Bøger af Michael Pye

Fundamentet for den moderne verden blev lagt rundt om Nordsøen i Middelalderen. Banebrydende, velskrevet og tankevækkende storværk gør op med forestillingen om de mørke, krigeriske nordboer og genopdager vikingerne og deres nabofolks rolle i Europas store historie. Vi hører tit, at Europas historie begynder med oldtidens græske og romerske riger efterfulgt af mørk middelalder, inden den italienske renæssance vakte tanke og udvikling til live igen. Men det er helt forkert ifølge den britiske historiker Michael Pye. Vi skal kigge væk fra Middelhavet og i stedet mod Nordsøen, hvis vi vil forstå fundamentet for nutidens Europa. Da romerne trak sig tilbage fra Nordeuropa, efterlod de småt befolkede, barbariske områder på kanten af den kendte verden. Men i løbet af de følgende tusind år fra vikingetiden og frem blomstrede der her en kultur, som har præget verden siden. På tværs af Nordsøen, mellem de britiske øer og Norge, Danmark, Tyskland, Holland og Frankrig udvekslede kunstnere, helgener, handelsfolk, spioner og pirater varer og ideer. Her blev eksempelvis ideen om penge udviklet til det, vi kender i dag. Hvis penge skal afløse byttehandler, kræver det tillid og stærke institutioner – og det havde rigerne omkring Nordsøen. Videnskabelige opdagelser inden for bl.a. søfart rejste rundt langs kysterne, mens moderne ideer om jura og lovgivning blev delt på kryds og tværs. Med "På kanten af verden" genopdager Michael Pye en tabt verden fuld af spraglede herskere, kreative købmænd og kloge vikinger, som på en lang række områder kom til at sætte præg på vores tid. "En enestående bog … glimrende og tankevækkende" THE TIMES "Et blændende, historisk eventyr"DAILY TELEGRAPH "Højest underholdende"THE GUARDIAN "Overbevisende og velskrevet"THE OBSERVER "En inspirerende bog, fuld af overraskelser"THE INDEPENDENT OM FORFATTEREN Michael Pye (f. 1946) er britisk historiker og forfatter til flere historiske bøger, oversat til elleve sprog. Han er uddannet ved Oxford University og bor i dag i Holland.

Featured in New York Times: 100 Notable Books of 2015Michael Pye's The Edge of the World is an epic adventure: from the Vikings to the Enlightenment, from barbaric outpost to global centre, it tells the amazing story of northern Europe's transformation by sea.'An utterly beguiling journey into the dark ages of the north sea. A complete revelation . . . Pye writes like a dream. Magnificent' Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve MapsThis is a story of saints and spies, of fishermen and pirates, traders and marauders - and of how their wild and daring journeys across the North Sea built the world we know.When the Roman Empire retreated, northern Europe was a barbarian outpost at the very edge of everything. A thousand years later, it was the heart of global empires and the home of science, art, enlightenment and money. We owe this transformation to the tides and storms of the North Sea.The water was dangerous, but it was far easier than struggling over land; so it was the sea that brought people together. Boats carried food and raw materials, but also new ideas and information. The seafarers raided, ruined and killed, but they also settled and coupled. With them they brought new tastes and technologies - books, clothes, manners, paintings and machines. In this dazzling historical adventure, we return to a time that is largely forgotten and watch as the modern world is born. We see the spread of money and how it paved the way for science. We see how plague terrorised even the rich and transformed daily life for the poor. We watch as the climate changed and coastlines shifted, people adapted and towns flourished. We see the arrival of the first politicians, artists, lawyers: citizens. From Viking raiders to Mongol hordes, Frisian fishermen to Hanseatic hustlers, travelling as far west as America and as far east as Byzantium, we see how the life and traffic of the seas changed everything.Drawing on an astonishing breadth of learning and packed with human stories and revelations, this is the epic drama of how we came to be who we are.'A closely-researched and fascinating characterisation of the richness of life and the underestimated interconnections of the peoples all around the medieval and early modern North Sea. A real page-turner' Chris Wickham, author of The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000'Elegant writing and extraordinary scholarship . . . Miraculous' Hugh Aldersey-Williams, author of Periodic Tales and Anatomies'Splendid. A heady mix of social, economic, and intellectual history, written in an engaging style. It offers a counterpoint to the many studies of the Mediterranean, arguing for the importance of the North Sea. Exciting, fun, and informative' Michael Prestwich, Professor of History, Durham UniversityMichael Pye has written eleven previous books, translated into eleven languages, including two British bestsellers and two New York Times Notable Books of the Year. He took a First and various prizes in Modern History at Oxford, and was then for many years a highly successful journalist, columnist and broadcaster in London and New York. He now lives between London and rural Portugal.

A one-volume dictionary of religion based on concepts drawn partly from the various religious traditions and partly from the historical and reflective study of religion as a modern academic discipline. As a dictionary rather than an encyclopedia, there will be concise explanations on a very large number of special terms rather than lengthy essays on selected subjects. Entries will include definitions of terms from various religious traditions which have now entered into current English usage, as well as a wide variety of semi-technical terms from related fields such as philosophy, sociology and social anthropology.

These two volumes present Pye's methodological, theoretical, and field-based interests in the study of religions. Pye understands the study of religions to be an international enterprise with roots in both European and East Asian culture. This relates to his active role in the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), as a former General Secretary and President. The work is presented in seven sections, which could be used in teaching assignments. The first volume begins with a lively introduction on "e;Methodological Strategies,"e; followed by "e;East Asian Starting Points,"e; a radical attempt to overcome Eurocentrism, and "e;Structures and Strategies,"e; which tackles globally significant institutional and ideological questions. The second volume presents selected strands in the study of religions. "e;Comparing and Contrasting"e; is followed by "e;Tradition and Innovation,"e; including reference to specific new religions. "e;Transplantation and Syncretism"e; is a definitive package on syncretism and includes new materials from South-East Asia. Finally, "e;Contextual Questions"e; explores wider themes of identity, plurality, dialogue of religions, religious education, and peace. These show how relevant the study of religions can be -when it is distinctly and responsibly defined.

These two volumes present Pye's methodological, theoretical, and field-based interests in the study of religions. Pye understands the study of religions to be an international enterprise with roots in both European and East Asian culture. This relates to his active role in the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), as a former General Secretary and President. The work is presented in seven sections, which could be used in teaching assignments. The first volume begins with a lively introduction on "e;Methodological Strategies,"e; followed by "e;East Asian Starting Points,"e; a radical attempt to overcome Eurocentrism, and "e;Structures and Strategies,"e; which tackles globally significant institutional and ideological questions. The second volume presents selected strands in the study of religions. "e;Comparing and Contrasting"e; is followed by "e;Tradition and Innovation,"e; including reference to specific new religions. "e;Transplantation and Syncretism"e; is a definitive package on syncretism and includes new materials from South-East Asia. Finally, "e;Contextual Questions"e; explores wider themes of identity, plurality, dialogue of religions, religious education, and peace. These show how relevant the study of religions can be -when it is distinctly and responsibly defined.

A one-volume dictionary of religion based on concepts drawn partly from the various religious traditions and partly from the historical and reflective study of religion as a modern academic discipline.

In this book, which draws on classic articles first published in The Eastern Buddhist, major historic proponents and masters of the nenbutsu are introduced, in particular Shinran, Shoku, Ippen and Rennyo.

Early issues of The Eastern Buddhist contain short translations from various Buddhist texts, some of them quite important and all of considerable interest. Assembled here is a selection of those texts which have stood the test of time.

Contributions from The Eastern Buddhist which pioneered presentations of Buddhism to the west and invited interaction with non-Japanese authors.

Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage explores the ritual practice of "circulatory pilgrimages" - the visiting of many temples in a numbered sequence.

Michael Pye's introductory guide investigates the meaning and context of skilful means in Mayahana Buddhist teachings, whilst tracing its early origins in ancient Japanese and Theravada thought. First published in 1979, it illuminates a core working philosophy essential for any complete understanding of Buddhism.