History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Jesus as Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages (Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, UCLA)

Average customer rating:

Jesus as Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages (Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, UCLA)
Caroline Walker Bynum
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0520052226

The Middle School Survival Guide: How to Survive from the Day Elementary School Ends until the Second High School Begins

Average customer rating:

Great book for youth in Middle School
This is why we homeschool
This is a great book!
An absolute MUST!!!

The Middle School Survival Guide: How to Survive from the Day Elementary School Ends until the Second High School Begins
Arlene Erlbach
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

School & Education | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

General | Reference | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0802776574

Book Description

The only survival guide a middle school kid will ever need.

It can be the best of times. It can be the worst of times, too. Middle school happens at that tumultuous time in life when one’s not a teenager and not a little kid. Middle school means being a middle-aged kid. Expectations—from teachers, parents, friends, siblings—can all change dramatically, causing worry and concern even for the most laid-back student.

The Middle School Survival Guide covers every issue, inside school and out, from the most trivial concerns to the most serious issues that middle school students face today. Arlene Erlbach has assembled a teen advisory
board of 200 kids between fifth and tenth grade who give advice about topics from cracking a locker combination, to dealing with multiple teachers, to sex and dating.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for youth in Middle School.......2005-01-26

I purchased this book for my grandson who is now midway through fifth grade. He is struggling with many challenges that face youth just starting middle school including bullies, peer pressure to try new things and his first real crush. The straight forward but light way that Arlene Erlbach presents the topics were just what he needed. He has read the book through and still goes back to review some sections. I would recommend this book for all youth just starting the middle school years.

This is why we homeschool.......2004-05-01

I've put 5 kids through public school, and even those kids, now parents themselves, think this book is a bit over the top. I'd ask my 11 year old, but there's no way he'll be seeing it any time soon. This book is most appropriate for older kids, 9th grade and above. It's troubling that 12 year olds are quoted about issues such as "making out" and oral sex. It does contain some good advice about things like dealing with peers, dealing with sexual harrassment, handling the different school setting, and other things, but it isn't appropriate for middle schoolers, regardless of the title.

This is a great book!.......2003-08-25

This book is the perfect guide for any kid who's entering the challenging years of junior high. The author handles difficult topics in a humorous and informative way. Plus, there's lots of advice from other kids who have already been there. So along with the pens, notebooks and lunch, slip a copy of this survival guide into your middle-grader's backpack.

An absolute MUST!!!.......2003-08-22

I found this on a bookstore shelf by pure luck. After skimming through it and seeing the wide range of topics it covers, I grabbed two copies for neighbors entering Middle School next month.

MSSG is a plain-speaking book written with honesty and wit. It deals with pretty much any problem adolescents may face, not only in school, but in life: the harder work load in MS, acne, dating, drugs, handling bullies, sexual situations, divorce and much more. Let's face it. Kids don't always want to talk to their parents, even (maybe especially?) about important things. They ask their friends for advice. Now they have this book.

If you think you might benefit from this book, you WILL!!!

Average customer rating:

Why the High Middle Ages are called the Age of Faith

Crucial primary source material on Cathars, Waldensians, others

Ian Myles Slater on: Just the Facts (and Some Old Lies)

Heresies of the High Middle Ages

Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Church History | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation

Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe (The Middle Ages Series)

The Formation of a Persecuting Society: Power and Deviance in Western Europe

The Pursuit of the Millennium: Revolutionary Millenarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages (Galaxy Books)

The Cathars (The Peoples of Europe)

ASIN: 0231096321

Book Description

-- Caroline Walker Bynum, Columbia University

This volume presents an extensive collection of Medieval sources for the history of the popular heresies in Western Europe.

Customer Reviews:

Why the High Middle Ages are called the Age of Faith.......2007-08-30

This is an excellent resource material providing source documents for anyone interested in knowing what all the fuss was about. However, do take the editorials with a grain or two of salt. For example, two documents attributed to the Cathars (a vindication of their beliefs and another concerning the Lord's Prayer) do not proove they were Manachians, or dualists of any type, although Wakefield and Evans take several pages to try to tell us why they were. The fact that these documents have very little references from Old Testament scriptures, or none at all, means only that the Old Testament was not relavent to these two subjects. Heresies of the High Middle Ages is a most important book for any one interested in the "age of faith."

Crucial primary source material on Cathars, Waldensians, others.......2006-09-05

This has not only reports of the heresy hunters on various 'heresies' of the middle ages, it has what remains of the literature of the Cathars: the version of the Ascension of Isaiah that they circulated amongst themselves, the Secret Supper of John which they had from the Bogomils, the bestowing of the Lord's Prayer and rites of consolatum, and the entire Book of the Two Principles which is a theological defense of radical dualism.

The Book of Two Principles is the only such work I have found that has attempted to provide a systematic, detailed, consistent, and well thought out philosophical and theological argument for dualism against one-source theories of 'mitigated' dualists, monotheists, or monists.

The work itself contains a much more developed and sophisticated philosophical/theological argument than what is found in the Zoroastrian Shkand-gumanig Vizar (Doubt-dispelling exposition)

A student of comparative religion who refers to dualism at all, in any way, really should read the Cathar Book of Two Principles, along with The Samkhya Philosophy translated by Nandalal Sinha, which is the other important Eastern dualist Philosophy that I have found, which is similarly thorough and well-thought out, well developed, well argued.

Ian Myles Slater on: Just the Facts (and Some Old Lies).......2004-08-23

Given the variety of best-selling novels based on real or invented medieval heresies and "secret doctrines," from the well-informed and ingenious "The Name of the Rose" (Umberto Eco, 1980), to the more recent, intellectually negligible (among other problems), "Da Vinci Code," not to mention supposedly non-fiction accounts of the Cathars and Templars (see below), a book like "Heresies of the High Middle Ages," absolutely stuffed with such things, ought to have been flying off the shelves. Right?

Well, that logic doesn't seem to apply. One good reason (there are bad ones) is that so many real medieval heresies seem to be mind-numbingly boring to moderns not already committed to a specific religious view -- noticed any big fights between secularists over receiving Communion from unworthy priests lately? And that is an issue moderns can grasp, without understanding the theological implications. Other heretical positions and movements are just plain weird and unattractive to most of us. The Catholic Church wanted celibate clergy, and regular fasting for lay people; the often-romanticized Cathars disapproved of food, sex, and just about everything else, for everyone, at any time (to over-simplify a bit).

And some still well-known and sensational "heresies" seem to have been invented as a convenient, non-refutable, accusation. The "blasphemies" and "crimes" of the Templars, despite a stream of lurid accounts and recent "discoveries," were made up for political and financial reasons; the King of France owed them a lot of money, and, like Saddam Hussein, figured that eliminating creditors was better than paying up, and a good way to acquire their wealth. Philip IV was furious to find their treasuries empty; perpetually short of cash, like most medieval monarchs, he had failed to grasp that the one-time military order of monks had been lending him, and others, a lot more than their spare change. So much for coded messages and maps to their secret vaults. Nothing to do, really, with demon-worship, or (as more recently alleged) possession of the Holy Grail (!), but a good example of what can be done with torture and propaganda. The Templars don't make an appearance in the index of this book, for good reason.

Another reason for relative obscurity: this is a massive anthology -- seventy-some pages of general historical introduction are followed by 560 of translations of medieval texts, with short introductions in smaller print, with over 200 pages of notes and bibliography, and a final nineteen pages of index. It was originally intended (by Austin P. Evans) as part of a larger project, setting religious dissension in the Middle Ages, and the operations of the Inquisition, in their social and political settings. The actual book (as completed by Wakefield after Evans' death) is instead a well-organized mine of material on beliefs, reactions, and personalities, with no real parallel in English on anything like the same scale. (Edward Peter's 1980 "Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe: Documents in Translation" is less than half the length, and has a different focus.)

Broken up into sixty main readings, many with sub-sections, "Heresies of the High Middle Ages" is a solid, responsible, unsensationalized, source-book, and not something to take to the beach (unless you are trying to keep up with course work).

It is, at a minimum, an invaluable companion to such long-standard books as Runciman's "The Medieval Manichee: A Study of the Christian Dualist Heresy" (1955) and Norman Cohn's "The Pursuit of the Millenium: Revolutionary Millenarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages" (1960; several revised editions), and more recent studies, such as Cohn's "Europe's Inner Demons" (1975, revised 1993; on the conceptual overlapping of heresy and sorcery). It can, of course, stand by itself.

Certain chronological and theological aspects can be supplemented, on the generally (more) orthodox side, by Bernard McGinn's short anthology of "Apocalyptic Spirituality" in the "Classics of Western Spirituality" series (1979), which runs from the Church Fathers in the third century to Savonarola in the late fifteenth, instead of being limited to the "High Middle Ages."

The range of the term "High Middle Ages" varies from historian to historian. In this case, it includes Western Europe in the late tenth and eleventh centuries, with slender documentation for heretical movements; the slightly more detailed sources for the twelfth century; and the turbulent, and well-documented, thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, which are covered in considerable detail. Anyone not familiar with the Church History and dogma, and the main political events, of this period, should probably find and read a good standard textbook or two before plunging in. The editors did a good job, but they had to assume some prior knowledge.

Whenever possible, the quite varied unorthodox movements are allowed to speak for themselves. They range from merely dissenting from the practices of the hierarchy of the Church, to frankly anti-Church, to committed holders of actual theological differences, both obvious and (to modern ideas) amazingly esoteric. The historically prominent Cathars, or Albigensians, are well-represented (with a complete section, #56-60, pages 447-630; and frequent mentions in earlier portions), as are the Waldensians, with whom they are often grouped (see especially #30-38). (The Cathars were out-and-dualists in the Gnostic tradition, and took their alternate name from their one-time domination of the Albi region of southern France; they are historically connected to the Bogomil dualists of the Balkans in the earlier Middle Ages, and, just conceivably, to the actual Manicheans of St. Augustine's time. The Waldensians, when slander, rumor, and later Protestant approval are discounted, seem to have been more conventional critics of the wealth of the Church and its hierarchy.) But so are more obscure groups and individuals, such as the Amalricians (#44A & B), as surviving documentation allows.

Where their own documents are lacking, care is given to include the most responsible hostile reports (such as James Capeli, #49), as well as the more sensational accusations of ill-informed or simply malicious heresy-hunters, such as Guibert of Nogent (#9). The quality of these sources vary, since some writers drew on both their own experience and on rumors and earlier accounts, a clear example being Bernard Gui, an important inquisitor in the first three decades of the fourteenth century (#55, pages 373-445).

An invaluable book for the serious inquirer.

Europe in the High Middle Ages (Penguin History of Europe)

Average customer rating:

Good as far as it goes ...
Well...
NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL
In-depth and complex, yet with a most readable tone

Europe in the High Middle Ages (Penguin History of Europe)
William Chester Jordan
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140166645
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Book Description

It was an age of hope and possibility, of accomplishment and expansion. Europe's High Middle Ages spanned the Crusades, the building of Chartres Cathedral, Dante's Inferno, and Thomas Aquinas. Buoyant, confident, creative, the era seemed to be flowering into a true renaissance-until the disastrous fourteenth century rained catastrophe in the form of plagues, famine, and war.

In Europe in the High Middle Ages, William Chester Jordan paints a vivid, teeming landscape that captures this lost age in all its glory and complexity. Here are the great popes who revived the power of the Church against the secular princes; the writers and thinkers who paved the way for the Renaissance; the warriors who stemmed the Islamic tide in Spain and surged into Palestine; and the humbler estates, those who found new hope and prosperity until the long night of the 1300s. From high to low, from dramatic events to social structures, Jordan's account brings to life this fascinating age. Part of the Penguin History of Europe series, edited by David Cannadine.

Customer Reviews:

Good as far as it goes ..........2007-08-15

... but how far is that? There's the occasional nod to eastern Europe, but as usual "Europe" turns out to mean "England and France and Germany" for the most part. Cultural issues are touched upon enough to claim that they've been covered, but not so as to provide much understanding.

For all its faults, Cantor's "The Civilization of the Middle Ages" is the better book. I wish that Jordan had written, or been allowed to write?, a book twice as long -- more the length of "The Pursuit of Glory" in the same Penguin series. Perhaps there will be a second edition.

Well..........2006-11-27

Ummm, well this book has it's moments of clarity and interest and moments when it's like the writer just seems to be rambling. It's not really about what most people would consider the middle ages to be about (knights, castles, dragons), but maybe that is a good thing. So if you read it, don't expect it to be a fun little text, but it's not terrible either.

NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL.......2003-06-22

William Chester Jordan is one of America's most prominent medieval historians. He heads the program in Medieval Studies at Princeton. His previous book, THE GREAT FAMINE, won the Haskins Medal in 2000. He has edited a multi-volume medieval history, written a medieval history for young people, as well as influential articles about France's expulsion of the Jews and about credit and women in medieval society. Jordan is a frequent speaker at symposia and conferences both in the United States and Europe. Small wonder that David Cannadine tapped him to contribute a book to Penguin's History of Europe series. Given his credentials, EUROPE IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES ought to be better than it is.

The organization and writing is workmanlike. Jordan's schema divides the period first by century and then by region. This inevitably leads to repetition when the same event impacts dfferent regions and when Jordan backtracks or foreshadows events from other centuries in order to establish context. It is impossible to create a smooth narrative in such a rigid framework. The organization lends itself to spot referencing rather than reading cover to cover. Jordan may not be a prose stylist, but his writing is clear and concise.

There are no footnotes nor endnotes. The "References" section is a scant four pages long and is made up mostly of secondary sources. Jordan makes an occasional historiological feint, but without any real substance. One is left feeling the book is neither fish (a serious academic history) nor fowl (a popular history for the general public).

The most glaring defect in the book, for this reader, is its treatment, or rather non-treatment, of Muslim rule in Iberia and Sicily. Jordan finds time to tell us the sad story of Isaac, a Christian hermit, who persisted in reviling Muhammad in the streets of Cordoba in 852 and was executed after being warned to desist. Yet there is no mention of the Ummayad dynasty that had unified the Iberian peninsula into the Caliphate of Al Anadluz, whose officials put Isaac to death! At the beginning of the 11th Century Al Andaluz may have been the richest, was probably the most tolerant, and was certainly the most cultured region of Europe. Jordan devotes far more space to the "Reconquest" than he does to the Arabic culture and language that dominated the peninsula throughout the period covered in his book. The library at Cordoba contained 400,000 books and manuscripts at a time when the largest libary in Europe north of the Pyrenees had less than 500. Jordan begins his chapter, "The World of Learning" by connecting the start of "...a long period of renewal and creativity in Europe" to the First Crusade. In fact, the translations of classic Greek works of philosphy and science he says fueled the development of the schools of Paris and other universities came from Arabic texts translated by Muslims and Jews in Toledo at the behest of Abbot Hugh of Cluny. More than a page in the chapter on vernacular literature is devoted to the Song of Roland without noting that the chanson commemorates the retreat of Charlemagne before the armies of the first Ummayad Caliph Abd al Rahman. Jordan writes of the freebooter El Cid and "...his struggles with the Muslims", failing to mention that El Cid fought for Muslim rulers as well against them. In the extensive genealogical tables at the end of the book one finds lists of every Christian dynasty from Byzantium to Norway, but no mention of any Muslim dynasty. The first "King" of Portugal listed is Afonso I who ruled midway through the period with which the book is concerned. No earlier Muslim ruler is listed. The same thing is true of the rulers of Spain, Sicily, Tripoli, Antioch, and Jerusalem. Christian rulers of the period are listed, but nary a Muslim monarch. Jordan seems to have gone out of his way to render Muslim participation in and contribution to Europe's high middle ages invisible.

In-depth and complex, yet with a most readable tone.......2003-04-19

Europe's High Middle Ages period spanned the Crusades and the events of Dante's classic writings and Thomas Aquinas: this paints a vivid picture of this lost age, surveying the great popes who revived the power of the church, the thinkers who ruled their times, and the social and religious philosophy of the era. In-depth and complex, yet with a most readable tone, this is a recommended pick.

The Story of the Middle Ages, 5 Volume Set: The Birth of the Middle Ages / The Crucible of the Middle Ages / The Making of the Middle Ages / The High Middle Ages / The Waning of the Middle Ages

Average customer rating:

The Story of the Middle Ages, 5 Volume Set: The Birth of the Middle Ages / The Crucible of the Middle Ages / The Making of the Middle Ages / The High Middle Ages / The Waning of the Middle Ages
H. St. L. B. Moss , Geoffrey Barraclough , R. W. Southern , John Mundy , and Johan Huizinga
Manufacturer: The Folio Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H9QSLO

Germany in the High Middle Ages: c.1050-1200 (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks)

Average customer rating:

Germany in the High Middle Ages: c.1050-1200 (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks)
Horst Fuhrmann
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0521319803

Book Description

Germany in the High Middle Ages opens with a wide-ranging and yet detailed description of the conditions under which men lived and their attitudes of mind during the period 1050â€“1200: against this background it proceeds to analyse the fundamental Political, social, economic and cultural changes of the period in central Europe. Professor Fuhrmann considers the social transformation brought about by the emergence of new classes such as ministeriales and burghers, and examines the intellectual renewal reflected in the rise of scholasticism and the foundation of the universities. He also describes the gradual erosion of the power of the German rulers, which led to the Empire losing its position as the leading power in Europe, and yet was accompanied, by a last flowering under the Staufen emperors arid the chivalric culture with which they were closely associated. Throughout the book these changes are contrasted with contemporary developments elsewhere in Europe, especially in France, England and Italy.

Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus: Natural Theology in the High Middle Ages (Continuum Studies in Philosophy)

Average customer rating:

Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus: Natural Theology in the High Middle Ages (Continuum Studies in Philosophy)
Alexander W. Hall
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Medieval Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0826485898

Christian Spirituality V02: High MiddleAges and Reformation (World Spirituality)

Average customer rating:

One of the best sourcebooks on the market

Christian Spirituality V02: High MiddleAges and Reformation (World Spirituality)
Jill Raitt
Manufacturer: Herder & Herder
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Devotionals | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0824507657

Book Description

A multivolume series with more than 500 contributing scholars worldwide, presenting the spiritual wisdom of the human race in its historical unfolding, from prehistoric times, through the great religions to the meeting of traditions at the present.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best sourcebooks on the market.......2001-07-24

I am in seminary and have now used both vols. 1 and 2 of Raitt's work. I have also used a fair number of other texts to get history/theology/spirituality information for classwork and papers. These are among the best sources you can pick up on the subject. Each is a compendium of (believe it or not) good articles on topics covering the range of issues that has shaped Christianity from early times to the present. It also wisely includes considerable information about outside influences like paganism and Islam. The only possible negative comment I could make is that some articles have TOO much information at times. They are all written by respected scholars in the field, and some, while fascinating, run long. But, then again, if you "really need to know more" then this is a great place to start.

The Cathars: Dualist Heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages (The Medieval World)

Average customer rating:

Limited and Confusing Topic
Excellent
Barber does it again-magnificent!

The Cathars: Dualist Heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages (The Medieval World)
Malcolm Barber
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0582256615

Book Description

This fascinating study of the development of radical religious belief , and its violent suppression, is the first comprehensive examination of the history of the Cathars, one of the most famous heretical movements of the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They infiltrated the highest ranks of society and posed a major threat not only to the Catholic church but also to secular authorities as well. The movement was finally smashed during the Crusades and the Inquisition . The Cathars addresses several major topics in medieval history including heresy, orthodoxy and the Crusades, as well as providing a history of the social and political history of Languedoc and the rise of the Capetian dynasty. Should be of interest to readers of Medieval history, religious history or French history. Also available in Hardcover 0-582-25662-3 $ 79.95.

Customer Reviews:

Limited and Confusing Topic.......2007-03-14

Malcolm Barber, The Cathars: Dualistic heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages. Pearson Education Limited 2000 (225 pages) Reviewer: Benjamin Thomas

Malcolm Barber in his book The Cathars explains to a tee the relationships and events that shape and end Catharism in southeastern France during the high medieval ages. Malcolm suggests ever so slightly without having a clear thesis that Catharism wasn't directly killed off by the crusades and violent action, but rather by destabilizing the environment in which the Cathars were tolerated. Malcolm a history professor at the university of Reading has published books dealing with the templars, which provides him with a firm background in the research of occult groups in the medieval world. Malcolm keeps his nose out of the writing and presents a fair view from every direction that he can provide, but often the only view he can provide is of the papal legates and crusaders since few Cathars wanted to leave traces of their heresy for the inquisitors to find. Malcolm is very interested in this topic and although he never says it himself his research is bountiful stretching every piece he could gather from the time period, and all the way back to of the Manichaeans in ancient Persia.
In order for Malcolm to support his thesis he dives back into history with Peter I of the Bogomils in Bulgaria and discusses and uses direct quotes relating to their belief in a dualistic god of pure good of the spiritual world and a evil god of the material world. The Bogomils were equivalent to the eastern parents of the Cathars, becoming a thorn in the power of the patriarch of Constantinople before Cathars were numerous enough to be deemed worthy of a crusade. The Bogomils were allowed to exist because the Bulgarian power structure allowed them to exist, this is a connection one can make latter with how the Cathars prospered and once their powerful supporters were taken away they perished.
Malcolm then moves into the mission work of the Bogomils but only briefly describes the exploits of the missionaries into Lombardy and Languedoc.
The main focus of the book is based on pro-Cathars and anti-Cathars during the crusading period of 1209 till 1229 when the treaty of Paris ended the crusades. The pro Cathar forces where the people and nobles of Trencavel, Foix, Toulouse, and Aragorn. All of the powerful nobility are all catholic in practice but they are against church interference to their local rule. The noble families also have some members in both the catholic and Cathar faith. Malcolm uses two brothers one a priest and the other a Cathar prefecti to demonstrate the division of faith among families and why the locals needed to tolerate Catharism. The toleration of Catharism and the resistance of the nobility to papal interference present another hidden theme of localism in keeping the power local among the counts rather than allowing the papacy to dictate policy.
The Raymond's of Toulouse and Peter of Aragorn are examples for the localism theme, while they practice the catholic religion and even participated in the early stages of the crusades they completely opposed it once they found out about the crusaders taking away the hereditary titles something only the King of Aragorn or the Count of Toulouse were supposed to do, this and the slaughtering of innocents at Bezeirs of the entire city of thousands even though it only held three hundred supposed Cathars prompted a coalition of the local catholic lords against Simon de Montifort's crusading army. The battle of Muret in 1213 was the response of the local Catholic lords against the entirely outside interference of the crusading army mainly from northern France in which King Peter of Aragorn lost his life.
Malcolm goes in sequence of events and subjects which can lead to some overlapping events with different names involved which proves to be quite confusing for the reader. In one instance on the crusades he will share the military side explaining the tactics used in taking Carsarone, and then thirty pages latter he will discuss the reasons why the crusaders took the castle. This chop and piece writing style befuddles the reader and will present every angle but never really providing a clear picture. Malcolm goes into too much detail and the reader will often wonder if they need to be an expert on the topic to understand the vocab Malcolm uses. There were several instances where the words perfecti and bonhome were used but Malcolm never provided a clear definition of what these exactly were thus confusing the reader even more. The detailed accounts he provides is astounding and also extremely dull, he establishes a point and then uses ten examples of sleep material when he could have just provided two or three with action to keep the reader interested. If you plan on enjoying this book with its detailed accounts of the history of the Cathars then plan on doing research of the chronology of the Albigensian crusades as well as looking at a map intravenously to see what location the event is taking place at.

Excellent.......2005-09-17

Malcolm Barber's The Cathars is a generalist scholarly introduction the theology and history of the Cathars. Beginning with a brief examination of Cathar antecedents and the question of whether there was a conscious continuance of the dualist-Gnostic tradition of the Manicheans or Bogomils Barber then proceeds to offer individual chapters on the history of Cartharism. Particularly helpful was the delineation of the different emphases of different factions of 13th century Cartharism, most notably the absolute and moderate dualism of different groups. This book encompasses both the origins of Cartharism, discusses reasons for its growth. Its main contribution however is its survey of the so called Albigensian crusade. The book ends with a very helpful chapter of the historiography of Cartharism and the (mis)uses to which this story has been put.

This book will be of interest to students of religious history and I certainly found it a very helpful introduction to Cathar belief. By way of criticism however I did feel that the section of on Cathar theology and ethics while good could have been more comprehensive. Nonetheless if you want to learn more about Cartharism then this is probably the best focussed study you could buy.

Barber does it again-magnificent!.......2004-06-03

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who has done more scholarly work on the Templars and Cathars than Malcomb Barber. Simply stated, Barber's work, which traces the genesis of the Cathar religion from original source documents, to their ultimate demise in the 1400's.

Barber begins his study with the origins of the cathars from the Manchieans to the Bogomils and either supports or refutes various other conclusions concerning the Cathar history. He identifies the ideology from original source documents, and ultimately the schisim within the Cathar Church as to theology.

Perhaps the most profound impact this book will have, at least to those who take the time and read it, is to emphatically refute the claims of that nice little cottage industry that has been percolating throughout the years that the Cathars were the guardians or holders of this magnificent treasure, or that they were the guardians of the true teachings of Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth, as wonderfully pointed out by Barber. Yes the Catholic Church was bad, but enough with the conspiracy stories. I implore you to read Barber's books on the Templars and then compare those books and their research to this cottage industry, I think you will find not only that Barber is unquestionably one of the finest historians today, but that books like Holy Blood Holy Grail simply don't make sense.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books