In 1628 the Dutch East India Company loaded the Batavia; the flagship of its fleet; with a king’s ransom in gold; silver; and gems for her maiden voyage to Java; the ship itself was a tangible symbol of the world’s richest and most powerful monopoly. The company also sent along a new employee to guard its treasure. He was Jeronimus Corneliszoon; a disgraced and bankrupt man with great charisma and dangerously heretical ideas. With the help of a few disgruntled sailors; he hatched a plot to seize the ship and her riches. The mutiny might have succeeded; but in the dark morning hours of June 3; 1629; the Batavia smashed through a coral reef and ran aground on a small chain of islands near Australia. The captain and skipper escaped the wreck; and in a tiny lifeboat they set sail for Java—some 1;500 miles north—to summon help. More than 250 frightened survivors waded ashore; thankful to be alive. Unfortunately; Jeronimus and the mutineers had survived too; and the nightmare was only beginning.
#784319 in Books iUniverse 2002-06-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.16 x 6.00l; 1.52 #File Name: 0595231993460 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Customerthis explains the true hidden history of western civilization that comes from the hidden eastern civilization46 of 52 people found the following review helpful. Demanding; flawed but amazing and very importantBy James BrooksThis book attempts a truly prodigious feat; a historically detailed revision of the philosophical and religious history of western civilization. The determined reader will find that it largely succeeds; and will be rewarded with an extremely provocative new vision of history; Christianity; the foundations of science; the true meaning of the "Enlightenment"; and the amorality of our rulers.However; the reader will have to help by connecting pieces and maintaining the narrative. You'll also have to separate the wheat from the chaff. Every page is jammed with information but precious little summation. The early chapters brim with Mr. Livingstone's impressively broad and detailed scholarship of the ancient western world. With a wealth of examples he explains the development and spread of "the dying god" cults in every nook and cranny of the ancient western world.He also offers an intriguing alternative history of the early Hebrews based on contemporary accounts from many sources and some deductive reasoning. I found it compelling; but you can reject it and still get the import of the book.His heretical history of Greek culture appears to be well founded and consistent with contemporary accounts and the influence of the Kabbalists elsewhere in the ancient world. Livingstone introduces us to Plato as his contemporaries knew him and explains the significance of his baneful influence.The emergence of Gnosticism and the Pauline neo-Platonic corruption of Christianity appear along the way; making a good deal more historical and theological sense than any other interpretation I have read.The book doggedly follows its subject through the centuries; packing facts and stories into long sentences like sardines in a can. If it were written a conventional style it would probably be twice as long. I recommend reading it very slowly. Give yourself time to watch for; and think about and savor; the profound implications and connections of Livingstone's mountain of evidence. It can be pretty startling.About halfway through it; my constant irritation with Livingstone's odd prose turned into a kind of admiration. He seemed to be refusing to paint the broad and generalized picture for the reader; letting the density of the evidentiary trail produce the overall picture by itself. Only from his commentary on specific points do we glean the full outline of his overarching vision.I highly recommend reading David Livingstone's blog before reading the book. The articles there elegantly state Livingstone's overall point in a way the book does not. They also address the connection to the present day more thoroughly. I hope they portend a new book on the horizon. David Livingstone is onto something deep here.If you want to understand the roots and self-image of our ruling elites; the 'initiated' who are released from the bonds of morality and Mosaic Law; this book is indispensable. If you're willing to work with a book; this one would make a great summer reading project!4 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Wow!By Mekim Muhammad-TateGood read and interesting book! I Have to take my time. It's not the kind of book you just fly through.
