Bøger af Martyn Whittock

Repression, control, manipulation and elimination of enemies assisted in the establishment of the Soviet state, and helped maintain it in power, but could not, in the end, prevent its collapse.

Ever since Jesus was crucified, the cross has both united and divided people. How could a brutal Roman method of execution become the defining symbol of a world religion? Across two thousand years of art and culture, people have debated these questions and their answers are vividly seen in ways as varied as paintings, carvings, architecture, political symbols, military medals, tattoos and jewellery. From Jesus wearing trousers on Viking crucifixes, to modern representations of the crucified as an Indian untouchable; from early medieval jewelled crosses from which Jesus serenely reigns, to later paintings which graphically portray his suffering; from the cross portrayed in industrial landscapes, to modern high-end jewellery, the cross has been seizing attention and stimulating thought for centuries. The cross of Christ is a symbol which has exploded beyond the church and is now a world-wide phenomenon. In this book, Esther and Martyn Whittock explore (with the aid of striking visual images) how the cross has been explained, interpreted, used, and at times abused, over two thousand years.

Who was Jesus Christ, and how did he make such an astonishing impact that still resonates today? Exploring evidence from the New Testament gospels, early church writings, the apocryphal gospels, Roman literature, and archaeology, readers are given a vivid portrait of Jesus' first-century Jewish cultural context. Examining the accounts of his birth, his radical message and lifestyle, the dramatic events around his death, and the revolutionary claims made regarding his resurrection, this book offers a compelling biography of a man that his followers called the Messiah. If you have ever wondered about the impact of Jesus' social class on his ministry; why he was at odds with religious authorities; the influence of Roman occupation; the interactions with contemporary resistance movements; or the prominent role of women in his disciple community, then allow this book to challenge and deepen your understanding of the Jesus found in the Bible.

A fresh and revealing history of one of the most seminal events in American history as seen through fourteen diverse and dynamic figures.

A fascinating and insightful examination of Trump's peculiar relationship with the Christian right.

How has Christ been seen for the last two millennia? From the Christ of the Gospels to the Isa of Islam, this book explores the way Jesus Christ has been viewed, described, promoted, opposed and written about. What did the word 'Christ' mean in the first century, and how did it resonate with the politics and religion of the time? And beyond that, how was Jesus seen in the New Testament, and then onto the time of the Desert Fathers? What of the heretical Christs - and who decided, and why? And from the 2nd century onwards, people started to draw and to paint images of Christ - how did this change and develop? The book then traces the history of Christ through the militant leader of the Crusaders, via the multi-faceted Christ of the Middle Ages, and the opposing views of Him thrown up by the Reformation and the wars that followed. Finally, the authors consider the Christ of the technological age and the age of total war, before looking also at the Christ of Liberation Theology, Marxism, the Developing world, the Dalits, other faiths, and the Post-modern Christ of the 21st century.

From rape and pillage to exploration and piety - the whole story of the Vikings

What happens when politicians believe they are governing in God's name and with His approval?

A collection of lively and accessible retellings of the major Norse myths and legends, with commentary to explain what is going on and its significance.

The abuse of power, genocide, the destruction of total war, unimaginable cruelty and the suffering of millions were all central features of Hitler's Nazi regime. Yet the Nazis were also highly successful in manipulating images and information: they mobilized and engaged vast numbers of people, caught the imagination of the young and appeared remarkably modern to many contemporary observers.Was the Third Reich a throwback to a mythical past or a brutally modern and technologically advanced state? Was Hitler a strong dictator who achieved his clear goals, or was his chaotic style of government symptomatic of a weak dictator, unable to control the complex and contradictory forces that he had unleashed? Was the Third Reich ruled by terror, or largely supported by a compliant German population? Was the genocide against the Jews a peculiarly German phenomenon, or a uniquely German expression of a terrible wider trend?Whittock explores these and other key questions, interrogating the views of different historians and drawing on a wealth of primary sources - from state-sponsored art to diaries, letters and memoirs of both perpetrators and victims - to provide an overview of the complex evidence. History should aim to put us firmly in touch with the lives of people living in the past and the issues they faced. Whittock never loses sight of the individuals whose lives were caught up in these extraordinary events, while also giving a lucid overview of the bigger picture.

Using wide-ranging evidence, Martyn Whittock shines a light on Britain in the Middle Ages, bringing it vividly to life. Thus we glimpse 11th century rural society through a conversation between a ploughman and his master.The life of Dick Whittington illuminates the rise of the urban elite. The stories of Roger 'the Raker' who drowned in his own sewage, a 'merman' imprisoned in Orford Castle and the sufferings of the Jews of Bristol reveal the extraordinary diversity of medieval society. Through these characters and events - and using the latest discoveries and research - the dynamic and engaging panorama of medieval England is revealed.Interesting facts include:When the life expectancy for women dropped to 26 years in Sierra Leone in 2002, following a catastrophic civil war, it was one year longer than the estimate for early medieval women.So great was the extent of church construction in the thirteenth century that it has been calculated it was the equivalent, in modern terms, of every family in England paying 500 every year, for the whole century!Murder rates for East Anglia, in the fourteenth century, were comparable with those of modern New York. For England generally the homicide rate was far higher than that of the urban USA today.

A very readable guide which fills the gap between academic analysis and less critical retellings of the myths and legends. Marytn Whittock provides an accessible overview while also assessing the current state of research regarding the origins and significance of the myths. Since all records of the myths first occur in the early medieval period, the focus is on the survival of pre-Christian mythology and the interactions of the early Christian writers with these myths. A wide-ranging and enthralling introduction to Celtic mythology, from the Irish gods before gods, the Fomorians, to the children of Llyr, the sea deity; from the hunter-warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill, whose exploits are chronicled in the Fenian Cycle, to C Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster; and from the Welsh heroes of the Mabinogion to Arthur, King of Britain, though the mythical, Welsh version who predates the medieval legends.

Valhalla and its pantheon of gods and heroes have always fascinated readers, whether it is how these tales illuminate the Viking world or influence cultural touchstones like J. R. R. Tolkien, whose Middle Earth is heavily indebted to Germanic and Norse mythology, as well as Hollywood and comic-culture.In Tales of Valhalla, the Whittocks have dramatically retold these rich stories and sets them in context within the wider Viking world. Including both myths-stories, usually religious, which explain origins, why things are as they are, the nature of the spiritual-and legends-stories which attempt to explain historical events and which may involve historical characters but which are told in a non-historical way and which often include supernatural events-Tales from Valhalla is an accessible and lively volume that brings these hallmarks of world literature to a new generation.

Supporting great history teaching: developing confident, articulate and successful historians. Our new resources* include 16 Student Books - one for every option in the Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History specification - for first teaching from September 2016.

If the Viking Wars had not taken place, would there have been a united England in the tenth century? By looking at the entire period of the wars and by taking a holistic view of their political, economic, social and cultural effects, their many-layered impact can at last be properly assessed.

Focusing on the Roman Empire, this is one of a history series which offers teachers the flexibility to design their own scheme of work at Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum. A teacher's assessment and resource pack, including photocopiable worksheets, is also available.