of the Battle of Hastings.......2007-09-28

          The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio was most likely written by Bishop Guy of Amiens (born circa 1014 - 1074/1075) the second son of the Count of Ponthieu in France. The editor, Frank Barlow, spends half the massive introduction presenting the arguments for the disputed authorship. The song itself, only a third of the actual book, is written in imitation of the epics writing of Virgil, Statius, and Ovid and is full of references but still remains an important source (although arguably not very accurate) of the battle of Hastings. The author attempts to present the battle with the 'French' element of the Norman invasion force in the best possible light. His nephew is portrayed as a Classical Hero etc... Barlow presents a conflicting and convoluting argument for the importance of the text, however, he raises some interesting points about the contemporary sources for the battle and the opinions and biases that rise due to location etc.

          However, the downfall of the volume is its EXTREME PRICE and the convoluted and excessively meandering introduction that says very little. Thankfully, I have access to an amazing University library so I could read the actual text without having to spend a ton of money. Five stars for the actual Song and three stars for the Frank Barlow's poor intro.

          Illustrating the intro is this CONCLUDING statement: "Each has its peculiarities (the different accounts) due to its individual bias, purpose, artistic treatment, points of reference, and errors. This does not mean that Carmen necessarily provides the best or most accurate account." He carefully and laboriously points out how all the accounts differ but never explicitly concludes that the text is actually useful or not!!!
          Celestial Sirens: Nuns and Their Music in Early Modern Milan (Oxford Monographs on Music)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Celestial Sirens: Nuns and Their Music in Early Modern Milan (Oxford Monographs on Music)
            Robert L. Kendrick
            Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

            ChristianChristian | Religious & Sacred Music | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Religious & Sacred Music | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
            History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
            Theory, Composition & PerformanceTheory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books | Appreciation | Composition | Conducting | Exercises | Instruction & Study | MIDI, Mixers, etc. | Sheet Music & Scores | Songbooks | Songwriting | Techniques | Theory | Vocal
            GeneralGeneral | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
            MedievalMedieval | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
            RenaissanceRenaissance | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Music | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
            Songbooks and Chorale MusicSongbooks and Chorale Music | Music | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
            All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
            ASIN: 0198164084

            Book Description

            This study investigates an almost unknown musical culture: that of cloistered nuns in one of the major cities of early modern Europe. These women were the most famous musicians of Milan, and the music composed for them opens up a hitherto unstudied musical repertory, which allows insight into the symbolic world of the city. Even more importantly, the music actually composed by four such nuns, Claudia Scossa, Claudia Rusca, Chiara Margarita Cozzollani, and Rosa Giacinta Badalla - reveals the musical expression of women's devotional life. The two centuries' worth of battles over nuns' singing of polyphony, studies here for the first time on the basis of massive archival documentation, also suggest that the implementation of reform in the major centre of post-Tridentine Catholic renewal was far more varied; incomplete, subject to local political pressure and individual interpretation, and short-lived than any religious historian has ever suggested. Other factors that marked nuns' musical lives and creative output - liturgical traditions of the religious orders, the problems of performance practice attendant upon all-female singing ensembles - are here addressed for the first time in the musicological literature.
            Contested Island: Ireland 1460-1630 (Oxford History of Early Modern Europe)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Contested Island: Ireland 1460-1630 (Oxford History of Early Modern Europe)
              S. J. Connolly
              Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

              GeneralGeneral | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
              MedievalMedieval | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
              Tudor & StuartTudor & Stuart | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | Ireland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
              GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
              17th Century17th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: 0198208162

              Book Description

              Between the 1460s and the 1630s Ireland was transformed from a medieval into a modern society. A poor society on the periphery of Europe, dominated by the conflicts of competing warlords- Irish and English- it later became a centralised political unit with a single government and code of laws, and a still primitive, but rapidly developing, market economy. These changes, however, had been achieved by brutal wars of conquest, while large scale colonisation projects had created lasting tensions between old inhabitants and recent settlers. At the same time the great religious divide of the Reformation had introduced a further source of conflict to Ireland, dividing the population into two hostile camps, while at the same time giving it a new and dangerous role in the conflict between England and its continental enemies. Against this confused and constantly changing background, individuals and groups had repeatedly to adapt their customs and behaviour, their political allegiances and aspirations, and their sense of who they were. A long and complex story, with many false starts and numerous dead ends, it is the story of the people who became the modern Irish.

              Books:

              1. The End of Days: Armageddon and Prophecies of the Return (The Earth Chronicles)
              2. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
              3. The Film Encyclopedia 5e: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume (Film Encyclopedia)
              4. The Ghost Map
              5. The Goal
              6. The God Delusion
              7. The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot
              8. The Human Record: Sources of Global History Volume II: Since 1500
              9. The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World
              10. The Knight at Dawn (Magic Tree House, No. 2) (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

              Books Index

              Books Home

              Recommended Books

              1. Venice Against the Sea: A City Besieged
              2. Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
              3. Markus Raetz: In the Realm of the Possible
              4. How the Irish Saved Civilization
              5. Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead
              6. The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror
              7. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas
              8. Model citi-zen: The Guide
              9. Occupational Projections And Training Data 2004-2005
              10. Major Companies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2001