Aristocratic Violence and Holy War: Studies in the Jihad and the Arab-Byzantine Frontier (American Oriental Series)

History

Bonner, Michael

Europe

Amer Oriental Society

This study revisits the six inscriptions originally carved into stone by the first emperor of China, Ch'in Shih-huang (reigned as emperor 221-210 B.C.). Rejecting the traditional difference between "Legalist" and "Confucian" scholars as inaccurate, the author proposes a new reading of Ch'in history that sees the Ch'in emperior's patronage of scholarship as no different from that of many of his successors. Supporting scholars who justified his rule, he took measures to restrict writings opposed to him.

The Stele Inscriptions of Ch'in Shih-huang: Text and Ritual in Early Chinese Imperial Representation (American Oriental Series 85)

Kern, Martin

Chin Shih-Huang

Asia

Originally published in 1994 (hardcover now out of print), this volume has been reprinted in a new paperback format that will make it more attractive and affordable for use in the classroom. The work sketches with extraordinary precision the history of the Chinese writing system from the late Shang (ca. 1200 b.c.) when Chinese characters are first in evidence down to the script's standardization and codification a millennium later in the Ch'in and Han (221 b.c. a.d. 220). Prof. Boltz takes in part a comparative approach to the origin and early structure and development of Chinese writing, suggesting that in its general principles the process was matched pari passu by the way writing first arose in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and among the Mayas (for example, that the Chinese script records the sounds of words, not ideas). The author also examines the question of why the Chinese script never became alphabetic, in spite of hints of such tendencies in the third and second centuries b.c. Kidder Smith, of Bowdoin College, said of the original publication: ". . . this book will be highly valued by anyone concerned with the relationships of language to writing, and should become the point of reference for all discussions of these questions as they pertain to ancient Chinese" (Religious Studies Review Vol. 21, No. 4, October 1995).

The Origin and Early Development of the Chinese Writing System (American Oriental, 78)

Reference

Boltz, William

Words, Language & Grammar

This monograph seeks to understand the cultural context and function of wordplay as employed by ancient Mesopotamian dream interpreters and other divinatory experts. The author then aims to use this context to explain the presence of punning in Akkadian literary and epistolary accounts of enigmatic dreams. Noegel also examines the later appearance of Egyptian oneirocritic punning and explores the possibility that it represents intellectual exchange between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Building upon these observations, he then argues that Israelite, and possibly Ugaritic, literary reports of enigmatic dreams similarly reflect the punning hermeneutic and therefore also may share a mantic context, as well as possible Mesopotamian influence. Finally, Noegel traces punning oneirocritic strategy into other cultures and later times and texts, including early Greek and Talmudic literature. 
 Noegel's investigation provides insights into a variety of subjects including the social context of divination and the production of literary texts, the role of writing and script in the divinatory process, the impact of Mesopotamian intellectual thought, the authorship of certain biblical pericopes, the relationship of oneiromancy to prophecy, and the function of ancient Near Eastern literary devices. In so doing, he draws attention to broader theoretical concerns that confront the study of the ancient world.

Nocturnal Ciphers: The Allusive Language of Dreams in the Ancient Near East (American Oriental, 89)

Noegel, Scott

Ancient Civilizations

Ahmad B. At-tayyib As-sarahsi: A Scholar and Litterateur of the Ninth Century (American Oriental)

Literature & Fiction

Rosenthal, Franz

History & Criticism

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Roots, Verb Forms and Primary Derivatives of the Sanskrit Language

Religion & Spirituality

WILLIAM DWIGHT WHITNEY

Hinduism

Old Persian Grammar Texts Lexicon Vol. 33 (2nd Edition)

Kent, Roland

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Crucifixion and Death As Spectacle: Umayyad Crucifixion in Its Late Antique Context (American Oriental)

Anthony, Sean

Middle East

Hab Piru (American Oriental V039)

Greenberg, Moshe

Islamic Revolution and Historical Memory: An Inquiry into the Art of Abbasid Apologetics (American Oriental Series)

Lassner, Jacob

Americas

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Books by Amer Oriental Society