Book Description
The "Historical Atlas of the Islamic World" provides a survey of the history of the Islamic world and of Islamic civilisation from the time of the Prophet Mohammed until the consolidation of the Ottoman Empire in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Its abundant maps are accompanied by text explaining the religious, political and cultural circumstances behind Islam’s development. The book contains superb photographs of the art, architecture, artifacts, and the regions involved, and many reconstructions of the most important events mentioned in the text. At a time when interest in the Islamic faith is increasing, this book provides a comprehensive description of the religion’s long and dynamic history.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful.......2006-10-09
Although obviously intended for high school level, the text presents a great deal of fascinating historical information on the medeival Islamic world (even including the Bulgars, the Timurids, etc.), often rare to find elsewhere; it marks the inadequacy of Islamic studies in English that there are few scholarly books on Islamic history with the same breadth of scope. Although some statements concerning earlier Islamic history run counter to orthodox Muslim belief, the author is undoubtedly one of the best writers of Muslim history. The pictures and maps are also great.
lovely and impressive.......2006-07-30
Being a scholar of comparative religion but feeling lacking in my understanding of the general progress of Islam as a cultural (vice religious) phenomenon, I searched far and wide for a work on Islam akin to those of the Cultural Atlases series. Nicolle's work answered the mail admirably. The work is exceptionally well composed, indicative of a pleasing format and supporting browsing as well as research. Though the work cannot be called profound, factual information of considerable depth is nevertheless available to the targeted searcher. The book is admittedly weak on the theological underpinnings of the religion, though it nowhere claims to be an exploration of Islam as a religion per se: for such information, may I recommend Michael Jordan's handsome "Islam: An Illustrated History" (London: Carlton, 2002). I flatly disagree with those who claim that Ruthven's work is superior to Nicolle's: indeed, I found the former to be boring; superficial in its rigid obedience of the two-to-four-pages rule for every article; and, one might say, helter-skelter in its overall organization. While spelling errors in Nicolle (e.g., proselatize for proselytize) and typographical errors do not impress me, I shouldn't be too harsh, given that modern typesetting and typography for the consumption of the demanding twenty-first-century reader present such formidable challenges. (That, and a certain je ne sais quoi that probably deals with some intractable element of depth, justify my withholding of the fifth rating star.) Well done, Dr. Nicolle.
Masterpiece of illustrated history.......2006-07-03
This book is overflowing with beautiful maps, fascinating photos and insightful descriptions. I find Nicolle's Historical Atlas of the Islamic World to be one of the best introductions to the history of the Muslim world. The layout is astounding, and puts much pricier atlases, even the Oxford Atlas of World History, to shame.
One should note that this is not just a history of the Muslim religion, but a broad description of the history and culture of Muslim countries, covering Spain, Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and of course the Middle East.
Mr. Nicolle's approach to Islam combines sympathy and neutrality. He is obviously one of the most eminent authorities on the Muslim world.
very nice maps.......2006-02-24
I bought this book to go along with a History of Islam course at my college, and though this book does not go into the historical details of Islam, and its treatment of it at times is simple, its maps allow me to follow along with the narrative in my class with an illuminated vision of where the action is taking place, in additon to other books, The Historical Atlas of the Islamic World has really helped me to understand my material better.
Book Description
Among the great civilizations of the world, Islam remains an enigma to Western readers. Now, in a beautifully illustrated historical atlas, noted scholar of religion Malise Ruthven recounts the fascinating and important history of the Islamic world.
From the birth of the prophet Muhammed to the independence of post-Soviet Muslim states in Central Asia, this accessible and informative atlas explains the historical evolution of Islamic societies. Short essays cover a wide variety of themes, including the central roles played by sharia (divine law) and fiqh (jurisprudence); philosophy; arts and architecture; the Muslim city; trade, commerce, and manufacturing; marriage and family life; tribal distributions; kinship and dynastic power; ritual and devotional practices; Sufism; modernist and reformist trends; the European domination of the Islamic world; the rise of the modern national state; oil exports and arms imports; and Muslim populations in non-Muslim countries, including the United States.
Lucid and inviting full-color maps chronicle the changing internal and external boundaries of the Islamic world, showing the principal trade routes through which goods, ideas, and customs spread. Ruthven traces the impact of various Islamic dynasties in art and architecture and shows the distribution of sects and religious minorities, the structure of Islamic cities, and the distribution of resources. Among the book's valuable contributions is the incorporation of the often neglected geographical and environmental factors, from the Fertile Crescent to the North African desert, that have helped shape Islamic history.
Rich in narrative and visual detail that illuminates the story of Islamic civilization, this timely atlas is an indispensable resource to anyone interested in world history and religion.
Customer Reviews:
An all-embracing visual display .......2005-02-05
It's a religion holding over 6 billion believers plus it's one of the great civilizations of the world - yet Islam remains puzzling to a majority of Westerners, and scholarly histories only increase the mystery. Malise Ruthven and Azim Nanji's HISTORICAL ATLAS OF ISLAM solve this confusion in providing a lovely illustrated historical atlas by a noted scholar of Islam. Maps and eye-catching illustrations accompany clear articles on everything from the early Sufi orders to Islam in the British, Russian and Dutch empires. History blends with social insights and religious coverage in an all-embracing visual display which is highly recommended for high school collections on up.
Product Description
In November 1095, Pope Urban II called on the Christian rulers and knights of Europe to drive the Muslims from the Holy Land and claim Jerusalem back for Christendom. Any Crusader who died in the attempt would be rewarded in Heaven. The response was overwhelming and launched a religious conflict that would last for over three centuries. The Crusades marked a turning point in European history, where the primitive Frankish states of Western Europe first encountered the civilized cultures of the Muslim world. With a Christian enclave carved out in the Middle East, the two cultures enmeshed in a clash where personal ambition and financial reward often overcame religious fervor. Started with pious intent, the Crusades degenerated into a bitter power struggle. This book chronicles the Crusading era and examines its cause, its development, and the people who fought for their faith and for themselves. The study by historian Angus Konstam chronicles their achievements, drawing on the latest historical evidence to weave a medieval tapestry of intense color.
Customer Reviews:
An eye-opening exploration of the 11th through 13th century religious wars.......2005-08-08
Illustrated with full-color medieval era artworks and maps on every page, Historical Atlas Of The Crusades is an eye-opening exploration of the 11th through 13th century religious wars marked by fanaticism, bravery, sacrifice, diplomacy, murderous cruelty, and above all, territorial greed. The text offers a plain-terms overview of the various complex aspects of historical battles from the assaults on Jerusalem itself to the fall of Constantinople to the deadly threat Genghis Khan's empire building posed to the Muslim world. Especial emphasis is given to maps, as befits an atlas, but the Historical Atlas Of The Crusades is as much a history primer as it is a geographic display. Thoroughly accessible and absorbing to lay readers and historians alike, Historical Atlas Of The Crusades is highly recommended, especially for academic and community library collections.
Angus Konstam, Historical Atlas of the Crusades.......2003-03-11
This atlas might bedazzle many with its lavish maps and illustrations and apparent encyclopedic coverage of the crusades in Outremer (1096-1291), but close examination of its putative facts reveals just too many errors, all of them avoidable had its author devoted more energy and time to research.
Minor errors abound on almost every page. For example, on page 65 Konstam confuses the title (atabeg or governor) of the Turkish lord, Kerbogha, who besieged the crusaders at Antioch in 1098, with his given name. Hence we read, "as Atabeg's army surrounded the city." Although these errors irritate and mislead, they pale in comparison with the large number of just wrong-headed descriptions of certain crusades.
Two examples must suffice: Coverage of the Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) and the so-called Children's Crusade (1212). First the Fourth Crusade: The dates and arrows on the map of Constantinople that supposedly delineate the times and routes of attack on the city in July 1203 and April 1204 are, quite simply, wrong (p. 160). Moreover, many of the statements in the text that accompanies the map are either blatantly wrong or unsupported by the available evidence. Compare Konstam's thumb-nail sketch of the crusade with the most up-to-date and carefully-researched study of that same crusade: Donald E. Queller and Thomas F. Madden, The Fourth Crusade, 2nd. ed. (1997). Konstam's treatment of the so-called Children's Crusade fails largely because he is either ignorant of our overall ignorance of this folk movement or has chosen to hide this uncomfortable fact. Put simply, our sources are highly flawed, contradictory, and vague--at best. Nevertheless, Konstam presents a number of highly dubious, even mythic stories as fact without ever suggesting that we simply do not know the details of this crusade. Indeed, he does not even point out that the majority of crusade historians are now pretty much agreed that the the poor who engaged in this movement encompassed far more than just children. That is, the Latin term "puer" (child) was used to denote any person of the lower orders, regardless of age. If one, however, takes the illustration on pages 170-171 at face value, he/she cannot escape the conclusion that all of these "pueri" were prepubescent.
Similar howlers and oversights can be found thoughout this atlas in its coverage of other crusades and crusade phenomena. Anyone who wishes to consult a balanced and scholarly atlas of the crusades that also goes far beyond the narrow geographic and chronological limits of Konstam's work should turn to Jonathan Riley-Smith, ed., The Atlas of the Crusades (1991). This other atlas, the collaborative product of a large number of world-class crusade specialists, can largely be trusted to reflect the best of contemporary crusade scholarship. The same cannot be said of Konstam's effort.
Alfred J. Andrea
Professor Emeritus of History
The University of Vermont
Concise - Excellent First Book to read on the Subject.......2002-08-26
Many books cover specific parts of the Crusades in much greater detail, but this book is perfectly described as an "Encyclopedia". It does well to describe in general terms the political issues and is spectacular in providing the strategic and geographical background.
In fact, the maps may be the best part of this book. Other more detailed books can be better understood with this as a companion just for the illustrations of where the cities were, the directions of the campaigns and the territories possessed. The geneology of the Princes of the Holy Lands and Muslim counter-parts is also nicely illustrated.
I also liked that Konstam avoided either the "political correctness" of an anti-Western/Christian point of view or a patriotic anti-Islam point of view that might be tempting in post 9/11. He points out massacres but does not add too much commentary. What would frankly be the point. In those ages, life was much more expendable, and to try to put everything in 20th Century morality would be pointless. He does offer commentary on - on how the actual campaigns strayed greatly from the lofty intentions of the Crusades, but that is very defendable and is not presented with a pompous/pious attitude.
This was my first Crusades book to actually read. If you are in the same situation - I highly recommend it.
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Historical Atlas of Islam
Freeman-Grenville G. S. P.
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0826414176 |
Book Description
The historical processes active in each separate theater of action are indicated, from the birth of Mohammad through the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Over the course of its history, Islam has experience checks and reversals, as in Spain and Eastern Europe, temporarily during the Crusades, and then later during the period of European colonial rule. Yet Islam remains an active and still-spreading phenomenon whose influence in different parts of the world is profound, and, to many non-Muslims, mysterious and little understood.
With its 180 maps, 200 illustrations, and carefully prepared text, this book brings clarity and understanding to a religious and cultural force of great contemporary significance.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from International Bulletin of Missionary Research, published by Overseas Ministries Study Center on July 1, 2003. The length of the article is 912 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Historical Atlas of Islam. (Book Reviews).(Book Review)
Author: Lamin Sanneh
Publication:
International Bulletin of Missionary Research (Refereed)
Date: July 1, 2003
Publisher: Overseas Ministries Study Center
Volume: 27
Issue: 3
Page: 184(1)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Journal of the American Oriental Society, published by American Oriental Society on April 1, 2003. The length of the article is 978 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: An Historical Atlas of Islam.(Reviews of Books)(Book Review)
Author: Paul M. Cobb
Publication:
The Journal of the American Oriental Society (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2003
Publisher: American Oriental Society
Volume: 123
Issue: 2
Page: 457(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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World Civilizations: Their History and Their Culture, Vol. 1 (World Civilizations)
Robert E. Lerner ,
Standish Meacham ,
Alan T. Wood ,
Richard W. Hull , and
Edward McNall Burns
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
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Customer Reviews:
Good Book.......2000-03-30
I find this book fairly understandable, easy to follow and a bit of interesting with good pictures!
Customer Reviews:
One of the Most Releveant and Best Books ever written.......2007-08-16
Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change is without a doubt, simply stated one of the BEST BOOKS ever written about the most pressing issue of the times, namely how the human species has through industrial and technological effort, in the name of "progress" has led the entire human species and the bioshpere into possible extinction and the destruction of life on our plannet. Needless to mention that this is some serious subject matter for a relative 'lay-person' however William R. Catton, makes the subject matter comphrensible and if read with a open mind, leads the reader to the conclusion that we are all in big trouble. The Best part of the text is that while paiently illustrating how the human species came to this point, doesn't place the blame on anyone in particullar, but shows that all of us, currently living 'played a part' in the quandry currently unfolding. This is a refreshing change from the current crop (no pun intended) of text in a similar vein, who in the name of ideological or political 'correctness', needs a 'bogeyman' to blame and focus their individual or collective rage towards. Catton avoids that sandtrap elegantly and pointedly, by stating that we can best repair the problem, restore ballance and focus our efforts without resorting to anger or dispair, by all of us working together in a symbiotic relationship with each other as well as the remainder of all life in which we share this finite world.
A Must Read for understanding ecolgy and the future of the world!.......2007-07-18
I am an MIT engineer (BSME MIT, 1978) and Author of When Technology Fails, and I can't recommend this book enough. It is invaluable for understanding the ecological basis for the predicament that our world is in. Knowledge is power, and an in-depth understanding of the intricately woven web composed of our technological society, food production, energy systems and the ecosystems of our planet is absolutely critical to developing a proactive worldwide plan to avert global catastrophe and collapse.
Even though William Catton's Overshoot was written in 1980, it remains today a true masterpiece of ecological writing, presenting a uniquely clear view of where our world is headed, and what kind of actions and understanding are required to change this direction. If enough of us face the facts, and stop behaving like ostriches with our heads in the sand, we stand a chance of leaving a viable future for our children.
The ecological view.......2007-03-22
I own some eight thousand books and if my house caught fire this is the only book I would risk my life to save. Read it and it will change the way you view the human race. Probably one of the most important books ever written.
Raise your ecological intelligence.......2007-01-05
As close to a manual for navigating humanities future - and present - as you can wish for. Leaves you with a clarity of humanities place in the biosphere that I found in no other book. Reading it should be an entrance qualification for every politician and scientist.
An Important Work to be Read Widely.......2006-05-16
This is a highly significant book. It is probably safe to say that most intelligent readers today (2006) are nevertheless unaware of the important, basic ecological themes addresed by Catton, but none can afford to remain uninformed of them. There are many more detailed works on the subject of resources depletion and societal collapse, but none strike to the core of the problem--us, "Homo colossus", or Homo sapiens on fossil fuel steriods--speeding down a highway with a definite "road ends" sign and barricade, our collective "carrying capacity" limit. Catton's arguments are hard to believe at first, then become harder to dismiss, as he makes the case for our innocent or perhaps not so innocent past deeds and current ways. At the end of this extremely well-written and researched work, you will likely find yourself looking for the exit--alas, there is only one Earth, one life. Published in 1980, the material is just as relevant if not more so today, 26 years later and even farther out on the limb. Will our technology save us again, or even prolong our growing masses and consuming way of life much longer? Perhaps, but Catton is no optimist here, with what appears to be a socially sound and ecologically wise judgement of our species.
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The Environment - A Revolution in Attitudes (Information series on current topics)
Manufacturer: Information Plus (TX)
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ASIN: 1573020761 |
Book Description
Information Plus Reference books provide background, current and past statistics, judicial decisions, and legislation. Written at a tenth grade level.
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The Environment: A Revolution in Attitudes
Manufacturer: Information Plus (TX)
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ASIN: 1878623389 |
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Environment: A Revolution in Attitudes (Information Plus Reference Series)
Manufacturer: Information Plus
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ASIN: 0787651427 |
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