Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel by Eric H. Cline (PDF)

Description

“Jerusalem Besieged is a fascinating account of how and why a baffling array of peoples, ideologies, and religions have fought for some four thousand years over a city without either great wealth, size, or strategic importance. Cline guides us through the baffling, but always bloody, array of Jewish, Roman, Moslem, Crusader, Ottoman, Western, Arab, and Israeli fights for possession of such a symbolic prize in a manner that is both scholarly and engaging.”-Victor Davis Hanson, Stanford University; author of The Other Greeks and Carnage and Culture”A beautifully lucid presentation of four thousand years of history in a single volume. Cline writes primarily as an archaeologist-avoiding polemic and offering evidence for any religious claims-yet he has also incorporated much journalistic material into this study. Jerusalem Besieged will enlighten anyone interested in the history of military conflict in and around Jerusalem.”-Col. Rose Mary Sheldon, Virginia Military Institute”This groundbreaking study offers a fascinating synthesis of Jerusalem’s military history from its first occupation into the modern era. Cline amply deploys primary source material to investigate assaults on Jerusalem of every sort, starting at the dawn of recorded history. Jerusalem Besieged is invaluable for framing the contemporary situation in the Middle East in the context of a very long and pertinent history.”-Baruch Halpern, Pennsylvania State UniversityA sweeping history of four thousand years of struggle for control of one city”[An] absorbing account of archaeological history, from the ancient Israelites’ first conquest to today’s second intifada. Cline clearly lays out the fascinating history behind the conflicts.”-USA Today”A pleasure to read, this work makes this important but complicated subject fascinating.”-Jewish Book World”Jerusalem Besieged is a fascinating account of how and why a baffling array of peoples, ideologies, and religions have fought for some four thousand years over a city without either great wealth, size, or strategic importance. Cline guides us through the baffling, but always bloody, array of Jewish, Roman, Moslem, Crusader, Ottoman, Western, Arab, and Israeli fights for possession of such a symbolic prize in a manner that is both scholarly and engaging.”-Victor Davis Hanson, Stanford University; author of The Other Greeks and Carnage and Culture

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐The book is vast in scope: it covers from the Bronze Age to the Modern Age.The book is written as a narrative of Jerusalem, and succeeds in conveying the events of history surrounding Jerusalem in a way that keeps Jerusalem at the center, and this is done well. You will learn a lot about Jerusalem, specifically, and its quite enjoyable reading.I have two major points of contention.1. He claims that the Umayyad Dynasty began in 638, with the taking of Jerusalem. This simply cannot be true. Caliph Umar was in charge during 638, was the Caliph who ordered the taking of, and received the surrender of, Jerusalem. There is not even room to argue that he was the beginning of the Umayyad Dynasty. He is neither from the Banu Umayyah—I think he’s from Banu Qusay, off the top of my head, nor is the caliphate administering from Damascus (this doesn’t happen until the Umayyad Dyansty begins, officially). Caliph Ali isn’t killed until 661, which is considered the end of the Rashidun Caliphate, and thus the beginning of the Umayyad cannot be 638. There are arguments to be made that it began shortly before 661, as Mu’awiyah had amassed a serious military and administration in Damascus by this time, but certainly not in 638, certainly not before Uthman is killed, certainly not before the Battle of the Camel, or the Battle of Siffin.2. He follows Karen Armstrong’s definition of jihad, which forgoes any notion of the Greater Jihad and Lesser Jihad, the former being an internal battle and the latter being the existential or external battle.All those and the binding of the book is s***, the first 50 pages have fallen out. They’re glued in, so I guess that’s to be expected, and it’s not even good glue.

⭐I enjoyed reading this work of history. The multi-faceted, multi-perspectival approach was enlightening and helpful. I appreciated his unique voice and writing style.My only negative interaction with the material was that often when Biblical references are cited, there are instances of some insulting caveats: “if the Biblical sources are to be believed.” I did not see that mentioned against other sources, thereby revealing a clear bias against the Bible. In my view, these are unnecessary qualifications unless the intent is to draw question upon the most-proven book in history to which this book and its author would do well to pay appropriate homage by, at the very least, omitting such libelous remarks. In the words of a popular proverb: “Eat the fish, spit out the bones”

⭐I ordered this book in January and finally cracked it open today. It is printed upside down and backwards. I’ve only read the first page so far, so I cannot comment on content, but the printing and reading experience is not great so far.

⭐Book as described and at a great price and delivered a little quicker than expected.

⭐For 4000 years, Jerusalem’s sovereignty is fought over by Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Canaanites, Jews, Greeks, Romans, Christians, and various Muslim states. You will understand the Christian concept of “Armageddon” evolving from these hundreds of battles fought in and around Jerusalem, not far from the eponymous mountain (Har Megiddo). Highly recommended for those interested in gaining a foundation for the modern day struggle for this “Eternal City” – for the struggle over Jerusalem is anything but modern. An exciting, yet painful history to read.

⭐Gave to a friend for holiday gift because he was going to Jerusalem. He told us that he is really enjoying reading it since his return.

⭐My God indeed!What a time line story!!! It is without equal, and tells us just where this present day middle east crises is going.Pulling out the stops here, i want to say this book should be required reading for all people from all cultures.I have just finished my third reading and keep it next to my reading chair like a Bible.Only problem; none.

⭐In-depth. Reading for the second time. For anyone interested in the Holy Land. Great history.

Keywords

Free Download Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel in PDF format
Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel PDF Free Download
Download Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel 2010 PDF Free
Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel 2010 PDF Free Download
Download Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel PDF
Free Download Ebook Jerusalem Besieged: From Ancient Canaan to Modern Israel