Founding Gods, Inventing Nations

Conquest and Culture Myths from Antiquity to Islam

Nonfiction, History, Civilization, Ancient History
Cover of the book Founding Gods, Inventing Nations by William F. McCants, Princeton University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: William F. McCants ISBN: 9781400840069
Publisher: Princeton University Press Publication: November 7, 2011
Imprint: Princeton University Press Language: English
Author: William F. McCants
ISBN: 9781400840069
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication: November 7, 2011
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Language: English

From the dawn of writing in Sumer to the sunset of the Islamic empire, Founding Gods, Inventing Nations traces four thousand years of speculation on the origins of civilization. Investigating a vast range of primary sources, some of which are translated here for the first time, and focusing on the dynamic influence of the Greek, Roman, and Arab conquests of the Near East, William McCants looks at the ways the conquerors and those they conquered reshaped their myths of civilization's origins in response to the social and political consequences of empire.

The Greek and Roman conquests brought with them a learned culture that competed with that of native elites. The conquering Arabs, in contrast, had no learned culture, which led to three hundred years of Muslim competition over the cultural orientation of Islam, a contest reflected in the culture myths of that time. What we know today as Islamic culture is the product of this contest, whose protagonists drew heavily on the lore of non-Arab and pagan antiquity.

McCants argues that authors in all three periods did not write about civilization's origins solely out of pure antiquarian interest--they also sought to address the social and political tensions of the day. The strategies they employed and the postcolonial dilemmas they confronted provide invaluable context for understanding how authors today use myth and history to locate themselves in the confusing aftermath of empire.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

From the dawn of writing in Sumer to the sunset of the Islamic empire, Founding Gods, Inventing Nations traces four thousand years of speculation on the origins of civilization. Investigating a vast range of primary sources, some of which are translated here for the first time, and focusing on the dynamic influence of the Greek, Roman, and Arab conquests of the Near East, William McCants looks at the ways the conquerors and those they conquered reshaped their myths of civilization's origins in response to the social and political consequences of empire.

The Greek and Roman conquests brought with them a learned culture that competed with that of native elites. The conquering Arabs, in contrast, had no learned culture, which led to three hundred years of Muslim competition over the cultural orientation of Islam, a contest reflected in the culture myths of that time. What we know today as Islamic culture is the product of this contest, whose protagonists drew heavily on the lore of non-Arab and pagan antiquity.

McCants argues that authors in all three periods did not write about civilization's origins solely out of pure antiquarian interest--they also sought to address the social and political tensions of the day. The strategies they employed and the postcolonial dilemmas they confronted provide invaluable context for understanding how authors today use myth and history to locate themselves in the confusing aftermath of empire.

More books from Princeton University Press

Cover of the book Guru English by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Why Can the Dead Do Such Great Things? by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Functional Analysis by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Tesla by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Still a House Divided by William F. McCants
Cover of the book License to Harass by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Rewriting the Soul by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Thrive by William F. McCants
Cover of the book How Mathematicians Think by William F. McCants
Cover of the book When Insurers Go Bust by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Benford's Law by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Of Privacy and Power by William F. McCants
Cover of the book A Monetary History of the United States, 1867-1960 by William F. McCants
Cover of the book Who Are the Criminals? by William F. McCants
Cover of the book A Certain Ambiguity by William F. McCants
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy