On Nov. 28; 1858; a ship called the Wanderer slipped silently into a coastal channel and unloaded its cargo of over 400 African slaves onto Jekyll Island; Georgia; thirty eight years after the African slave trade had been made illegal. It was the last ship ever to bring a cargo of African slaves to American soil. Built in 1856; the Wanderer began life as a luxury racing yacht; flying the pennant of the New York Yacht Club and cited as the successor to the famous yacht America. But within a year of its creation; the Wanderer was secretly converted into a slave ship; and; with the New York Yacht Club pennant still flying above as a diversion; sailed off to Africa. The Wanderer's mission was meant to be more than a slaving venture; however. It was designed by its radical conspirators to defy the federal government and speed the nation's descent into civil war. The New York Times first reported the story as a hoax; however; as groups of Africans began to appear in the small towns surrounding Savannah; the story of the Wanderer began to leak out; igniting a fire of protest and debate that made headlines throughout the nation and across the Atlantic. As the story shifts between Savannah; Jekyll Island; the Congo River; London; and New York City; the Wanderer's tale is played out in heated Southern courtrooms; the offices of the New York Times; The White House; the slave markets of Africa and some of the most charming homes Southern royalty had to offer. In a gripping account of the high seas and the high life in New York and Savannah; Erik Calonius brings to light one of the most important and little remembered stories of the Civil War period.
#897112 in Books Richard C Foltz 2000-09-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x 1.00 x 5.00l; .50 #File Name: 0312233388198 pagesReligions of the Silk Road Overland Trade and Cultural Exchange from Antiquity to the Fifteenth Century
Review
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Religion handbook for people interested in Central AsiaBy Magalini SabinaI came around this book because it is often cited in books on Central Asia; the Silk Road; Buddhism and also in the last book I read on Xuanzang. The Authors that use it as a citation do not want to explore more deeply some concepts they are treating at the moment so they indicate this text with such an encompassing title as the ultimate resource for omitted information. So when you finally see the book; the small dimensions dampen a little the enthusiasm.Certainly; the subject is large and the chronological time interval extends from the first millenium BCE to the fifteenth centure CE; while the geographical boundaries go from China to Persia and from North India to Russia considering all the Silk Road extensions. Simplification of such a vast panorama is evidently necessary and this is precisely what the Author has done. He has succeeded in condensing the history of well known and less well known religions into a comprehensive didactic text.The first chapter states the epistemiological guidelines utilized: the importance of trade for diffusion of religion; the supposed role of women in the transmission of faiths; the division between proselytizing and non proselytizing religions and the difference in acceptance of new beliefs from the center to the periphery; the consideration of the practicality and belonging to the dominant social class as the main drive to acceptance of new forms of faith.In the following chapters Zoroastrism; Buddhism; Judaism; Nestorian Christianity and Islam are all described and a brief story of their expansion and fortunes is delineated. The book makes two really good points in these chapters one is on the syncretism of all these religions in time and space on the Silk Roads and the other is the concept of Central Asia as a refuge for heretics. Another interesting aspect for non accademics is the description of less well known sects such as the Radanites (merchant Jews from France that practically converted the Khazars)and the description of the Kushan reign that disappeared forever in the sands of history.Finally there is a wide overview on the religious conquest by Islam of the entire Central Asia and the fading away of all other religious beliefs. The role of sufis is emphatized more than that of the sword. There is one chapter called "Ecumenical mischief" that seems like a small essay inserted in this otherwise schematic text; that dwells on the attempts of missionaries of all faiths to convert the Mongols and on the intestine quarrels between Nestorians and Muslims in the Il-Khan lands. The indepth outlook of these episodes makes one desire the whole book were written with such a research detail since the bird view approach is one of its defects.Accademic reviewers affirm Prof. Folz makes a few mistakes in dates and historical interpretations and that he has utilized exclusively English sources. The general reader; naturally; does not capture these subtle details. However; since this book is really very cited and has the great advantage of covering such a wide time and space span; a new and revised edition would be welcomed.The reading is fluent and sometimes it is necessary to reread in order to fully appreciate all the information. The Notes and the Bibliography are rich; so this text can be of help to students; entertain historical fans even if it does fall short of completeness and real satisfaction.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. NOT THE SAME BOOK AS THE PICBy Connie WenI received an older version of the book; meaning content was different. Could not use for the class. The posted image is false advertisement.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great authorBy XiGuaThis book covers all the basics of religion that you need to know. It also helps you better understand the Silk Road and its importance to the global spread of religious ideas.
