In the early sixteenth century; a young English sugar trader spent a night at what is now the port of Agadir in Morocco; watching from the tenuous safety of the Portuguese fort as the local tribesmen attacked the "Moors." Having recently departed the familiar environs of London and the Essex marshes; this was to be the first of several encounters Roger Barlow was to have with unfamiliar worlds.Barlow's family was linked to networks where the exchange of goods and ideas merged; and his contacts in Seville brought him into contact with the navigator; Sebastian Cabot. Merchants and Explorers follows Barlow and Cabot across the Atlantic to South America and back to Spain and Reformation England. Heather Dalton uses their lives as an effective narrative thread to explore the entangled Atlantic world during the first half of the sixteenth century. In doing so; she makes a critical contribution to the fields of both Atlantic and global history. Although it is generally accepted that the English were not significantly attracted to the Americas until the second half of the sixteenth century; Dalton demonstrates that Barlow; Cabot; and their cohorts had a knowledge of the world and its opportunities that was extraordinary for this period. She reveals how shared knowledge as well as the accumulation of capital in international trading networks prior to 1560 influenced emerging ideas of trade; "discovery;" settlement; and race in Britain. In doing so; Dalton not only provides a substantial new body of facts about trade and exploration; she explores the changing character of English commerce and society in the first half of the sixteenth century.
#202329 in Books imusti 2011-08-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 4.20 x .30 x 6.60l; .26 #File Name: 0199575274144 pagesOxford University Press USA
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Historical Jesus Minus Skeptical AssumptionsBy Kevin W. HaugBauckham's book on the historical Jesus does not make many assertions which would be considered controversial which means it is actually a breath of fresh air in Jesus scholarship. What he does do is start with a very different assumption than much of the historical Jesus scholarship of the past century: the Gospels can be considered reliable eyewitness testimony into the life of the historical Jesus. The phrasing of that last statement is very important as Bauckham does not view the Gospels as history but as ancient biography (please read his "Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony" for further development of his argument for this method of reading.)What I very much appreciated was Bauckham's ability to trust the biblical witness and show how the teachings of that witness would have been received in the context in which spoken. This is a bit different from other scholars like Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan who relish the historical situation but have a massive distrust of the Gospel accounts. My theological training was in the latter; and it always rubbed me the wrong way since one could subject the Gospels to a subjective criteria to formulate one's own picture of Jesus--a picture that was not necessarily in accord with the ancient texts.Bauckham methodology allows the reader to understand the cultural dynamics AND be true to the witness of the Gospels. His short exegesis of the Parable of the Good Samaritan was particularly good. Further; Bauckham does a nice job of showing how Jesus embodied both God's radical love accompanied with judgement for those who rejected that love--a nice antidote to the "God is love and there should be no judgement" strain of Christianity pervading some Christian circles.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Introducing JesusBy G. T. LoveAn excellent short introduction to Jesus the Christ! I enjoyed this book very much. Also a great intro to the writing of R. Bauckman. Definitely worth the time and money.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Dr. Bauckham is the go-to expert on New Testament Studies and this is no exception!By jedi008A great introduction to the person of Jesus not only as who the Gospels describe what He did; but why He did. Dr. Bauckham writes a concise; not too terribly dense and yet very understandable introduction that regardless of your beliefs or background will cause one to take pause and really think this topic through. Cudos to Oxford Press on this series of "A Very Short Introduction"!
