Charlemagne
Average customer rating:
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
- Provocative, appealing and controversial
- pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD
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History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
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:
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.
Provocative, appealing and controversial.......2006-08-02
Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
Islam certainly was no "new religion" in the X-century. That the highly cultivated Al Andaluz ruler Mohammed-I could have been "mirrored" down in time into some myth about the "illiterate" founder of Islam itself is highly speculative. Nevertheless, Fomenko convinces me about the processes that were involved in forging a christian history. Intriguing and controversial as his books are, I recommend them as to rethink our current position in time and space and simply verify what was claimed. It is a "good" book, but not for bedtime reading... Mundus vult decipi, the world wants to be cheated. Fomenko's readers will understand why.
pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.......2006-02-16
Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
It can be interpreted as a contribution towards New Chronology theory that pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.
Average customer rating:
- A Silly Book
- Entertaining, but superficial
- Shedding light on the dark ages
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Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800
Jeff Sypeck
Manufacturer: Ecco
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0060797061
Release Date: 2006-11-21 |
Book Description
On Christmas morning in the year 800, Pope Leo III placed the crown of imperial Rome on the brow of a Germanic king named Karl. With one gesture, the man later hailed as Charlemagne claimed his empire and forever shaped the destiny of Europe. Becoming Charlemagne tells the story of the international power struggle that led to this world-changing event. </p>
Illuminating an era that has long been overshadowed by legend, this far-ranging book shows how the Frankish king and his wise counselors built an empire not only through warfare but also by careful diplomacy. With consummate political skill, Charlemagne partnered with a scandal-ridden pope, fended off a ruthless Byzantine empress, nurtured Jewish communities in his empire, and fostered ties with a famous Islamic caliph. For 1,200 years, the deeds of Charlemagne captured the imagination of his descendants, inspiring kings and crusaders, the conquests of Napoléon and Hitler, and the optimistic architects of the European Union. </p>
In this engaging narrative, Jeff Sypeck crafts a vivid portrait of Karl, the ruler who became a legend, while transporting readers far beyond Europe to the glittering palaces of Constantinople and the streets of medieval Baghdad. Evoking a long-ago world of kings, caliphs, merchants, and monks, Becoming Charlemagne brings alive an age of empire building that continues to resonate today. </p>
Customer Reviews:
A Silly Book.......2007-06-26
This may be one of the worst historical books I've read. There is no perspective, so you see four years of Charles' life as if it were an isolated period with no analysis of the impact of the Moors in Spain, the betrothal discussions with Irene in the Byzantine Empire, and Baghdad is simply an island of a short story with the only impact on Charlemagne being the elephant he was sent.
If you want to understand this part of history, then this definitely isn't the book to get. If you really want to understand the religious perspective that Charles of Tour and Pepin started, begin with Gregory of Tours. Then read Einhard's history of Charlemagne (they can be a trudge...but, worth it). Then get some perspective with Henri Pirenne's book.
Entertaining, but superficial.......2007-03-06
I learned a lot. The book was fun to read. My criticism is he avoids church history totally. He tells the impact Charlemagne has on military and political history, but nothing on how his coronation affected the church. He spends a lot of time on his contemporaries. He spends time on the pope. He spends a lot of time on how a gift of an elephant made its way from Africa to his home town. However, the book seems light reading to me. The coronation was a critical point in church history and he does not elaborate.
The man was amazing. Charlemagne was a unifying force and a man of many interests. The book was definitely worth reading for this viewpoint.
Shedding light on the dark ages.......2007-02-13
Probably like most readers, the only thing I remember from my history lessons is that Charlemagne became the Holy Roman Emperor, that's it. This book opens the door on the how and why. In addition, it focuses on the man not the legend, giving a more realistic view of who he was and what he did, and more importantly did not, do).
Average customer rating:
- Nice looking book
- Wonderful classic on the classics
- A bargain at twice the price
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Bulfinch's Mythology - Deluxe Edition
Thomas Bulfinch
Manufacturer: Gramercy
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ASIN: 051722688X
Release Date: 2005-11-01 |
Customer Reviews:
Nice looking book.......2007-06-06
Great if your looking for "the" book on mythology. This edition looks really nice, although the binding could be better. Great for the price though.
Wonderful classic on the classics.......2006-07-10
Myths represent everything that's magical and unlikely -and yet we cannot but admire their underlying wisdom: ever since fables sprung up, man has delighted in analyzing, telling and retelling the stories we now see as an inextricable part of our civilization. It's because of this, and because they so-well mirror our own nature, that mythology is as self-contradictory as it is timeless. Naturally, this fact has turned the subject into another academic battleground. That's maybe why Bullfinch's version of the myths stills stands out a century and a half after it was written: amidst a sea of dry scholarly works, it is easily the most charming and inviting compendium of mythology available.
Thomas Bulfinch, an art-loving bank clerk, had a very clear purpose when he started to write his books: he set out to supply the general reader with an approachable, enticing account of those ancient fables that were so often quoted or alluded to in literature. Snippets from poems by authors such as Milton and Spenser, and specially contemporaries Byron, Shelley, and Longfellow (to whom the volume is dedicated) are used throughout to illustrate the strong connection between myth and English poetry. This approach ended up being very convenient: on the one hand, it gave Bulfinch the freedom to purge whatever he thought to be in disagreement with "good taste", since he claimed such things were alien to "elegant literature"; on the other hand, he could trim his sources down to Ovid and Virgil, who were the ones most English writers read in the first place. Because of such limitations, it may seem easy to dismiss his work as biased, quaint and incomplete; however, time has turned what once was a book on the classics into a classic itself. Nowadays, when we read Bulfinch, we get not only a look into ancient mythology, but a delightful glimpse of 19th Century writing and mentality, too; and his narrowness in approach is more than compensated by the resulting self-consistency.
Bulfinch obviously had a knack for story-telling, and his love for the material comes through at every moment. Those who fear he might have deprived the myths of their piquancy shouldn't worry: Zeus still makes Don Juan look like a eunuch; Oedipus's story keeps all its shocking elements of incest and patricide; Queen Guenever isn't any less obvious in her feelings towards Sir Launcelot; and, on the whole, more blood is spilled than on the goriest Clive Barker novel. Though things like how the Minotaur was conceived are left in the dark, such omissions are the exception rather than the rule. Just like Galland's translation of The Thousand And One Nights hasn't lost its place as arguably the most enjoyable version of them all (even after a thousand-and-one more "faithful" translations have been published), Bulfinch's quirks aren't enough to spoil what's obviously a wonderful work. Of course, like most Victorians, he can be very pompous at times ("...and struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain..."), but his approach is hardly at odds with the material. Overall, what one finds in Bulfinch is a source of endless, childlike wonder.
The volume is divided in three parts: The Age of Fable; The Age of Chivalry; and Legends of Charlemagne. The first one deals mainly with Greek and Roman mythology, but it also contains a short section on the Norse gods and a dab of Easter Mythology; the second retells the stories of King Arthur, the Round Table, and the Mabinogeon; and the third one goes over the romances of the Middle Ages.
Of all the editions of Bulfinch's Mythology published through the years, Gramercy's might just be the most beautiful yet. Leather-bound, with gilt-edged pages and a golden ribbon marker; I was sure it would look great on the shelf, but I was truly surprised when I opened it and saw just how much care went into the making this book, which includes numerous maps, charts and illustrations. I was particularly taken aback by the latter, since, in my experience, most publishers have the remarkable ability to choose for each and every occasion the worst drawings available; here, on the contrary, every one is a treasure. The Index was expanded into a classical and mythological dictionary, in an attempt to turn Bulfinch's work into better reference material -a goal it certainly achieves. Some sections were also added to "add to the rounded completeness of the work", as well as a few verse extracts that came after Bulfinch's time; these new parts blend in with the rest of the material just fine. You can rest assured that, if you are looking for a durable, good-looking complete edition of this classic, Gramercy's is the best you will find, especially given it's incredibly low price. (Modern Library's paperback is probably best if you want a copy to carry around, though.)
Hamilton may be more careful about her sources and analytical in her approach; Graves may be incomparable in his deeply personal, creative interpretation (and "embellishment") of the myths; but Bulfinch is the only one that endeavors to make his love for mythology infectious and the old fables endlessly amusing -and succeeds.
A bargain at twice the price.......2006-03-09
Very nice volume, rare to see gilt page edges these days.
A valuable addition to my collection
Average customer rating:
- 1,200 years old
- An excellent source on the early middle ages
- Two slightly embellished lives.
- History isn't literature!
- Charlemagne's amazing double life
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Two Lives of Charlemagne (Penguin Classics)
Einhard , and Notker the Stammerer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
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ASIN: 0140442138 |
Customer Reviews:
1,200 years old.......2006-07-17
Looking at the three 'one-star' reviews this book has received, I would point out they are all written in the same style, are close in date and look suspiciously like they were all written by the same person.
Yes, this is a wonderful primary source.
With Einhard's story you are actually reading the work of a person who knew Charlemagne (who lived approx. 742-814AD).
Prior to Charlemagne there basically was no Germanic literature. Charlemagne encouraged book learning and the writing of what had before then been either purely oral or simply not remembered. We are looking at the birth of Germanic Literature and also the birth of Germanic recorded history. Before this, (apart from a few glosses in the 7th Century) there is only the archaeological record and the writings of neighbouring literate cultures like the Romans about their Germanic neighbours to turn to for illumination.
These glimpses into the minds of people whose culture and outlook on the world are both so different to our own but also has so profoundly impacted the development of our modern day life are fascinating.
Charlemagne after all followed in the footsteps of the Roman Caesars in his attempt to create a great and literate civilisation and by doing so deeply influenced the Anglo-Saxons in England. Some of the earliest Saxon writings were commissioned by Charlemagne and his son, Louis the Pious. Alfred the Great was deeply influenced by his example. It was Alfred the Greats encouragement of Anglo-Saxon literature that established sound foundations for later developments in English literature.
I preferred Einhard as I think he succeeded in showing Charlemagne the man to a greater degree than Notker writing a hundred years later. Already with Notker the 'legendising' of Charlemagne made him more one dimensional and also as you can see in the foot notes more inaccuracies creep into Notker's text. There is also something more primitive and 'mystical' about Einhard. Mystical, mind you when one of Charlemagne's rivals 'mysteriously' dies. ;) But this is not really a criticism of Notker as he gives a feel for the development both of Germanic culture one hundred years further on and also some insight into the making of the legend of Charlemagne.
An excellent source on the early middle ages.......2006-01-30
As other reviewers have pointed out, this is a "source document" - that is to say, it is history written by those who witnessed the event (or in this case, personally knew the person of whom they were writing about.) As with any eye-witness, their accounts need to be taken with a dose of skepticism. With that said, _Two Lives of Charlemagne_ provides an insightful and (for the time period) a relatively complete picture of one of the most influential figures in European history. Einhard's biography provides detail about Charlemagne as king: the political challenges he faced, and the numerous reforms he made. The second account (Notker's) details the religious life of Charlemagne, placing him in an almost "saintly" light.
While the veracity of events presented here may be questionable (the purpose of "history" and "biography" in the present is very different from 1300 years ago), they do provide an excellent sense of Charlemagne's time - which is why I give it 5 stars.
Two slightly embellished lives........2003-05-20
The title "Two Lives of Charlemagne" is a bit deceptive. This is not a novel with Charlemagne playing a double role. It is a telling of Charlemagne's life by two authors of his time.
The first part of the book is a useful forward. It should be read. It will tell you much of what to expect in the book regarding style and content.
The second part of the book is written by Einhard. Einhards main goal seems to have been to write about Charlemagne's life in such a manner as to fit it seamlesly into the "De vita Caesarum" written earlier, so Charlemagne could take his rightful place with the Roman emperors.
The third part, written by a monk, focuses on Charlemagne's religious life. As it was written for one of Charlemagne's grandsons, it is of course written in such a way as to make Charlemagne look like a saint. It does stray from time to time to other members of Charlemagne's family.
The two lives work well with each other. And while you have to take some of the stories with a grain of salt, the fact that two people could write so highly of the man after his death speaks to his greatness.
History isn't literature!.......2003-02-27
Those of you who claimed this book bored you obviously thought you were picking up an Arthurian romance or some kind of fantasy/sci-fi epic. This is history, people, not an adventure story! What's more, it's history from the period in which it happened, what we call a primary source. Of course it's not going to read like a modern novel. People in the Middle Ages wanted solid content, not useless fluff. This work is great for introducing students to the life of a great leader written by someone who was actually there. I use it with my tenth grade students and they love it because it gives you a snapshot of the man under the crown.
Charlemagne's amazing double life.......2002-08-04
As the title suggests, this book reveals the incredible 'two lives' of Charlemagne. By day, Emperor of the Franks - by night, a nightclub singer in the sleazy joints of downtown Aachen.
Average customer rating:
- Efficient biography and exploration of the origins of the concept of Europe
- The Life and Legacy of Charlemagne
- living history
- Charlemagne: Man, Emperor and Myth
- Filling an important gap
|
Charlemagne
Derek Wilson
Manufacturer: Doubleday
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ASIN: 0385516703
Release Date: 2006-06-06 |
Book Description
Charlemagne is seen by historians as the bridge between ancient and modern Europe. His Holy Roman Empire was the embodiment of an ideal that inspired leaders as different as Charles V, Napoleon, and Hitler, each of whom sought to make a unified Europe a reality again in his own time.
In this new biography, the first major study of Charlemagne in more than twenty-five years, Derek Wilson provides an absorbing and lively account of his life, character, and accomplishments. Charlemagne transcends every notion we have of the traditional historical hero. A military strategist of Julius Caesar’s caliber, he had no knowledge of classical history. A ruler with the sagacity of Marcus Aurelius, he ordered summary executions more reminiscent of Caligula or Nero. A devout believer who ensured the survival of Christianity in the West, he considered himself above the Church, sired numerous bastard children, and generated accusations of incest.
As Wilson describes a Church divided between the Latin West, with its capital in Rome, and the Greek Church of the East, with its capital in Constantinople, we see not only the emergence of Europe but the trials of a Church in flux. The politics of the day were in constant play and were mastered by Charlemagne with cunning and force. By marrying the military might of his army to the spiritual might of the Church in Rome, Charlemagne dominated his world and forged Western Christendom.
Written by one of England’s most respected biographers, Charlemagne is a masterful, multidimensional portrait of a great historical figure—a man whose earthly passions were surpassed only by his religious devotion, and whose religious devotion was exceeded only by his will to power.
Customer Reviews:
Efficient biography and exploration of the origins of the concept of Europe.......2007-06-05
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. The idea that Charlemagne was responsible for the creation of a concept of a unified Europe that is embodied in today's EU is not original, as is witnessed by the book "Charlemagne: Father of a Continent" by Alessandro Barbero and Allan Cameron, released in 2004. (Full disclosure: I have not read Barbero and Cameron's book.) However, Barbero and Cameron take more than 400 pages, where Wilson takes just over 200.
Charlemagne was lucky in that his brother, who inherited half of the France of the time, died young, thus giving him control of a unified France, or Carolingian Empire, which he could use as a base to push his western border out to include Saxony, Bavaria, and Lombardy. He did so in cooperation with the Pope, with the goals of spreading Christianity to the heathen, and creating a Christian Europe. He was also lucky in that he lived into his 70's, much longer than the vast majority of his contemporaries, which allowed him the time to accomplish much in terms of the unification of this territory and its culture. At the same time, he allowed a good deal of regional autonomy, which contributed to the stability of his conquest.
In Charlemagne's time, French nobility did not pass on their territory to the oldest son, but split it up among all their progeny; so when Charlemagne died, his conquests were not permanent. One of his sons, Louis "this Pious", outlived the others and so kept most of the territory. However, the Germanic peoples split from France soon thereafter and thus was born the German / French rivalry that roiled the Continent thereafter. In all the turbulence that followed, the author shows how the ideal of a unified Europe never died.
Wilson tells the story of Charlemagne's life as well as analyzing his impact up through the present day. Great read.
The Life and Legacy of Charlemagne.......2007-05-27
Derek Wilson's biography and study on the life and legacy of the Frankish king/emperor Charlemagne is an eminently readable book that I found quite illuminating. For starters, I knew next to nothing on the subject of this book. In essence, Wilson's thesis concerns how Charlemagne was a key player in defining Europe as a political and cultural entity. He might even go so far as to say he was the father of Europe. In addition to his lengthy reign which ran roughly from AD 770 - 814, Wilson studies the impact he had on future leaders and the nature of European affairs from Charlemagne's time up through the modern age.
Even after reading this book, I still don't know all that much about the man. Wilson consults the sources, both primary and secondary, and he is wise in saying how the earliest sources could tend to neglect certain aspects of the man and events of his reign, like military setbacks. In addition to this, there is the problem of the myths that developed after his death. I'm glad the author delves into this topic and the impact these stories (both true and false) had on later generations of Europeans, especially in France and Germany.
The central theme found in many of Charlemagne's actions was that which concerned his faith, i.e. the idea that he had a responsibility to promote the Christian faith and establish God's kingdom within the territories he controlled. His relations with the nobility, the clergy, and popes are discussed. His reign was truly one where the temporal and spiritual combined. Some aspects of his personal and family life are detailed, as well as primary source information from Charlemagne's acquaintance with men like Alcuin. His own ancestors histories and the intra-family fights and struggles for power certainly provide examples of the more ambitious and ruthless sides to this man.
Much information on various aspects of Charlemagne's life is sketchy and will never be known, but his legacy was quite palpable. If his own empire cracked and divided after less able successors tried their hands at ruling, what he was able to accomplish or at least tried in theory, generated powerful impressions that passed down through the centuries. Wilson's analysis of the legacy of Charlemagne was extremely helpful and very appropriate, especially in helping us define the ideas that helped shape Europe. Maybe some of Wilson's points are debatable, which I could say with more confidence if I had read more on this subject. Definitely worth reading.
living history.......2007-03-08
This book is an easy and straight foreward indtroduction to a difficult period og the western world. Derek Wilson is able to bring it to life and does not fall into the trap of adding the prejudice of our time to a period, that needen men of great courage and strong will. men who fought for christendom and founded the western world on justice, honour and strong belief.
Charlemagne: Man, Emperor and Myth.......2007-02-26
Europe would not be Europe as we know it if Charlemagne had not come along, and Derek Wilson has done a wonderful job in bringing the important ruler to life. We see Charlemagne as man, emperor and myth. The first section illustrates very well the type of person that Charlemagne was, which transitions very well into him as ruler. In many respects the two could be the same sections since he ruled because of the type of man he was, and the man made him the ruler that he was. In both respects we see his conquests as he spread the "faith" and enhanced his status over vast amounts of territory. In the end Wilson shows Charlemagne as a forceful personality - bordering on to mythical status during his life - that was the glue that held his empire together, fragmenting almost immediately after he passed away.
The third section, though, is very interesting in and of itself. It is a very good analysis of Charlemagne The Myth throughout the years after his death to present day. Wilson's ability to transition fluidly from Frederick Barbarossa to Louis XIV, to Napoleon to Hitler, and others in between, allows the reader to get a very full account of how much Charlemagne affected Europe's governments and to how it affects Europe today.
Any lover of history should definitely read something on Charlemagne, and Derek Wilson's biography is a very good place to start. I would recommend.
4.5 stars.
Filling an important gap.......2006-12-18
This short but thoroughly engaging little book fills a niche that seems to have been overlooked for far too long - a biography of one of those legends that seems too distant to ever separate legend from fact. Mr. Wilson does a fine job of giving us the details of what we know about this king who was, perhaps, the dominant force in western European culture. Whether you agree with the premise or not, the impact of Charlemagne on the west can hardly be dismissed.
This volume includes a glossy photographs and artwork in the center. The begginning of the book includes a genealogy of the Carolingians along with a timetable for chronological placement of events and people.
The writing is clear and enjoyable. A worthy addition to any history or biography library.
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Charlemagne
Matthias Becher
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0300097964 |
Book Description
Charlemagne-ruler of the vast Frankish kingdom from 768 to his death in 814 and Holy Roman emperor from the year 800-is considered the father of Europe. He founded the first empire in western Europe after the fall of Rome, and his court at Aix-la-Chapelle was a center of classical learning and a focus of the Carolingian Renaissance. This book is a splendid introduction to Charlemagne's life and legend. Matthias Becher describes Charlemagne's rise to emperor and traces his political and military maneuvering against the Saxons, the Lombards, and others, as Charlemagne incorporated these lands into his own realm. Becher points out that under Charlemagne, jury courts were introduced, the laws of the Franks revised and written down, new coinage introduced, weights and measures reformed, and a Frankish grammar begun. Charlemagne tried to give his kingdom a spiritual basis by referring to antique traditions, says Becher, and he explores the tensions that existed in Charlemagne's court between modern ideas and traditional thinking. He concludes by discussing Charlemagne's kinship network, the evolving arrangements for his succession, the effects of his reign, and his posthumous fame. Concise, insightful, and eminently readable, this biography of Charlemagne provides a wealth of information about a remarkable man and his times.
Customer Reviews:
Quick Read.......2006-12-01
I don't know if it because there is not a lot of data available about Charlemagne or that he was not as interesting a fellow as I thought. The author spends a fair amount of space trying to disprove a previous volume on Charlemagne. As someone who enjoys the military history portion of history, I was hoping for more on the campaigns. Not much on his youthful years either.
Average customer rating:
- Bulfinch's Mythology
- A classical book of Gods and men
- Highly recommended
- Mythology in its storybook version
- Good infornation to put in your background
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Bulfinch's Mythology (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Thomas Bulfinch
Manufacturer: Modern Library
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ASIN: 0375751475
Release Date: 1998-08-11 |
Book Description
For almost a century and a half, Bulfinch's Mythology has been the text by which the great tales of the gods and goddesses, Greek and Roman antiquity; Scandinavian, Celtic, and Oriental fables and myths; and the age of chivalry have been known.
The stories are divided into three sections: The Age of Fable or Stories of Gods and Heroes (first published in 1855); The Age of Chivalry (1858), which contains King Arthur and His Knights, The Mabinogeon, and The Knights of English History; and Legends of Charlemagne or Romance of the Middle Ages (1863). For the Greek myths, Bulfinch drew on Ovid and Virgil, and for the sagas of the north, from Mallet's Northern Antiquities. He provides lively versions of the myths of Zeus and Hera, Venus and Adonis, Daphne and Apollo, and their cohorts on Mount Olympus; the love story of Pygmalion and Galatea; the legends of the Trojan War and the epic wanderings of Ulysses and Aeneas; the joys of Valhalla and the furies of Thor; and the tales of Beowulf and Robin Hood.
The tales are eminently readable. As Bulfinch wrote, "Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated. . . . Our book is an attempt to solve this problem, by telling the stories of mythology in such a manner as to make them a source of amusement."
Thomas Bulfinch, in his day job, was a clerk in the Merchant's Bank of Boston, an undemanding position that afforded him ample leisure time in which to pursue his other interests. In addition to serving as secretary of the Boston Society of Natural History, he thoroughly researched the myths and legends and copiously cross-referenced them with literature and art. As such, the myths are an indispensable guide to the cultural values of the nineteenth century; however, it is the vigor of the stories themselves that returns generation after generation to Bulfinch.
Download Description
The justly famous Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch contains three volumes the major contents of which are retained in this abridgment for the student and general reader. The Age Of Fable -- The gods and goddesses of Greece and Rome, as well as the mythology of the Germanic tribes, England and the Near East. The Legend Of Charlemange -- Accounts of the reign of the first great French Emperor, his wars and conquests. The Age Of Chivalry -- King Arthur and his court, Lancelot and Guenever, and the death of Arthur.
Customer Reviews:
Bulfinch's Mythology.......2006-07-12
I was very happy with the book I received. I received it in about 5 days after I ordered it, it was in good shape and exactly what I needed.
A classical book of Gods and men.......2006-06-25
If you're a huge Greek mythology buff like me, you ought to have this in your shelf. And, you should have read it too (atleast twice).
Highly recommended.......2005-10-23
For those who enjoy the study of mythology, this is one of the most important collections ever. Bulfinch's myths are a delight to read, and, as he tells us in his intro, these stories provide us with the framework for all of western culture and art. For those who are drawn, this one is highly recommended.
Mythology in its storybook version.......2005-08-27
This a great book for all who have a intrest in hearing the myths and legends of gods and heroes, just in their story form, without it being analytical or narrated as a deconstructed text. This is mythology in its purest form, before it's been tampered with by english professors or translated by the historyian.
A great read of the ancient myths.
Good infornation to put in your background.......2004-07-24
I'm a foreign student studying in the US. I listened to this audiobook while I was preparing for GRE. I learned many new vocabulary from the audiobook.
Later when I took western philosophy class, I understood what my professor was talking about because I had learned about Greek mythology from this audiobook.
I also notice people often use idioms derived from Greek Mythology in their writing or conversation. So it's handy to have such information in your background. Listening to this audiobook is an easy way to obtain such knowledge.
Average customer rating:
- Bringing history to life
- Son of Charlemagne
- An insider view of Charles the Great
- This is a very good book!
- A great book!
|
Son of Charlemagne (Living History Library (Warsaw, N.D.).)
Barbara Willard
Manufacturer: Bethlehem Books
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1883937302 |
Customer Reviews:
Bringing history to life.......2007-05-08
This telling of the life of Charlemagne was clearly intended for younger readers, but I must tell you, I enjoyed it very much anyway. Told through the eyes of Carl, his second son, the story of Charlemagne is brought to life in a vivid and personal way. The tale focuses mainly on the private lives of the great King and his family, mentioning most of the great battles and campaigns only in passing. It makes plain Charlemagne's love for his family, even though the demands of rule often forced him into difficult--and sometimes brutal--decisions.
I particularly liked how the author was able to convey historical detail about the time period in an interesting way without being overly didactic. The book introduces the young reader to a variety of historical personages (like Alcuin and Pope Hadrian) and ancient peoples (like the Saxons and Avars). The book makes clear Charlemagne's attachment to learning and his devotion to the Catholic Church and the Papacy in particular.
Personally, I would have preferred a little more action and detail on Charlemagne's military accomplishments, but I suppose that's a man thing. If you like historical novels with a Catholic flair like this one, I would also recommend Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last
Son of Charlemagne.......2006-02-07
I really enjoyed reading Son of Charlemagne for history. I learned more facts about Charlemagne in this book than in a regular study on him. It is a great book to read in your spare time. This book is told by his son Carl's point of view.
An insider view of Charles the Great.......2004-12-29
We enjoyed this story of Charlemagne told by viewing the life of one of his sons, Carl. While not intensely detailed in regards to his historical battles, though they are referenced (and one particularly brutal event is covered intensely), it gives more of an insider view with the focus on his family life. That was very interesting! This incredible world leader was a devoted family man who desired for his children to travel with him whenever possible. He humbly sought a better education for himself, his children and his subjects. This focus led to the Carolingian Renaissance. While Charles the Great certainly had flaws, those too were inspiring examples. These multifacted qualities resulted in his rise from King of the Franks to coronation as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Son of Charlemagne was written very personally, a tender glimpse into the real life struggles of a political giant.
This is a very good book!.......2001-11-21
My sons and I enjoyed this book. It is about Charlemagne, but written from the perspective of his eldest son, so it keeps their interest. This booked sparked us looking into Charlemagne in more detail, from the history books, so it was great.
A great book!.......2000-06-19
This book tells you a lot about Charlemagne, but it is great for children because it is from a young boy's point of view. The young boy happens to be Charlemagne's son. It is well written and it gets the facts of history well in your mind without having to study! Its very interesting and I recommend everyone to read it!
Average customer rating:
- Not just for children...
- Excellent Book
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The Holy Roman Empire and Charlemagne in World History (In World History)
Jeff Sypeck
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
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ASIN: 0766019012 |
Customer Reviews:
Not just for children..........2006-04-13
Although the book was written for middle-schoolers, most Americans can't give a single fact about Charlemagne. His story is told in an engaging style with language appropriate for adults. Several maps and illustrations help keep track of events. It serves as a perfect introduction to Mr. Sypeck's next book, due later this year, "Becoming Charlemagne."
Excellent Book.......2002-09-30
Mr. Sypeck has done a superb job of bringing the Holy Roman Empire to life for young readers.
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- Groundbreaking classic
- Groundbreaking When It Was Published...Just For Scholars Now
- Fascinating Yet Flimsy
- Masterpiece!
- Charlemagne AND Mohammed
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Mohammed and Charlemagne
Henri Pirenne
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
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ASIN: 0486420116 |
Book Description
Remarkable classic that developed the revolutionary theory of how the advance and influence of Islam caused the Europe of the Roman Empire to evolve into the Europe of the Middle Ages. "...an important...seminal book, worthy to close one of the most distinguished careers in European scholarship." — Saturday Review of Literature.
Customer Reviews:
Groundbreaking classic.......2006-11-05
This magnificent 284 page piece of scholarship was first published in English in 1939 by W.W. Norton, and reprinted more than a dozen times afterwards. My copy, published by Meridian and Barnes and Noble in October 1961, is the sixth Meridian printed after its first 1957 issue of the book.
But the book had more than a dozen publications in French as well. The Meridian edition was translated "by Bernard Miall from the French of the 10th edition published by Librarie Felix Alcan in Paris and Nouvelle Societe d'Editions Brussels.
The author concluded that the Germanic invasions did not destroy the unity of the ancient world or the Mediterranean. By the 5th Century, there was still a Roman culture, even without an Emperor in the West. The regions by the sea had preserved that culture, and spawned the innovations that followed--monasticism, Christian conversion of the Anglo-Saxons and so on. Moreover, much of this culture emanated from Constantinople, which remained, in the year 600, the center of the world.
But "the break with the tradition of antiquity" was caused by "the rapid and unexpected advance of Islam." The result was "the final separation of East from West, and the end of the Mediterranean unity." Whereas before, Africa and Spain had been part of the Western community, Islam attracted them to "the orbit of Baghdad." The root of the change was "another religion, and an entirely different culture. The Western Mediterranean, having become a Musulman lake, was no longer [the] thoroughfare of commerce and of thought" it had always been before.
The Catholic church, interestingly, gained power in Europe, precisely because the Emperor was completely distracted by the advancing "Musulmans," which meant the church no longer had a political counterweight or rival. During the protracted anarchical transitional phase, from 650 to 750, "the tradition of antiquity disappeared...."
The most important section of the book, in my view, is the first chapter in Part II, "The Expansion of Islam in the Mediterranean Basin." Here Pierenne compares the effects of the Germanic invasions to the Islamic conquests. The invading Germanic tribes had "promptly allowed themselves to become absorbed" by European civilization.
But Mohammed's "propaganda" gave "his people a religion which it would presently cast upon the world, while imposing its own dominion." The early interpretation of John of Damascus, of Islam as a sort of schism, like all previous heresies, had already put the western empire "in deadly danger."
The Arab conquest also "brought confusion and chaos upon both Europe and Asia" thanks largely to its unprecedented swiftness and brutality. Pierenne compares it only to the victories of "the Mongol Empires of Atilla, Jenghiz Khan and Tamerlane." But of course, Tamerlane was also Muslim.
Unlike the German tribes, moreover, the Musulmans "were exalted by a new faith." With this, the Arabs required the subjection of conquered populations. "And this subjection they enforced wherever they went."
The conquered, alone, were taxed, and they were "excluded from the community of the faithful. The barrier was insuperable." The Koran, moreover, requires "only obedience to Allah, the outward obedience of the inferior, degraded and despicable beings, who are tolerated, but who live in abjection."
Henri Pierenne (1862-1935) was born and educated in Belgium, and from 1886 to 1930 was professor of history at the University of Ghent. He received "many foreign academic honors.
It's a shame that Pierenne and his body of work have not retained their deserved rankings among contemporary scholars of Islam.
--Alyssa A. Lappen
Groundbreaking When It Was Published...Just For Scholars Now.......2004-02-18
1st: This is an old book and needs to be treated as such. When Pirenne wrote this book there was no archeology, arch. has changed the way people think about the transition, and most of what P says can be discounted by looking at arch. 2nd: Havighurst's book, despite its title, which makes it sound really helpful, is out of date and not worth looking at. 3rd: You don't actually need to read thisbook to get the argument. Read David Whitehouse's "Moh, Charl and Origins.." and that tells you what P says quite quickly. That's the only book you need. However, it was published in 1983, and newer sources (see McCormick) should be considered for any scholarly undertaking. This is an ever growing field, and new archeological evidence appears every year.
Fascinating Yet Flimsy.......2003-09-05
Henri Pirenne, who revolutionized the study of medieval beginnings, presents a thorough explanation of his intriguing thesis in this final historical volume. His point is well taken, that the Moslem invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries were just as crucial, if not more so, to the dawn of the Middle Ages as were the Germanic invasions of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. However, as far-sighted as this idea may be, there is a near obsessiveness with proving his point that tends to make Pirenne's work seem less than well-founded. Several wide sweeping generalizations are made, such as the observation that the Germanic invaders contributed nothing of worth to their new surroundings, but rather came for the social paradise that was the Roman Empire. Also, he seems to contradict his own conclusions from time to time, as in his assertion that Charlemagne both sought and did not seek a Mediterranean Empire during his reign. As a whole, though, the book is a fascinating read.
For those who do not have any knowledge of Latin or French, the book makes a difficult read, as many of his sources are quoted in their original language, and beginning historians may have trouble with the veritable barrage of unfamiliar names and concepts. However, two works which may make this problem a little less severe are William Bark's "Origins of the Medieval World," and "The Pirenne Thesis," edited by Alfred Havighurst.
Masterpiece!.......2003-05-20
Mohammed and Charlemagne is the last work of Henri Pirenne. It was published after his death and represents a masterpiece of historical scholarship. This is a seminal work that challenged the thesis that Germanic barbarians obliterated the Roman Empire. His revolutionary thesis was that the unexpected rise and advance of Islam led to the downfall of the Empire. With the rise of Islam, the Mediterranean was no longer a thoroughfare of commerce and ideas. Without the Mediterranean, commerce dried up to a trickle and Europe slipped into the Middle Ages.
The revision and completion of the book was completed by one of Pirenne's students after his death. That leads to one of my criticisms. Previous works by Pirenne I found engaging and masterfully written. This work however, seemed to lack the same literary style and, as a consequence, I found it to be a choppy read that lacked the clear crispness of his previous works. While this statement is subjective, it is not irrelevant. When Pirenne expounds on economic and sociological issues of the Middle Ages his words literally leap off the page. It is disappointing that this subject does not surface until the end of the book.
Charlemagne AND Mohammed.......2002-05-24
Henri Pirenne's legacy lies in his famous thesis, published
posthumously in 1937 as "Mohammed and Charlemagne" (and stated
earlier in numerous articles): namely, that whereas the
Germanic invasions of the IV and V century broke the political
unity of the Mediterranean world, they did not break its
cultural and economic unity. The ancient world kept hugging
the coastline 'like frogs around a pond' and the East reasserted
its supremacy over the West. All this changed when the Islamic
invasions conquered Northern Africa and the Eastern
Mediterranean, closing the commercial and cultural exchanges
between the two halves of the Roman empire and capturing the
two most vibrant centres of commerce and culture (especially,
theological culture) of the Byzantine empire: Syria and Egypt,
whose religious separatism had been a constant worry for the
Eastern Roman emperors.
As a consequence, the center of gravity of the European economy
shifted to the more agrarian and less romanized regions around
the Rhine (Charlemagne's capital is in Aix-La-Chapelle, nowadays
Aachen) while the cities of Italy and Southern France decayed.
It is this which eventually led to the emergence of a diversified
Western European culture as opposed to the Middle East and,
eventually, Eastern (Orthodox) Europe. And therefore Charlemagne
could never have existed without Mohammed.
However, this is not the whole story. As Dennett and Lopez noted,
lack of Oriental merchandise in Merovingian lists may not
necessarily be due to a dearth of imports but to events on
the supply side and most importantly to the opening of the
Russian route to Baghdad, as Scandinavian coin hoards show
(e.g., Bohlin and Riising). Hence the rise of Quentovic and
Dorestad as important ports and the Frisian trade until their
destruction by Northman raiders.
Although commerce was now closed to Frankish shipping,
trade in the Mediterranean had long been the prerogative
of Syrians, who had extensive colonies in Marseilles.
Meroviangian cities in the region had already been declining
for some time and ideas of a renaissance of a Romano-German
culture in the VI and VII centuries are overrated by its
lack of originality; the foremost product of VI century
erudition is the largely fallacious encyclopedia of Isidore.
Despite its flaws, this work is fundamental for its boldness in
presenting a continental and often world view of history and
of great transformations. Required reading.
Rulers and Royalty:
- Chiang Kai-shek
- Davis, Jefferson
- De Gaulle, Charles
- Deng Xiaoping
- Gorbachev, Mikhail
- Ho Chi Minh
- Hoxha, Enver
- Kim Il Sung
- Lenin, Vladimir Ilich
- Louis XIV Of France
Rulers and Royalty
Rulers and Royalty