The Empire Books

Bruce Masters presents here a remarkably subtle and well-researched portrayal of the relations between Muslims and non-Muslims in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire and the shifts that occured in these relations during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In contrast to many of the polemics and platitudes which are often offered up in popular debates, Masters provides a rich and complex description of interconfessional relations which were dynamic and changing. For scholars of the late Ottoman Empire or its minorities, this work is a "must read," bringing into question much of the received wisdom regarding both the millet system and its breakdown. For those, who simply want to have a basic understanding of the relation between Islam and subject non-Muslims, one could hardly do better than his chapter, "The Limits of Tolerance.

Apparently there is a paperback version of this work which, as of this writing (9/20/05), is offered directly from CUP but not on Amazon.

The late Dr. Boojamra succeeds in quickly introducing the reader the cultural and political situation of Late Byzantium, and a very clear argument against the false accusations of total compromise of the Church by imperial authorities. Patriarch Athanasios becomes symbolic of the Church's "in the world, but not of it" status as Boojamra shows the theology Athanasios inherits and how his policies and vision come to effect the Church long after his repose. Should be mandatory reading for those interesting in Orthodox Church history.

This is a brilliant book contaning reliable and acurate historic information. When I read it I thought it to be a very informational book.

Technical, but very useful information for canonical studies and general issues regarding the relations between the East and West.

Loving a story of the determination and courage of one to fight the system, and the pitting of personal honor against expedience and letter of the law. Drake builds a solid, rugged individual in the character of General Merikur, a man forced to choose between the right, and the law. He is placed into a position to spy on a leader accused of treason, and later becomes wrapped up in it himself.

Excellent book-highly recommended to Turkish coin collectors.

One of the best books I've read about the reemergence of independent Latvia. The title is a little misleading; the subtitle should come first, because this is really about how the collapse played out in Latvia. Written by a first-hand observer. Enough background to keep everything clear for those not familiar with Latvia. For those who are, the author's very clear, precise, informative re-statement of the history that we all know is a huge pleasure to read. This is a scholarly book that is easy to read -- in fact, it's a real page turner! If you get it from the library, you will want to own it afterwards, so just go ahead and buy it -- you will want to lend it to your friends.

Dr. Nancy Stockdale provides at times a chilling, but always informative, retelling of how English missionary women assisted in the British imperial project in mandate Palestine. Caught in between the dominant patriarchal middle-class at home and the perceived inferior, exotic female creatures of the Orient supposedly begging for sex emancipation and public incorporation, British missionaries exposed Palestinian girls and women to a particular brand of English Protestantism and female domesticity in order to Anglicize the region from inside the minds of these colonial subjects. Dr. Stockdale brings to the fore these missionaries' religious fantasies and bourgeois aesthetics as imperialist tools, basing her analysis on the theoretical underpinnings of Edward Said's Orientalism, as well as notable feminist studies by Leila Ahmad and Fatima Mernissi. These colonial encounters led in some cases to traumatic confrontations, both within Protestant organizations and between missionaries and their colonial subjects. Dr. Stockdale provides expansive examples from these missionaries own perspectives on the region and its people, juxtaposed with interviews from women who grew up within these imperialist structures and constructs. Special treatment is given to particular, dramatic recounting of maltreated Palestinian orphan girls and their despair. Overall, Stockdale gives a clearly composed and well thought out analysis of a dark chapter in British colonial history in the Middle East.

I first read this book when researching clothing of the Mongol Empire. Thoroughly researched and supported by primary sources, this book sets a gold standard of scholarship for textile and costume research. Although somewhat dry reading for most people, it provides valuable insight into cultural priorities of the Mongol Empire, in addition to practical information suited to the reenactor. Well worth the money!

Fuad Jabali has written on a subject which has immense importance in islamic history.Despite this, few works in english have been dedicated to this event and none so far [ as far as i know ] on the attitude of companions in this conflict.There was a great need for a work like this since both sunni and shia books in english rarely mention the minor companions and are obsessed with either a few major ones[sunnis] or Ahlulbayt[shias].

Prof. Jabali writes without sectarian bias and uses the most authentic biographies avalible.His recording the exact arabic expressions used in the primary texts also helps greatly.Use of tables although inconvenient is helpful when comparing between different comapnion groups.It also explodes many popular myths like shia propoganda claiming that companions abandoned Ali and the sunnis claiming that very few sahaba participated in the conflict.
My suggestion would be to add to this book esp. appendix VIII references about their political inclinations from other books of history that would give a more complete picture
e.g Hajjaj b Amr was a spy of Ali in Egypt and an envoy to syria , also a poet who wrote on his behalf
Abu Qatada in Tabari is mentioned as giving support to Ali in Medina

Best to read it with Madelung's "succession to Muhammad" which gives a great account of events during the reign of Ameer-ul-momineen Ali ibn AbiTalib.