Despite its reputation for religious intolerance; the Middle East has long sheltered many distinctive and strange faiths: one regards the Greek prophets as incarnations of God; another reveres Lucifer in the form of a peacock; and yet another believes that their followers are reincarnated beings who have existed in various forms for thousands of years. These religions represent the last vestiges of the magnificent civilizations in ancient history: Persia; Babylon; Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Their followers have learned how to survive foreign attacks and the perils of assimilation. But today; with the Middle East in turmoil; they face greater challenges than ever before. In Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms; former diplomat Gerard Russell ventures to the distant; nearly impassable regions where these mysterious religions still cling to survival. He lives alongside the Mandaeans and Ezidis of Iraq; the Zoroastrians of Iran; the Copts of Egypt; and others. He learns their histories; participates in their rituals; and comes to understand the threats to their communities. Historically a tolerant faith; Islam has; since the early 20th century; witnessed the rise of militant; extremist sects. This development; along with the rippling effects of Western invasion; now pose existential threats to these minority faiths. And as more and more of their youth flee to the West in search of greater freedoms and job prospects; these religions face the dire possibility of extinction. Drawing on his extensive travels and archival research; Russell provides an essential record of the past; present; and perilous future of these remarkable religions.
#372178 in Books 2003-04-02 2003-04-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.24 x 7.72 x 10.00l; #File Name: 0465023282424 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. HOW NOT TO RUN AN EMPIRE!By RAY RIDGEBook title - - EMPIRE: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order the Lessons for Global Power; by Niall Ferguson.As the title suggests this is not a book for a light read on the plane to the holiday hotel. Nevertheless; for those interested in the 'politics of power' at a global level then this tome certainly touches the core elements of the amazing success that was the international economic-financial British Empire.The jacket blurb makes claims about it being insightful for the present situation the USA finds itself in; but frankly I think that is a tad far-fetched. Whilst the USA is indeed the global superpower of the the start of the 21st Century it is a long; long way from being the mega-power that was Britain at the zenith of its imperial might.The demise of the British Empire is well explained although there are no new or unique insights; but again the decline is not really a lesson for the USA for all the author's attempts to make it seem so.Our World has changed beyond all recognition from Kitchener's machine-gun army crushing the Madhi's hordes at Omdurman: Anyone who considers the USA's Afghanistan or Iraq campaigns of the last decade will recognise the differences. Similarly; the World has emerging global powers soon to be on a par with the USA in economic-financial terms which the British Empire to a large extent only had to deal with after WW1.Then if we consider the Internet communication to which this is penned the predicament of the 2010 USA compared to the 'steam-boat' and 'telegraph' of old is highlighted even more.All that said; this is a thoroughly readable; informative and evocative book about the often unheeded hazards and dangers of imperialism and whilst the USA is surely not condemned to repeat or experience them all there are salutary lessons for the Obama White House on what are the positives and negatives of trying to maintain a global presence when your backyard infrastructure is crumbling and under siege from within and without.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I greatly enjoyed this book and I am sure it will also ...By Dennis RutzouThis is a fascinating economic history which outlines in some detail the important achievements that the Brithish have have brought to the world; many of which have passed by unnoticed. I greatly enjoyed this book and I am sure it will also be enjoyed by many others. The author is to be commended for the fantastic organisation of the subject and the prodigious research that would have been required. It was disappointing that the graphs and charts are impossible to read in the Kindle format.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Quite readable...By General99I feared that this book would be an unbearable academic treatise...surprisingly; it was easy to read and it provided a lot of explanation into fundamental questions such as "How did a small island country like England mange to rule a country with the size and population of India? Interesting stuff.
