The profound economic and strategic significance of the province of “Africa†made the Maghreb highly contested in the Byzantine period―by the Roman (Byzantine) empire; Berber kingdoms; and eventually also Muslim Arabs―as each group sought to gain; control; and exploit the region to its own advantage. Scholars have typically taken the failure of the Byzantine endeavor in Africa as a foregone conclusion. North Africa under Byzantium and Early Islam reassesses this pessimistic vision both by examining those elements of Romano-African identity that provided continuity in a period of remarkable transition; and by seeking to understand the transformations in African society in the context of the larger post-Roman Mediterranean. Chapters in this book address topics including the legacy of Vandal rule in Africa; historiography and literature; art and architectural history; the archaeology of cities and their rural hinterlands; the economy; the family; theology; the cult of saints; Berbers; and the Islamic conquest; in an effort to consider the ways in which the imperial legacy was re-interpreted; re-imagined; and put to new uses in Byzantine and early Islamic Africa.
#724452 in Books Countryman Press 2009-06-01 2009-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.20 x 6.10l; 1.50 #File Name: 0881508608504 pages
Review
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. ExcellentBy BostonJenWhile I bought this as a gift for a friend; I would not hesitate to buy it again. It is written in a very creative way; where you can use it as a guide while in the car seeking your next stop; or you can relax in an armchair and read up on battlegrounds; monuments; and civil war history. Most books of this kind tend to follow one path or the other. The guide has 10 weekend tours; gives places to stay (generally historically relevant BBs); has way more pictures than you would expect; gives site details; biographical information about certain historical figures; and more-- it is written in a very approachable manner; so it would be of interest to those who have only a basic knowledge of the civil war (the guide does not assume you are an expert; instead seeks to give you a well-rounded understanding of what you will be visiting). This is perfect for a civil war buff; any lover of american history; or those who enjoy road trips. If you know someone who loves all three; this is a must-have! Highly recommended.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Look forward to using this book on my own Civil War Road Trip.By Rosa; reallyAfter 20 years of thinking about it** my father and I are finally going on our Civil War Road Trip. We're leaving by car (from Vancouver; WA) at the end of May 2014 plan to be gone for about a month.This book (as well as Week's Civil War Road Trip Vols 1 2) was very helpful in planning our trip (I say "we" but it's really my father doing the planning; as he's the historian and the true Civil War enthusiast). Here's our plan:-Endless drive across middle America of which I'll skip the details (probably spent bickering about who should be doing the driving--he's 77 with some cataracts; while I'm an easily distracted driver; or so I've been told--by him).-Shiloh to Chatenooga TN via Savannah at US 64 east tp I-24-Chatanooga to Atlanta GA via I-75; I-16 at Macon to Savannah side jaunt at Macon to Andersonville via I-75 and US 26; return via US 26; state 46 eastward to I-15 at milepost 75)-Savannah to Charleston SC via I-95; then north to Richmond VA; Civil War main battlefields; Petersburg; Appomatox; Cold Harbor and others in Grants 1864 campaign; then north and northwest to earlier battlefields of 1862-1863; e.g.-Fredericksburg; Chancellorsville; 1st and 2nd Manassas to the Shenandoah Valley (1862); then Harpers Ferry and Antietam MD; Gettysburg PA. Finally; a potpourri at-Washington DC; to Mt Vernon; Monticello; Arlington whatever; maybe even to congress of the US-Return I-70 west thru PA to Indianapolis; then I-74 west to I-90 and Madison; WI; westward on same to Black Hills SD; thence I-94 at Billings MT and take your choice thereafterDad would like to skip Savannah; GA altogether ("I just don't know what it's particular importance is -- historically speaking") but I've read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil twice; so I'm putting my foot down. And we're hitting Billings; Montana because as a young man; my father was nuts; spent his summer's jumping out of planes in the area (as a smokejumper).Anyway; I am really looking forward to getting on the road and I'll definitely be taking this book along for the ride.**I first wanted to take this trip at 17; when I was sure the future would be filled with endless amounts of money -- not to mention a distinct lack of Student Loan bills -- vacation time. Har har1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Handy ReferencesBy ConsumerThese two volumes of the Road Trip are very handy references if you have the opportunity to visit civil War sites. The author tells you what you are looking at when viewing the ground in today's setting. That will be extremely helpful as we visit what sites we can in these anniversary years of the events. I have use for both volumes as the first trip we'll take involves the Western theater from New Orleans to Memphis and then next year the Eastern theater in Virginia. The concise descriptions of history give you a quick reference and will lay the foundation for more in depth reading if you so choose.
