During the latter decades of the nineteenth century; popular European fascination with the world beyond reached an all-time high. The British and French empires spanned the globe; and their colonial agents sent home exotic goods and stories. The Silk Route dates from this romantic period; in name if not in reality. In the century since its invention as a concept; the Silk Route has captured and captivated the Western imagination. It has given us images of fabled cities and exotic peoples. Religions of the Silk Road tells the story of how religions accompanied merchants and their goods along the overland Asian trade routes of pre-modern times. It is a story of continuous movement; encounters; mutual reactions and responses; adaptation and change. Beginning as early as the eighth century BCE; Israelite and Iranian traditions travelled eastwards in this way; and they were followed centuries later by the great missionary traditions of Buddhism; Christianity; Manichaeism; and Islam. The Silk Route was more than just a conduit along which these religions hitched rides East; it was a formative and transformative rite of passage; and no religion emerged unchanged at the end of that arduous journey.
#607417 in Books 1996-07-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.23 x .30 x 5.49l; .51 #File Name: 0312137435205 pages
Review
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Excellent AnalysisBy FlazattyThe book contains a good analysis of the Plessy v. Ferguson case; decided by the United States Supreme Court; and establishing the doctrine of "separate but equal" that would remain the law of land until overturned in 1954.Minor criticism: the cover illustration shows a low-class white attempting to evict a well-dressed black man from his seat on a train. The picture has nothing to do with Plessy v. Ferguson. First of all; Homer Plessy was only 1/8 black; and it was not noticeable to the uninformed observer. Secondly; as material inside the book indicates; the picture depicts an incident that occurred in Pennsylvania in 1856 (40 years before the Plessy decision). Finally; strange as it may seem today; racial segregation was supported by all strata of Southern society (and a good many folks in the North too). It was just the way things were done; and no one really thought much about it.Except for the cover illustration; a great book; and all serious students of constitutional history should read it.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good bookBy Holland GreenGives you a good insight into how big of a sham this trial was. Very interesting history book for a better understanding.8 of 10 people found the following review helpful. The Quintessential PlessyBy A CustomerThomas has done yeoman service in his editing of this volume on the Plessy v Ferguson case. Sure; we all know "separate but euqal;" but there was so much more; and Thomas covers it succinctly and completely. As part of the Bedford Series in History and Culture this volume looks at Plessy through a collection of original period documents with thoughtful; but to-the-point analytical introductions. Within a small number of pages is included not only the entire opinion of the Court; but also legal and social backgrounds for the case and race relations in America. Also covered in the volume are reactions to the case from general newspapers; the legal community; and African American intellectuals; and the impact of the case as seen from the first decade of the 20th century. It even has a wonderful timeline of pertinent events to help orient the progress of the case. It will probably not be fascinating to the casual reader of history-if your tastes tend more to the straight narrative; you may find this volume frustrating. But if you want to really understand Plessy's "separate but equal" argument and where it came from; this is the volume for you.
