"This fascinating book is a union of physics and Egyptology. It is constructed like a mystery story, and it would be unfair to give away too much of the plot. ..." The New Yorker.

This book surveys the use of mind-altering plants in eleven societies in the Americas, Asia, Australia and New Guinea, ranging from the hunter-gatherers to complex ancient civilizations such as the Inca, the Moche, and the Maya. Those interested in rituals and religions of traditional societies and folk medicine will find a great deal of information in this concise, illustrated volume. Several themes emerge from de Rios's cross-cultural examination of sacred plants. She argues convincingly that plant hallucinogens, which have been used from time immemorial, influenced human evolution. She discusses religious beliefs, including those of shamanism, which may have been influenced by the mind-altering properties of particular plants. She also focuses on the ways in which hallucinogens have influenced ethical and moral systems.

The first anthology by Jewish women of color, with the original edition published in 2003, The Flying Camel 2022 edition remains ahead of the curve and includes new material: a cover and introduction featuring celebrity Yemenite-Israeli band A-WA, along with a musical framework for understanding issues addressed throughout the anthology; a preface sharing how the book was birthed into being and how to use it today; original poems by editor Loolwa Khazzoom, matched with the themes of each essay in the book; and a comprehensive study guide for book clubs and university courses. Like the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes, the seventeen women of The Flying Camel boldly emerge from the wreckage of their ancient civilizations and invite readers on an intimate journey of self-discovery, creativity, and defiance. Drawing from personal and ancestral memories, amidst the pursuit of soul-filled dreams and longings, anthology contributors navigate geopolitical upheaval and cultural homelessness, crisscrossing four continents and stepping back and forth through the spiritual portals of time. Nothing is quite as it seems, we learn, with identity constructs, loyalties, and politics dependent on so many variables that, ultimately, the borders perhaps dissolve into the greater expansiveness of who we are. Alternately raw and fierce, vulnerable and tender, these gripping stories are deeply personal and uniformly honest, providing a secret passageway deep below the narrow scripts and slogans of today's identity politics, and leading straight into the chamber of the heart. Reflecting a diversity of experience and perspective, and drawing from a collective wealth of knowledge, the stories naturally weave through topics including exile, body image, sexuality, class division, religious practice, domestic violence, the Middle East conflict, and other pertinent issues, in ways that are both insightful and refreshing.

A secular regime is toppled by Western intervention, but an Islamic backlash turns the liberators into occupiers. Caught between interventionists at home and fundamentalists abroad, a prime minister flounders as his ministers betray him, alliances fall apart, and a runaway general makes policy in the field. As the media accuse Western soldiers of barbarity and a region slides into chaos, the armies of God clash on an ancient river and an accidental empire arises. This is not the Middle East of the early twenty-first century. It is Africa in the late nineteenth century, when the river Nile became the setting for an extraordinary collision between Europeans, Arabs, and Africans. A human and religious drama, the conflict defined the modern relationship between the West and the Islamic world. The story is not only essential for understanding the modern clash of civilizations but is also a gripping, epic, tragic adventure. "Three Empires on the Nile" tells of the rise of the first modern Islamic state and its fateful encounter with the British Empire of Queen Victoria. Ever since the self-proclaimed Islamic messiah known as the Mahdi gathered an army in the Sudan and besieged and captured Khartoum under its British overlord Charles Gordon, the dream of a new caliphate has haunted modern Islamists. Today, Shiite insurgents call themselves the Mahdi Army, and Sudan remains one of the great fault lines of battle between Muslims and Christians, blacks and Arabs. The nineteenth-century origins of it all were even more dramatic and strange than today's headlines. In the hands of Dominic Green, the story of the Nile's three empires is an epic in the tradition of Kipling, the bard of empire, and Winston Churchill, who fought in the final destruction of the Mahdi's army. It is a sweeping and very modern tale of God and globalization, slavers and strategists, missionaries and messianists. A pro-Western regime collapses from its own corruption, a jihad threatens the global economy, a liberation movement degenerates into a tyrannical cult, military intervention goes wrong, and a temporary occupation lasts for decades. In the rise and fall of empires, we see a parable for our own times and a reminder that, while American military involvement in the Islamic world is the beginning of a new era for America, it is only the latest chapter in an older story for the people of the region.

Born into slavery, adopted as an infant by a princess, and raised in the palace of mighty Pharaoh, Moses struggles to define himself. And so do the three women who love him: his own embittered mother, forced to give him up by Pharaoh's decree; the Egyptian princess who defies her father and raises Moses as her own child; and his headstrong sister Almah, who discovers a greater kinship with the Egyptian deities than with her own God of the Hebrews. Told by Moses and his sister Almah from alternating points of view, this stunning novel by Newbery Honor-author Julius Lester probes questions of identity, faith, and destiny.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

For more advanced Pagan worshippers who are ready to deeply interact with their religion, Devoted to You offers an insightful and complete exploration of four significant deities. Many witches and Pagans worship specific Goddesses and Gods, gaining insight and guidance from their presence. Wiccans can look to Aphrodite to connect them with love, beauty, and sex. Gala, Mother Earth, teaches about the living planet, helping Pagans to appreciate and care for her. Brigit, the Celtic Goddess of creativity and healing, inspires readers to develop their own talents and skills. Anubis guides the way into the deep mysteries of death and transformation. Like all the ancient Gods, these four can enlighten and inspire today just as they affected the lives of those in ancient civilizations. Devoted to You features information on these four deities from a variety of cultures: Egyptian, Celtic, Greek, each written by an expert in his or her field. Readers will gain an understanding of the archetypes that devoted Wiccans are drawn to; the names the deities have been called in various cultures, times, and places; and the various myths associated with the Gods and Goddesses. Each deity is also connected with one of the four Earth Sabbats and they are explained with regard to suggested ritual and meditative exercises. In Devoted to You, Judy Harrow offers advice on how to apply these insights and power to daily life.

"Millennialists through the ages have looked forward to the apocalyptic moment that will radically transform society into heaven on earth. They have delivered withering critiques of their own civilizations and promised both the impending annihilation of the forces of evil and the advent of a perfect society. And all their promises have invariably failed. We tend, therefore, to dismiss these prophets of doom and salvation as crackpots and madmen, and not surprisingly historians of our secular era have tended to underestimate their impact on our modern world. Now, Richard Landes offers a lucid and ground-breaking analysis of this widely misunderstood phenomenon. This long-awaited study shows that many events typically regarded as secular--including the French Revolution, Marxism, Bolshevism, Nazism-not only contain key millennialist elements, but follow the apocalyptic curve of enthusiastic launch, disappointment and (often catastrophic) re-entry into "normal time." Indeed, as Landes examines the explicit millennialism behind such recent events as the emergence of Global Jihad since 1979, he challenges the common notion that modern history is largely driven by secular interests. By focusing on ten widely different case studies, none of which come from Judaism or Christianity, he shows that millennialism is not only a cultural universal, but also an extremely adaptive social phenomenon that persists across the modern and post-modern divides. At the same time, he also offers valuable insight into the social and psychological factors that drive such beliefs. Ranging from ancient Egypt to modern-day UFO cults and global Jihad, Heaven on Earth both delivers an eye-opening revisionist argument for the significance of millennialism throughout history and alerts the reader to the alarming spread of these ideologies in our world today."--Publisher's description.

Step back in time and explore the fascinating world of ancient Greece through "The Home Life of the Ancient Greeks" by H. Blümner. This detailed study offers a captivating glimpse into the daily routines, social structures, and customs that shaped the lives of people in ancient Greece up to 146 B.C. Delve into the nuances of domestic life, uncovering the traditions and practices that governed households. From social interactions to the intricacies of daily existence, this book provides a comprehensive overview of a bygone era. Discover the unique aspects of ancient Greek culture, meticulously researched and presented. A valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient history, social customs, and the rich tapestry of life in ancient Greece. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

From small village communities to prosperous city-states that culminated in the magnificent empires of the Aztecs and Incas, this classic work traces the development of pre-Columbian America, its inhabitants, agriculture, and cultural sphere. "...a product of judicious reflection by an able mind fully abreast of a widely dispersed literature..."-- American Historical Review. "...a fine example of how a scholar can tap both archeological and historical resources to produce a lucid synthesis of an area."-- Latin American Research Review.

This book was written at a time when little of nothing was known of Central Asia. Tibet was still a forbidden land and the conditions in other parts so harsh as to discourage all but the hardiest of travellers and explorers. The author Aurel Stein originated in Hungary and completed his studies in Oxford U. from where he took up the post of principal in Lahore's Oriental College. He later joined the Archaeological Survey of India which allowed him to travel distant lands in some of the most obscure and inaccessible parts of North India and beyond. His descriptions of his travels lead us across almost the same terrain as was followed by Marco Polo on his adventures to China and the Great Kublai Khan. This was the ancient Silk Road, which once joined the civilizations of antiquity and was a main artery of commerce for the ancient world. This most revealing book allows us to see through the eyes of the Author the great expanses of dried up prehistoric oceans now converted into deserts which travellers faced on their long journeys across central Asia.

Text: English, German (translation)

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the international law and customs of ancient Greece and Rome, offering an invaluable resource for scholars and students of classical history. Featuring detailed and authoritative analysis of the legal and political structures of both societies, it offers a fascinating insight into the origins of modern international law and the evolution of legal and political thought. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The People Of The Book: From The Creation To The Death Of Moses offers a detailed exploration of the formative years of the Jewish people, as recounted in the Hebrew Bible. Maurice Henry Harris presents a narrative spanning from the creation of the world to the death of Moses, examining key events and figures that shaped Jewish identity and faith. This volume delves into the stories of the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, and the challenges faced by the Israelites in their journey to the Promised Land. Harris provides historical context and theological insights, making the ancient texts accessible to contemporary readers. Explore the origins of 'The People Of The Book' and their enduring legacy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Both before and after 1948, Marxists advocated a two-state solution to Arab-Israeli conflict. This book examines how this proposal, endorsed by international consensus in 1947-49, had ceased to figure on the political agenda by the 1960s.

"Jerusalem is the center of the universe, the hub of the three great monotheistic religions, yet how did a city located on the desert fringe, in the semi-arid southern highlands of Israel with little tillable land achieve such dominance? To provide answers to this enduring riddle, Israel Finkelstein has collected twenty-four of his best articles and essays covering the Middle Bronze Age to the late Hellenistic period. With critical and well-informed care, he analyzes archaeological evidence that often stands in tension with the biblical text. Topics of particular interest include the archaeology of the tenth century BCE; Saul, David, and Solomon in the Bible and archaeology; the first expansion of the city in the ninth century; its full growth in the late eighth to seventh centuries; Jerusalem and Judah under the Assyrian Empire; the days of King Josiah; and transormations in the Persian-Hellenistic era"--

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Originally issued in two volumes, the findings in this study of pre-dynastic Egypt are based on excavated antiquities.