Spirit Wars is an exploration of the ways in which the destruction of spiritual practices and beliefs of native peoples in North America has led to conditions of collective suffering--a process sometimes referred to as cultural genocide. Ronald Niezen approaches this topic through wide-ranging case studies involving different colonial powers and state governments: the seventeenth-century Spanish occupation of the Southwest; the colonization of the Northeast by the French and British; nineteenth-century westward expansion and nationalism in the swelling United States and Canada; and twentieth-century struggles for native people's spiritual integrity and freedom. Each chapter deals with a specific dimension of the relationship between native peoples and non-native institutions; and together these topics yield a new understanding of the forces directed against the underpinnings of native cultures.
#439942 in Books 1996-07-31 1996-07-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.90 x .97 x 5.98l; 1.29 #File Name: 0520205073388 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Detailed historical book!By TamzidyIf you are looking for straight history of Islam in the Bengal area; this book will definitely not let you down. It is very detail oreintated; as the author uses primary and secondary source material. Most of it is pretty dry; but if your a history lover; you will devour it up.18 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Pretty exhaustive...By python_guyAt first; I had thought Eaton will only cover the spread of Islam in the Bengal as a religious process but obviously 300+ pages isn't for all that. Not only does he start from the B.C. periods and provide an overview of the political; religious and agrarian developments in this part of the world but he also goes on to describe much of the politcal history of the Turkish invasion and later Mughal dynasty. Obviously; I realized that giving such a comprehensive background helps the reader form a broader picture of the frame of mind of the receivers of the Islamic faith at that time in Bengal and does a better job explaining exactly why Islam blossommed so rapidly there. Eaton expounds the already existing theories of mass conversion and then goes on to partially reject them. Then he carefully eloborates on his view (which I; being a Bangladeshi; find agreeable) on how Islam ACTUALLY spread in this region.For those looking for a book on the spread of Islam around the world; go for The Spread of Islam by Thomas W. Arnold but this book by Eaton is much more micro in perspective and hence serves the purpose of exploring the conditions conducive to the spread of Islam more thoroughly; bearing in mind of course that what induced Bengali people to embrace Islam is not necessarily the same that encouraged people in other times and places to become Muslim.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Dense Reading; engaging for scholarsBy Will JeromRecommended for experts; not for general overview. As an academic book; this will be received better by scholars than by a popular audience. It is fairly dense; often dry; but well researched and fairly well argued. If you are interested primarily in Bangladesh and the roots of Islam there; then this specific focus will engage you. If you are interested in a more general review of Bangladesh history or Islamic culture; than you would be advised to look elsewhere. Eaton does a fairly good job looking at the arguments advanced for how Islam came to Bangladesh; and he suggests Islam was not brought all-at-once or by the sword; but by creative adaptation to; and in the process of developing the land.
