Book Description
How have the crusades contributed to Islamist rage and terrorism today? Were the crusades the Christian equivalent of modern jihad? In this sweeping yet crisp history, Thomas F. Madden offers a brilliant and compelling narrative of the crusades and their contemporary relevance. Placing all the major crusades within their medieval social, economic, religious, and intellectual environments, Madden explores the uniquely medieval world that led untold thousands to leave their homes, family, and friends to march in Christ's name to distant lands. From Palestine and Europe's farthest reaches, each crusade is recounted in clear, concise narrative. The author gives special attention as well to the crusades' effects on the Islamic world and the Christian Byzantine East.
Customer Reviews:
Gained a perspective.......2007-05-26
This was the first book I ever read about the Crusades. I felt I needed some historical background for the Christian-Muslim tension that we see all around the world today. This book presented the subject in an unbias way that left me feeling I could draw some informed opinions on the subject. To be frank, some of my conclusions were not what I expected them to be prior to reading the book. I am not a good reader. It is a struggle for me to get through a book. I looked forward to reading this book every evening until I finished. It left me wanting to learn more about the subject. One last thing...it is only 225 pages and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject.
Understand the Crusades from a Medieval Mindset.......2007-03-24
Following September 11th, 2001 and George W. Bush's idiotic claim that the war in Iraq was a "crusade", Westerners looked to the past to make sense of what is currently happening in the world; a clash of East and West. Most, if not all, books on the Crusades take a liberal enlightenment stance of attacking the West and portraying the Crusaders as warmongerers who were only interested in their personal wealth and power. The reason for this outlook is because those books were influenced by authors and research done during the Imperial Age of both Europe and America which had overtones of the West imposing it's will onto the East which authors compared to the Crusades.
Madden's book takes a very balanced and scholarly approach to the Crusades; instead of adding on to the list of historically and socially flawed texts about the subject, he shows in a very simple and easy to understand way the mind set of both Medieval Europe and Islam. By doing this he doesn't fall victim to trying to explain the purpose of the Crusades using the modern secular mindset but the pious devotion to God found in both Christian and Muslim camps which makes understanding them easier. Once the reader is acquainted with the Medieval world, Madden does take an unbiased secular approach to what the Crusades were and the impact, if any, they have on current state of affairs.
With a little over 200 DETAILED pages Madden does a thorough job explaining the finer points of the Crusade without overbearing the reader with a list of dates and endless family genealogies. I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for an introduction into the complex subject of the Crusades or just to get a concise overview of what they were about without ploughing through thousands of pages of other texts. This is my second book on the Crusades, James Reston's Jr's "Warrior's of God" being the first (it's a closer look at Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade; Reston, like others in the past, is biased towards the East/Islam, but only in the introduction of the end of the 2nd Crusade, the bias surprisingly disappears after that, great book highly recommend it).
One thing you'll definitely get from this book is that the Crusades were not black and white, good vs. evil, West vs. Islam; too many factors are involved to make it so. Get the book and learn that whatever you may see in the media about what is happening in the world today has some sort of agenda.
Next up: Runciman's 3 volume work (although it is dated and is somewhat flawed in thinking) and Tyerman's "God's War".
not objective.......2007-02-07
Good book if you throw objectivity away and look at history with a sentimental eye rather than a neutral mind. I was dissapointed in the way the book was written.
An easy introduction.......2007-01-28
This book is great for beginners. The writing is smooth and lively, and the author doesn't overwhelm you with too much useless information. Once you're done with this book, if you're interested, you should move on to the books by Jonathan Riley-Smith (we're using them at school). His books contain more information but they are more difficult; I would not recommend them for beginners. You should start with this.
Both Thomas Madden and Jonathan Riley-Smith take a refreshingly balanced approach. They do not paint the Crusades and Imperialism with the same brush, as if the crusaders were just a bunch of greedy European Christians out to plunder innocent Muslim lands. This is currently the popular view; but it confuses the greed of secular imperialists with the piety of devout crusaders. Furthermore, it assumes that Islam spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Spain 'innocently.'
Instead, the Crusades were armed pilgrimages to the holy land with three main objectives: a) to come to the aid of Eastern Christians who were under threat by Muslim forces, b) to recapture some of the territory which was recently conquered by Muslim forces, and c) to improve relations with the Eastern Church. Unfortunately, the Crusades eventually failed in all three of these areas.
Once a crusade was launched it was difficult to control, and too many atrocities took place along the way. Two common examples of such atrocities are the massacring of Jews in Germany during the First Crusade, and the sacking of the city of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. Nevertheless, these atrocities were never the initial intentions of the Crusades. Thomas Madden explains all of this in a very fair way. He neither shies away from the ugliness of these atrocities nor uses them to justify an anti-Catholic/pro-secular rant.
A breath of fresh air.
Lots of information in a small form factor.......2007-01-22
After seeing the great reviews for this book, I picked it up to try to gain a better understanding of the Crusades and how it may be related to current events. I was kind of shell shocked with all of the details this book throws at you. But after getting deeper into the book, it was actually a great read. From the disappointments of the Crusades to the identification of the misunderstanding that often result from historical misconceptions, this book packs a lot of information in a concise and interesting format.
Book Description
From the dawn of humankind to today's global complexities, this monumental volume presents world history from an original perspective that provides fresh insights with every colorful spread. Few references are as invaluable, all-inclusive, and satisfying to browse. For readers of all ages, world history is easily accessible, depicted as never before—so that events occurring simultaneously around the world can be viewed at-a-glance together. For example, Texas Instruments launched the pocket calculator the same year the Soviet Union launched the first manned space station, in 1971. Columbus sailed from Spain the year Martin Behaim constructed a terrestrial globe in Nuremberg. The California Gold Rush followed the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, and the Greek dictatorship of Papadopoulos is overthrown the same year Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is deposed and U.S. president Nixon resigns, in 1974. The book's innovative time line truly sets it apart, allowing readers to scan across a spread and explore a single area or compare contemporary societies across the globe.
This remarkable resource also contains dozens of maps; scores of sidebars; hundreds of illustrations; and thousands of events, milestones, personalities, ideas, and inventions. Throughout, vivid illustrations depict artworks, artifacts, portraits and dramatic scenes, while sidebar topics range from local customs and lifestyles to the effect of climate change on human migration. Drawing on National Geographic's vast resources, this concise yet comprehensive, one-of-a-kind work is as rewarding as it is compulsively readable.
Customer Reviews:
A very good book, but..........2007-07-19
A very good book but inadequate packaging from Amazon resulted in me having to give my father a damaged book on Father's Day.
Not What I Was Expecting.......2007-06-12
This book does not give a very deep look into any of its historical events. It is merely a visual time line. It's not deep. You won't get much history from reading it. You will simply get a better undersanding of how world history events overlap each other. I wouldn't buy it if I had it to do over.
birds-eye view.......2007-04-05
This is an excellent source for obtaining a quick, clear, and coherent context for an event or a period. For example, if you want to know what the rest of the world was doing when the Conquistadors sailed onto the shores of South America, this book is the best first step in your research. The entries are concise and the layout is attractive.
Very good book but I have to take issue with something important.......2007-04-02
I like the way the book covers things like the cave man section. It mentions that humans learned to walk upright about 4 million years ago. Then it proceeds on to describe the ice age of only thousands of years ago and mentions things like the domestication of dogs by humans. In the world at a glance section of the book it talks of Homo Erectus nad Neanderthals. It also covers recorded ancient, medieval, and modern history all pretty well too. Now for the thing I take issue with. When describing Saddam Hussein's illegal (according to the UN)invasion of Kuwait--the book actually gives the wrong year. It gives 1989 as the year of his invasion rather than 1990. Then it gets something important right when desccribing his use of chemical weapons against Kurdish civilians. This is referring to his deadly, genocidal Anfal Campaign he conducted in the 1980's against Kurds (more than 100,000 kurds killed by him in just one year!).
National Geographic Concise History of the World.......2007-02-13
Very explicit and easy to follow. Great for referencing your travels and world history.
Book Description
Since its creation in 1861, Italy has struggled to develop an effective political system and a secure sense of national identity. This concise history covers the period from the fall of the Roman Empire in the west to the present day, but focuses on the difficulties Italy has faced in forging a nation state during the past two centuries. The opening chapters consider the geographical and cultural obstacles to unity, and survey the long centuries of political fragmentation in the peninsula since the sixth century. It was this legacy of fragmentation that Italy's new rulers had to strive to overcome when the country became united, more by accident than design, in 1859-61.
Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2007-09-14
I found this book to be unreadable. It's very dense and hard to read and I read a lot of books about history. It may be factually accurate and well researched (although I don't know because I couldn't get past the first chapter) but it's not enjoyable in the least.
Concise is a great word..........2007-07-26
To describe this book! The history begins in 1860 when Italy actually became an organized country. If you are looking for info prior to that, buy a book on Greek and Roman history. Very readable, lots of info, great if you just want to get your feet wet with Italian history.
Great insight into Italy's past - and present.......2004-03-07
This book offers the best introduction available to the history of Italy. In less than three hundred pages, Duggan offers a concise summary of the past 1600 years of the peninsula. His focus in this book is on the multitude of efforts during this period to build an Italian nation out of the rubble of the Roman empire, a goal only achieved in 1860 and then in an imperfect, fragmentary form, with subsequent generations left with the more difficult task of creating a national identity. Duggan recounts this with insight and the result is essential reading, not only for students of Italy's past but for those seeking insight into the nation's troubled present as well.
Renaissance to the Republic.......2001-03-13
This book is great for the student or traveller wishing to get a quick overview of Italy, it's politics, and it's people. I read this on a plane from NYC to Rome and finished it. It is very easy to read. It really doesn't leave anything out either; the general history of Italy is covered. Also, the bibliography will point you in the right direction for additional reading.
Eminently readable and intereting outline!.......2000-09-02
The book is, as the title indicates, a "concise" history. Very concise, and incredibly well written! The authors cover a lot of ground, and so few words are devoted to character development or the broader context of historical events that one might expect the book to read like an almanac. But the Duggans do an amazing job of giving us an emminently readable, interesting, and cohesive outline of Italy's political history. Through an excellent (almost poetic) economy of words, they have fully realized the book's potential.
Book Description
This new edition of Arthur Goldschmidt's well-researched history includes a refined discussion of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad, updated scholarship on the 19th-20th century Persia/Iran, as well as clarification and exploration of the aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The seventh edition of Arthur Goldschmidt's widely acclaimed text has been extensively revised to reflect the latest scholarship and the most recent events in the Middle East, including a refined discussion of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad and a clarification of the aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. As an introduction to the history of this turbulent region from the beginnings of Islam to the present day, the book is distinguished by its clear style, broad scope, and balanced treatment. Written for college students, the text assumes no prior knowledge of Middle Eastern history. It focuses on the evolution of Islamic institutions and culture, the influence of the West, the modernization efforts of Middle Eastern governments, the struggle of various peoples for political independence, the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the reassertion of Islamic values and power, the aftermath of the Gulf War, and issues surrounding the Palestinian Question.
Customer Reviews:
Great reader, awful text.......2006-12-30
I thought this book would have been a great source of information for personal use, however my professor used it as a text and it didn't work well for me. I think its too dense to use as a text, especially if it is the sole book being used in the class.
Complete reference work on Middle Eastern history.......2006-09-25
At more than 500 pages, this textbook is not exactly "concise," as might be expected given the panoramic scope of its topic. Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. and Lawrence Davidson ambitiously try to explain the factors driving Islamic culture and its influence on Western civilization, right down to the glossary and chronology. Their main focus is the impact of Islam on Arab history. Once they reach modern times, the authors' strong views shape their explanations, sometimes pushing the book toward commentary rather than history. Some readers may find that their interpretations can be partisan (anti-Bush, pro-Palestinian, accusing the U.S. of terrorism), but such continuing controversies are inherent in Middle East history. As the authors correctly point out, today's society offers no solutions to many of these critical issues, most of which have festered for centuries. To draw the most from its strengths, we recommend this major sourcebook primarily to those who are interested in premodern Middle East history.
Not bad when they report on history, but..........2006-08-04
Not bad when they report on history, but their disdain for President Bush (and idolization of President Clinton) causes their treatment of the current Middle East turmoil to suffer from partisanship.
If you are, like me, taking your first real step into the history of the Middle East, expect to read this book several times. Covering 1500 years of history in 500 pages is a bit too ambitious. The result is a "rushed" experience; just not enough space is devoted to the material.
In addition to their partisanship (particularly Professor Goldschmidt's) I was disappointed in the lack of a thorough explanation of the differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims.
In spite of my reservations, I do recommend this book and I will be reading it again once it is returned from a friend.
The title for this book is highly inaccurate .......2006-01-22
This should be retitled "The Leftist, Israel-Hating, Politically Correct Revisionist Guide to the Middle East." That would be far more accurate. For a textbook, the author freelances just a tad bit too much, a lot of what is in here is presented as fact but is mostly opinion in disguise. The author fails in presenting a clear and unbiased view of the Middle East and instead allows his personal politics to get in the way.
My professor dumped this book as the course textbook 1/4 of the way through the semester due to the never-ending left-leaning political commentary. This is no serious review of the Middle East, just a socialist-based fantasy on how THINGS SHOULD BE. The author himself proclaims that accuracy isn't always important, its the idea that matters.
This book is a joke, I looked for something serious, unbiased to aid me in learning more about the Middle East but this book doesn't present anything new and its political leanings are just to the left of Stalin.
If you want to learn what an extreme left liberal thinks of the Middle East, buy this book, otherwise stick to encyclopedias and hopefully, less biased college textbooks.
A Middle Eastern Scholar's View of The Middle East.......2005-12-08
I read this book for my Modern Middle Eastern History Course and I have gained enormous insight into the problems of the region.
The book was extremely interesting. It follows the Middle Eastern history from Islam's beginning in 700 or so, to the Ummayad and Abbassid Empires, to the Invasions of the Monguls and the Turks, to the Ottoman Empire, to the European Enlightement and transfer of Ideas, to European Imperialism to the roots of today's problems and current pseudo-imperialism/globalization. Although the book focuses on political history, the issues covered have become deeply rooted in Middle Eastern Culture and are essential to understand them as a people.
The complexity of these issues that affect the region is suprising. The Middle East has many, very intelligent people who have radically different ideas. An uneven distribution of wealth, conflicting motives between states, the relationship of governments and religion, haphazardly drawn borders, past greivances and greed have ripped the Middle East into many divided factions. It has been a very difficult issue to solve. Arthur Goldschmidt does a great job describing the different viewpoints and does not hold back for political correctness.
Unfortunately, quite a few people have accused Arthur of being biased. I have read the entire book and I did not see ANY evidence of that. He is extremely scholarly in his analysis, presents both sides of the story, avoids opinions and has hundreds and hundreds of research sources.
Very detailed, interesting and balanced description. Definately worth reading.
Book Description
When Oxford published J. M. Roberts's History of the World last year, it was immediately acclaimed as a classic. Writing in The Observer, A. J. P. Taylor called it "a stupendous achievement...the unrivalled world history of our day." The Christian Science Monitor greeted it as a "landmark
book....Highly readable...intelligently organized, insightful, and balanced." And The Sunday Telegraph declared, "There is nothing better of its kind."
Now we proudly present the new, conveniently sized, and remarkably affordable Concise History of the World. Vividly written and beautifully illustrated, it brings the outstanding breadth of scholarship and international scope of the larger History of the World within the grasp of every home,
school, and library. Completely up-to-date, comprehensive yet succinct, it accompanies readers on an amazing journey from the first appearance of the species Homo sapiens up to the bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia and the latest chapter in the exploration of space. Informative, beautifully
rendered maps, photographs of key archaeological finds, and stunning reproductions of important artwork (some in full color) bring the past to life as Roberts surveys the major events, developments and personalities that have shaped the civilizations of the world.
From the arts, politics and religion to scientific and technical breakthroughs, Roberts tells the story of the growing power of humans to remake their world and control their own destiny. Effortlessly drawing together the great themes of civilization with details from everyday life, he brings
readers face to face with the exciting, dramatic, often tragic story that is the history of the world.
Following in the international success of Roberts's History of the World, the highly readable Concise History of the World is an indispensable reference that will inform, enlighten, and entertain readers for many years to come.
Customer Reviews:
Good book.......2002-10-24
I first used this book in an Advanced Placement interdisciplinary high school course. If you are looking for a comprehensive and accurate retelling of history, this is a great source.
Very well-written and insightful!.......1999-07-15
This history book is as great as its predecessor (J.M. Roberts' A History Of The World) except it is less voluminous. It tells the same facts in less space. The essays are rather epic, while including all essential facts! A great buy!
Outstanding! Buy it!.......1998-09-11
Well-written, well-organized, with a good balance of focus both on events and on underlying trends and causes. Many new insights (for this reader at least). I am not a history buff but have been totally absorbed in this book since opening it.
Average customer rating:
- The fifth edition has a different title
- Illuminating
- Best of many I looked at.
- The key historical resource for every household
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Customer Reviews:
The fifth edition has a different title.......2001-11-11
Note that the latest (1999, 5th) edition is called the "Hammond Atlas of World History," and is available at Amazon.com. There is no mention of "Time" anymore, causing possible confusion. It is superb.
Illuminating.......2001-07-05
In this day and age, where I find so many of us suffering from "historical amnesia", this book is an excellent reference to why our world is the way it is today. If you've ever wondered why that country's border is over here instead of over there, if you've ever wondered what all the fuss was about in what was Yugoslavia, if you've ever why some languages are so alike and why some languages sound like fusions of others, if you are not one of those people who believe the world came into creation after you were born, this book is for you.
The next time you see "Gladiator", "Titanic", or any period film, look at this book and see what the world looked like then. It will give you a tremendous perspective that goes beyond the scope of the films. Who were those barbarians that Maximus was fighting and where did all those other gladiator slaves come from ? It's all here.
Best of many I looked at........1999-08-11
I wouldn't rave forever like the dude from Providence about it. Some of the rivers are left unnamed on some of the maps as if they were not essentially formative during various times in history. With that caveat out of the way, I must have inspected 20 or 30 atlases seeking the most comprehensive historical atlas to help me through Gibbons' Decline and Fall... This is by far the best of the lot.
The key historical resource for every household.......1999-03-31
This book reveals history with an unusual magnetism by its ingenious use of graphic arts. It conveys exponentially greater amounts of information in a single page than even a whole normally written book can. With beautifully crafted, 3-D-appearing maps and inviting use of color, this atlas puts you in an astounding overview of world history not obtainable from normal history publications. I think this book is an absolute must for every household with growing children and a wonderful tool for adults, as well. It's also the penultimate jumping off point for anyone wishing to study history further. And, I must say, it's absolutely perfect for those who hate history! They won't hate it after seeing this book. To give you an indication of my reaction to this book, I bought it now because I'd seen it years ago in our public library at a time when I was out of money. I never forgot it. It has remained one of the priorities I swore I'd attend to as soon as I got back in the money and so, after waiting all those years, I've finally bought my own copy of it. Not many better ways to use that long-awaited money than getting a book like this. I am not a history expert so I cannot possibly have checked this book for historical content. But I don't think that's an issue with this book. I think you'll still know many times more about world history after you're done with this book than without it, even if historians found some text entry or ancient border to argue over. By the way, if my writing style sounds a bit commercial, I really am customer of amazon.com, not a plant by the publisher or something. It's just that I spent a number of years as a typesetter and so have picked up a writing style common to advertisements. That's what we typeset all day long! Sorry.
Book Description
This classic book offers a broad sweep of economic history from prehistoric times to the present and explores the disparity of wealth among nations. Now in its fourth edition, A Concise Economic History of the World has been updated to reflect the stunning changes in the world economy since 1989. Truly a definitive history of globalization, the new edition has been expanded to include coverage of the most recent developments in the European Union, East Asia, and, in general, transition economies. Comprehensive and global in scope, this concise text features ample illustrations and a fully updated annotated bibliography that guides readers to the relevant scholarly literature. Now available in eleven languages, including Spanish (second edition), French, German (two volumes), Polish, and Chinese, this unique work remains an invaluable, lively, and accessible text for both undergraduate and graduate students of European economic history, the history of globalization, and world development.
Customer Reviews:
Simple history lacking theory.......2007-09-06
This book is too elementary, in terms of economic history, for even an intro level book on the subject. For a better introduction see Braudel's "Wheels of Commerce". In addition, it lacks any discussion of theory(ies) or presentations thereof as to what drives growth and why it has occured in some areas and not others. After all, is this not the purpose of studying history?
Adequate but roundly lacking work.......2007-04-24
If one looks to today's world he overarching political and economic structure is that of westernized globalization. It seems that most political movements are either for globalization who to varying degrees either against or promoting the slowing of its effects. How does this relate to the world we have seen previously in the world?
Cameron and Neal hope to give a complete history of the trends and stages of the world economy from the first humans to today's world (circa 2001) and cram it into fewer than 500 pages. In this fourth edition of their 1989 original, they have produced an adequate work. They take surprising stands on certain issues, like the Industrial Revolution while not accounting for some recent scholarship on effects of neo-liberal globalization.
Their thesis of the logistic (the S shaped growth curve of biology) to help explain periods of European growth may help to enlighten some trends in world economic history. The first logistic happens in the early fourteenth century; while the second takes place in the seventeenth century. After the logistic the "life for ordinary men and women were becoming increasingly difficult in the decelerating phases" (p. 17). Cameron and Neal place the third logistic in the first part of the nineteenth century.
As the nineteenth century is considered the beginning of "modern industry," the effects of the "industrial revolution" have become a major determinant of modern growth. Yet, Cameron and Neal call this a misnomer. The growth of population and agricultural efficiency in the period can help to explain the third logistic. Therefore for Cameron and Neal the Industrial Revolution was no revolution. One can look to Marx' description of what we think of as revolution: it is only the big bang at the end of real social revolution. Is it not possible that the industrial revolution was a revolution; just due to a dearth of ready capital there was no big bang but a steady growth of investment into the world of iron and coal?
The spend time discussing the revolutions of 1989 as the prelude to the more modern era of both economics and politics. The year 2001 is declared a watershed, as we will view the successes and failures of globalization. Here they follow neo-liberal party line. Let's quote Adam Smith about growth but ignore his portions of the Wealth of Nations regarding equality.
At no point in the work do I recall the terms "equality," "inequality," "Gini coefficient," or "Lorenz Curve;" and, none of these terms appear in the index. (Stolper-Samuelson and Hecksher-Ohlin are equally shirked). The fact is they turn blinders to the growing inequality found at stages of globalization of the economy, neither mentioning the scholarship nor even attempting to excuse the matter.
While the actual trends of inequality in today's globalization may not have been readily available in 2001, there were those who had not drank the neo-liberal Kool Aid and were already challenging some of the assumptions. Jefferey Williamson's 1997 paper "Globalization and Inequality, Past and Present" shows that while there was overall growth in the world economy's first major globalization from 1890-1914, the fruits were seldom shared by the working class. This is the dirty little secret of globalization, which is invariably ignored by Cameron and Neal. Perhaps they can use the excuse they only had 500 pages to tell the history of the economic world.
I am going to give this book two stars. I see no reason to read it if it were not assigned for a class. Yet, if it assigned it will be one of the easier economic textbooks to read which you'll ever be assigned.
Excellent Work.......2005-04-27
This is one of the best works by Neal. While yes it is heavy on Europe, the explanations of Egypt and China are exceptional.
A sure buy is you want to study the topic better.
Not Bad.......2002-01-07
The title of this book should read "An Economic History of Europe," because 90% of the material focuses on the economic development of Europe. This is understandable considering that the industrial revolution first occured in Europe, and pulsated outwards. However, the amount of time given towards explaining the economies of the middle east, Asia, Oceania, Australasia, Africa, Latin America, and even the USA are so minute that the title is decieving and for all intensive purposes incorrect.
Nevertheless, the book is quite interesting, as it progresses from the dawn of human civilization with very concise and brief summaries well in to the twentieth century becoming more desciptive and detailed. If you are interested in how the world economy arrived to its current level, then I would suggest that this book is a good read and worth your while. Since this edition was published in 1997, it is excusable for the author to omit the economic consequences of the Euro, the rise of China and the rest of Asia, and the economic implications of Septemer 11. The author also refuses to offer his speculative view on the future of the world economies, thereby leaving the reader to do his or her on guess work. Although the introduction of the book, on the current inequality of world economies, is quite interesting, it is not elaborated upon towards the end of the book, and causes a lack of continuity. If you wish to understand better the world economy, you would be better off reading the encyclopedia, Lonely Planet travel guides, or perhaps even better, (what I have done) which is to travel and see these countries for yourself with your own eyes.
The total economic history of the world in laymans words.......1999-01-25
Rondo Cameron certainly explains the hold economic history of the world. Rondo takes you from the ages before Christ to the twenthieth century. Why did the Roman Empire went down?, Why Spain was not able to achieve higher levels of economical well-being despite their big colonies overseas?: Questions like these are answered in Rondo's excellent book. If a man wants to forsee the future, he has to go back and learn where he comes from. Economics and History were successfully married in the book, so historians, economists and financiers will find it helpfull.
Amazon.com
Made up of 20 very different countries, Latin America has sometimes been treated as though it were a homogeneous unit, one mired in poverty and political instability. University of North Carolina scholar John Charles Chasteen's sweeping history of the region imparts a sense of how diverse--ethnically, linguistically, culturally--Latin America truly is, and of how that part of the world is rapidly changing, mostly for the better. (For example, he writes, "in 1980 most governments of the region were dictatorships of various descriptions. In 2000, elected governments rule almost everywhere.")
Chasteen observes that, although Latin America came into being under the imperial aegis of a few European powers, principally Spain and Portugal, it quickly branched into sometimes conflicting regions with widely differing ideas of economic development and government. He goes on to examine the careers of some of Latin America's most important historical figures, among them Simon Bolivar, who spread a revolutionary gospel of independence throughout the hemisphere, and Lázaro Cárdenas, the Mexican president who, in 1938, nationalized the oil industry and set his nation on a difficult course toward economic self-government. Of particular interest is Chasteen's consideration of the many reasons Latin American governments have clashed with that of the United States--among them disenchantment over the 1947 Marshall Plan, which rebuilt Germany at enormous cost, while offering almost no assistance to needy Latin American allies.
Designed as an undergraduate textbook, Chasteen's survey offers a useful overview of a region that, although of growing importance in world affairs, remains little understood. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
Adopted at over 450 colleges and universities in its First Edition, Born in Blood and Fire has quickly become the standard survey history of Latin America. Drawing on the most current scholarship, this concise text presents a direct, compelling narrative that spans six centuries and twenty countries. Carefully revised in light of recent Latin American history, the Second Edition introduces new maps, helpful chapter timelines, and a new Student Web site.
Customer Reviews:
For what it is, it isn't bad.......2007-10-10
I am reading this book for a class on Independence and Nationalism in Latin America and find that it is only appropriate for a very general survey of Latin American history. It is, perhaps, too concise! It is, however, informative and a very simple read. Chasteen wanted to make a history of Latin America readable and approachable and this book is definitely both. I would recommend this text with reservations. It paints a picture that is somewhat biased and full of holes. As an introductory reader, however, it succeeds.
Would have given it a four-star rating, but the edition pictured (2006, second edition) is riddled with typographical errors. The index cites pages that are either blank or diagrams not related to the terms. Not exactly helpful! For example, the entry for Diego Rivera points to page 215, which is BLANK. The other side of the page (216) is in fact a mural by Rivera, but what gives?
History Light.......2007-05-21
You have probably seen movies about Che Guevera or Eva Peron, but do you know in which countries they had influence? You probably know how the Cold War affected U.S. policy in Asia, but do you know how it affected Latin America? You may know about European immigrants living in New York or Chicago, but did you know they flocked to Latin America as well? If the answer to these questions is "no," you need this book. It is a quick, easy read, covering more than 500 years in a little over 300 pages. Of course, details are sparse, but it is an excellent way to gain a basic understanding of our neighbors to the south. I was particularly glad to see segments that told about the lives of particular groups in Latin America since its European conquest to present including minority groups and women. Ever had Moctezuma's revenge? Now you can find out why Moctezuma is so angry!
Great book.......2007-03-09
This is a very good book for Latin American history. Have used it for tests/quizzes and have no gotten uner a B. Provides and takes you through Latin American history.
Concise Book.......2006-03-08
I was assigned to read this book for my class in Latin American Studies. I especially liked the time line the author inserts before chapter 1 and the time lines he inserts for each period. The information in this book is extensive and serves well as a textbook.
Useless and Biased.......2005-12-28
I had to read this book for a course on Latin America. The author is clearly very biased, if you agree with him you will most likely enjoy the book. Chasteen often states his opinions as fact, stating several times that marxism would have been a better option for Latin American countries (how well did this work in the USSR?) Also, he skips over details that don't support his thesis; while he goes in great detail describing the killing and torture commited by government forces, he never acknowledges the torture and murders commited by guerrilla forces.
The book does cover a great deal of history, but the excessive bias takes away from the credibility of the text and the learning experience. I would reccomend finding a book that focuses more on fact than opinion.
Book Description
The multi-faceted, problematic history of the German lands has supplied material for a wide range of debates and differences of interpretation. This second edition spans the early Middle Ages to the present day, synthesizing a vast array of historical material. Mary Fulbrook explores the interrelationships between social, political and cultural factors in the light of the latest scholarly controversies. First Edition Hb (1991): 0-521-36283-0 First Edition Pb (1991): 0-521-36836-7
Customer Reviews:
Plenty of Facts, Very Little on Culture.......2004-03-18
Within 252 pages, Mary Fulbrook's A Concise History of Germany describes the last 2,000 years of a region plagued by warfare, religious strife, shifting boarders, and competing fiefdoms. To be concise, Fulbrook drops facts without depicting culture.
To be fair, shoving 2,000 years of history into a couple hundred pages seems ridiculous. Any author of such a text would need to wisely choose what to leave in or out, without offending anyone: a near impossible task. And Fulbrook quickly addresses this issue in the book's introduction. However, Fulbrook unwisely chose to document every battle and economic upheaval during the past centuries, without ever introducing the reader to the personalities that shaped the notion of German-ness. Only Martin Luther and Adolf Hitler are briefly sketched, which makes the rest of the book seem flat and dehumanized. Kant, Bach, Mozart, Goethe, Beethoven, and Nietzsche are namedropped, but never brought to life through words. (Of course, many other books make these people their sole subject matter. In the case of conciseness, a definition of history may have been needed--do terrible events or peoples' contributions to their culture define history? Probably both...)
To learn about every skirmish and famine that occurred within the German-speaking world, read A Concise History of Germany. To learn about German culture, read another book.
brief summary of an important country.......2002-05-14
In A Concise History of Germany, Fulbrook gives a history of over 1000 years of German histroy starting to the miedeval era to 1989. The book gives an a great history of how Germany was formed giving information about the different states of Germany like Saxony and Bavaria and Germans living outside of Germany in areas like Poland. The book futher continues discussing Germany's importance in the Renaissnance and how Germany was unified in the 1800s. The book gives a good history of Germany in the 20th centuray especially about the World Wars and East and West Germany
A good introduction into Germany.
Germany History in a Nutshell.......2002-03-17
"A Concise History of Germany"
Mary Fulbrook
ISBN 0-521-36836-7
I was interested in reading this book to get insight about places I had visited in Germany and hopefully about some I would see in the future.
Mary Fulbrook states that a history of Germany, a country which has not existed as such for so many years, is really a history of the German speaking peoples. Indeed, the history of Germany has been long, complex, and often influenced by war.
There was some of the insight that I sought in this book, for example, in the section, "The German Peasant's War". I had come across references to this conflict a few times in Germany. Fulbrook writes that by 1525, there were 300,000 peasants in armed revolt in German speaking areas. Over 100,000 were ultimately killed when the rebellions were put down. There had been other related rebellions preceding this war in the previous half century, she writes.
The Thirty Years War, from 1618 to 1648, was another conflict, described by the author, that I have seen references to in Germany in association with cities of Rothenburg, Noerdlingen, Heidelberg, and Seligenstadt among others.
Another part of this book that I found interesting was the account of the Weimar Republic. It lasted a little over fourteen years. In the end, large numbers of Germans from the left and right rejected democracy as a form of government. This government failed for a number of reasons. Some related to harsh peace terms after WWI and an unstable economy. The depression in the United States and the cancellation of short-term loans also played a hand.
The most well known part of German history to the reader would seem to be the Nazi times that led up to WWII and led Germany to destruction. The coverage of this aspect of German history is well-trod ground. The description of the era in this book is interesting, but it does not particularly provide fresh insight.
One of the more interesting parts of the book is the favorable comparison of certain aspects of the old East Germany with West Germany. While the latter became economically prosperous and closely aligned with the West, East Germany became the most productive satellite in the communist bloc and one of the USSR's most reliable supporters. Surprisingly, Fulbrook writes also that there was greater social mobility in East Germany with a school system that emphasized work experience. She states that East Germany had a "range of routes" to higher education, so that those who did not take the academic route through upper school could still access higher education. The price to be paid, however, was political conformism.
On the whole, the author of "A Concise History of Germany" accomplishes a difficult feat, which is to write a short book on a subject which is long, covering hundreds of years, and complex. While it is true that the focus of the book is very high-level and often oversimplified, it provides for consumption in smaller doses what otherwise might not be digested at all by readers if available only in unappetizingly larger amounts.
An excellent work of history.......2002-01-31
A Concise History of Germany, written by Mary Fulbrook, first published in 1990 by the Cambridge University Press and revised in 1992, presents a chronicle of central Europe from the time of the Early Medieval Period to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Fulbrook's objective in writing the book was to provide a concise yet sweeping view of the development of the German state, exploring the apparent contradictions and paradoxes regarding the social, political, and cultural characteristics of Germany and its peoples. Fulbrook has succeeded in this goal, as her book is contained in one relatively short volume encompassing the span of German history; however, as Fulbrook herself writes in the preface to her book, "The attempt to compress over a thousand years of highly complex history into a brief volume will inevitably provoke squeals of protest from countless specialists." As such, this book, though an excellent piece of historical writing, does contain certain flaws, but those do not detract significantly from the overall quality of the work.
A Concise History of Germany is exactly that: it is a brief account of the primary elements that make up the course of Germany's history. The eccentricities and peculiarities of Germany's long history have been at the center of much extensive deliberation in the academic community. Fulbrook's book is essentially an amalgamation of a wide range of preexisting historical material that delves into the principal social, political, and cultural elements contributing to the scholarly controversy surrounding the development of Germany. In her book, Fulbrook reviews and interprets the significant events of the last thousand years of Central European history. Fulbrook explores the major proceedings of Medieval Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, the Age of Confessionalism, the Age of Absolutism, the Age of Industrialization, World War I and its aftermath, World War II and its aftermath, the period of the Two Germanies, and the "revolution of 1989" and the reunification of Germany. Fulbrook details the effects of various events on the development of Germany, including the reign of the Austrian Habsburgs, the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, the rise of Prussia, the French Revolution, the rule of Bismark, the Weimar Republic, Hitler's consolidation of power and the subsequent Holocaust, the creation of the two Germanies, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Mary Fulbrook's predominant aspiration in writing this book was to present a new view on the events surrounding the development of the German state; Fulbrook aimed her book primarily at the scholarly community and those historians concerned with the seemingly inconsistent development of Germany. She intended her book to be a reaction against the existing interpretations of German history, which mostly focused on nationalistic issues such as the latency of German unification following the looseness of the Holy Roman Empire and the multitude of autonomous German states, or on moral issues stemming from the reign of Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party, or on cultural and societal issues, which have come to dominate historical discussion during the late twentieth century. Fulbrook clearly believes that the German "peculiarities" have been greatly exaggerated and that the wide scope of German culture is only natural and has been misrepresented. She states that the facets of German culture historians have considered in the past have been "selected, reinterpreted, transformed and adapted for current concerns and endeavors at any give time."
Fulbrook's point is well taken, and she makes it obvious to any casual student of history that she speaks the truth. One of the greatest strengths of this book is that it is concise and, despite its brevity, quite encompassing. Additionally, Fulbrook presents her interpretation of the development of Germany in a clear and informative fashion, effectively addressing the apparently paradoxical history of Germany and central Europe. In her research, she used a wide array of existing historical material, mostly dating from the 1970s and '80s. While the breadth of such an assemblage of sources is remarkable, however, the use of primary sources is conspicuously absent. In fact, the only primary sources contained in the book are the reproductions of contemporary engravings and political cartoons, which contribute well to the effectiveness of the book and its message, as well as to its enjoyment. In contrast, however, the maps provided in the book are of poor quality, are not detailed, and do not provide the clarity necessary for the reader to successfully correlate historical events with their geographical locations. These minor flaws, however, do not detract from Fulbrook's overall success at producing a concise, informative, and readable chronicle of the history of Germany.
Mary Fulbrook's A Concise History of Germany effectively addresses the development of Germany beginning with the Medieval Period and continuing through the reunification of Germany in 1989. Fulbrook has successfully presented the reader with her interpretation of the "peculiar" history of the German lands through efficient use of a vast collection of historical material. After reading this book, one finds that the paradox of German history, as it relates to the social, political, and cultural traits of the region, has become much less enigmatic and that the complexities of German history seem less daunting. A Concise History of Germany should be required reading for all students of European history.
An excellent overview.......2000-04-12
Mary Fulbrook attempts the impossible in this slender book-- to review, and interpret, the events of the last thousand years in complex central Europe. She succeeds admirably, providing a concise (as promised) summary of German history from the Medaeval era up through the "revolution" of 1989. Having previously read only specialized accounts of late 19th and 20th century history by V. R. Berghahn and others, Fulbrook provides the needed context to interpret these more modern events.
The book also contains a moderate number of interesting plates, mainly reproductions of contemporary engravings and political cartoons. The maps, however, while required to correlate events with their geographical location, are not of the highest quality. I was helped by following along in a historical atlas as I read the book (Putzger historischer Weltatlas, Ausgabe mit Register, by Walter Leisering). However, this criticism is minor and does not negate the overall success of Fulbrook's attempt to make a readable overview of the complexities of German history.
Book Description
This revised edition of a comprehensive single-volume Australian history reference incorporates the most recent historical research and contemporary debate on relevant issues. In addition to frontier violence between European settlers and Aborigines and the Stolen Generations, the volume covers the Sydney Olympics, the refugee crisis and the "Pacific solution."
Customer Reviews:
concise history of australia.......2005-12-30
According to the author, Australian history is 200 years of racism, sexism, oppression, dominance, exploitation. The victims are aborginal people, women, the early convicts -- and the environment. The villains, of course, are white males. When the Australian economy dips, the fault lies with the U.S., world capitalism and neoliberalism. When the Australian economy thrives, it just means Aussies can waste more money on bourgeois geegaws. The tone is humorless, unrelenting, shrill, one-sided -- a prime example of what one Australian referred to as "black armband history".
How could concise seem so long?.......2004-08-25
The first thing that came to mind as I trudged through Macintyre's wordy book was how could something called "concise" seem so long? This book is informative but entirely humorless, like reading an ingredient list. Macintyre seems more concerned with showcasing his vocabularity then with enticing you with the facinating history of Australia's past. There is plenty of information in this book if you can make it through to the end while maintaining consciousness. If you are about to visit Australia and you are looking for an entertaining and informative book to stimulate your enthusiasm I strongly recommend Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country. If you are looking for a strong sedative then this is the book for you.
Informative and well-written.......2000-11-24
I have long wanted to read a general history of Austrailia, and when I read. on April 3, 1988, The Fatal Shore, by Robert Hughes, I said to myself, in my post-reading note: "I am glad I read this book, but maybe I'd've done better to read a plain history of Australia than this long account of this aspect of its beginning." I am shamed to say that it has taken over 12 years to do what I thought I should have done back then. This book goes up to 1999, and portrays very well the current dilemmas facing Australia. If you enjoy the articles in Current History, as I do, this book reminds me of those articles, except it is less bland and neutral. Ordinarily I avoid histories with designations such as "short" or "concise" figuring that I want a fuller treatment. But when one knows as little of a country as I do of Australia, I thought this a good introduction to its history.
Very good modernist view of Australian history.......2000-07-12
Stuart's work is an excellent overview of Australian history from the dreamtime to the present. He captures the major periods and events that shaped the progress of Australia towards federation and beyond, into the current malaise over national identity and the development of a unique and identifiable cultures.
Modern thought increasingly accepts the indigenous problems that were part of Australian colonisation, and Stuart probes these and other contemporary issues by drawing from both sides of the debate. He illustrates research that examines the language of overland explorers, to determine whether they were 'exploring' or 'conquering', and he comments on modern interpretations of the constitution by the high court. Readers not well versed in Australian issues may pass over these slights of hands without understanding their importance in the nature of forging an Australian history, culture and identity.
I would recommend this book as a necessary overview for any person interested in the history of the country, including potential tourists.
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