History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are

Average customer rating:

All about the context
Worth the read
An eye opener!
Hidden Depth
Worthwhile Reading

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are
Henry Petroski
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679740392
Release Date: 1994-02-01

Amazon.com

This surprising book may appear to be about the simple things of life--forks, paper clips, zippers--but in fact it is a far-flung historical adventure on the evolution of common culture. To trace the fork's history, Duke University professor of civil engineering Henry Petroski travels from prehistoric times to Texas barbecue to Cardinal Richelieu to England's Industrial Revolution to the American Civil War--and beyond. Each item described offers a cultural history lesson, plus there's plenty of engineering detail for those so inclined.

Book Description

Petroski tells fascinating stories about the arduous processes that resulted in paper clips, Post-its, Phillips-head screwdrivers, Scotch tape, and fast-food "clamshell" containers. "Petroski . . . an examines the simplest . . . tools in our lives with an appraising eye."--Washington Post Book World. 45 illus.

Customer Reviews:

All about the context.......2006-08-07

I found this book to be very illuminating in light of what I do (interaction design) and the books I have read recently on the latest in computational neuroeconomics, maninstream pattern recognotion theory, interaction design, visual design, industrial design, computer engineering, new marketing theory, and information design around complex systems. In fact, this book is almost a stake in the ground on how the manufacturing process, invention, and branding created the artifacts in our environment. Better than the Industrial Desig books I read 10 years ago. I think we would call these "case studies" and "use cases" in modern terminology. I mention all the fields above because every single one of them have an exact doppelganger in the past.

This book is a brilliant look at process and can be used as a research tool when looking at why something like the iPod caught on and why almost everything that has been developed at MIT in recent history (except eInk) has never gained a foothold in popular American culture. In the face of the rise of "everyware" computing, it's adoption in places like Korea and Japan, and only limited use by the rich for personal security in the US, I would say this is a must read for contemporary designers, no matter what depth of complexity their task at hand. This book predates the web, making it very enlightening in light of user-centered design in recent years.

This book looks at the relationship of genius design, corporate R+D, pop culture, the feedback loop for product innovation, and the adoption of standards around SIMPLE things. This means these case studies can be used to analyse the failures (and how failure breeds innovation, not "form follows function") of our complex information economy and embedded systems. Society has gone through it all before. And as projects become increasingly team based and open sourced (like Stanford's new d.school), just about anyone can find value in this book based within this context.

Worth the read.......2006-06-05

while I agree with some of the previous reviews that Petroski may overstate and repeat a little bit, this book is an excellent in depth look at the invention process as practiced by many people in parallel and in concert.

If you have any interest in Industrial Design, Interaction Design or just trivia for how object evolve this is a great read and Petroski surely knows his stuff.

I don't agree with some who call it too academic, the text is in depth, but not dry. It is not breazy or flip either...Just right*

An eye opener! .......2006-01-10

Ideal for anyone who harbours a casual interest in forks, pins, paper clips and zippers. Not recommended for people who hate forks, pins, paper clips and zippers, or people who are obsessed with forks, pins, paper clips and zippers and already know how they came to be as they are.

Hidden Depth.......2005-12-12

On the face of it, the Evolution of Useful Things simply lists fun trivia about familiar objects. Why does a fork have four tines and not two or three? What's a perfect paperclip? Is there such a thing? Who invented the zipper? How many things can you see on your desk right now?

However the book gives us much more. Petroski uses a large number of concrete facts to present general laws of human thought and activity. The paper clip appeared because pins used to hold papers together made holes in them and could injure someone looking through files, but it took a while for it to reach the form we know today. We invent new things because we are dissatisfied when we find problems. Form follows not function, but failure.

While small objects play the center role here, large machines such as locomotives and large projects such as bridges also come up. Petroski argues that for his concepts to be valid, they must apply to the great as well as the small and he shows that engineers design new bridges or tunnels by solving problems observed found while building other bridges and tunnels.

The book's title is especially good. The evolution of man-made things differs fundamentally from the evolution of living things. Natural selection follows a mindless process of sifting through countless minute _random_ changes. Things, however, evolve through a different process of sifting through countless _intended_ changes (sometimes small, somtimes large) until something arises that works better than before.

Petroski's writing does annoy me a little; he's got some really bad puns. For example he follows two different quotations of how to manufacture a needle with the phrase "there's more than one way to make a point." Another problem is that he repeats himself. For instance, he twice mentions Karl Marx's astonishment at finding 500 different kinds of hammers in a Birmingham factory.

But the originality of his thesis far outweighs these minor flaws. Henry Petroski is a philosopher of engineering examining the question of why we invent things. He asks why we are always perfecting our inventions, why we are never satisfied with our tools as they are. His proposed answers in no small way explain much of the history of our rich living environment with its tens of thousands of useful things.

Vincent Poirier, Tokyo

Worthwhile Reading.......2005-10-23

I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to learn how so many things came about. I enjoyed the history and the anecdotes and in-depth analysis of each topic.

I found it inspirational in many places. The creative artisan not only perfects his skills but looks beyond the routine to develop improved tools and processes. I read many passages to my kids.

I was dismayed when the author started writing about forks again when I thought we were all done with forks until I noticed the way the book is broken out by ideas and concepts rather than the specific examples. I think this is probably the most well-organized book I have ever read.

Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso, the Thomas G. B. Wheellock Collection

Average customer rating:

flying colors for flying masks

Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso, the Thomas G. B. Wheellock Collection
Christopher D. Roy , and Thomas G. B. Wheelock
Manufacturer: Prestel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3791335146

Book Description

The Thomas Wheelock Collection is the largest private assemblage of works of Burkina Faso art in the world. Now accessible to the public for the first time, this book reveals the country's enormous artistic range. Featured here are examples of the intricate and brightly colored masks for which Burkina Faso is best known, and which are used throughout the country in traditional ceremonies and celebrations. The collection also contains a multitude of other ceremonial objects such as costumes, dance ornaments, statues, instruments and pieces of jewelry as well as beautifully crafted everyday items including spoons, pots, baskets, stools and chairs. The pieces in this marvelously panoramic collection reflect a country rich in cultural diversity, tradition, and artistry.

Customer Reviews:

flying colors for flying masks.......2007-07-08

Although Burkina Faso lies between two nations, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire, whose art stands tall in the canons of African sculpture most sought after in the West, Burkina art has been given short shrift by museums, dealers and collectors, and in literature. As a result, long after important older objects had largely vanished from the lands of the Dogon, Bamana, Senufo and Baule, ancient masks, figures, and metalwork could still be
found in Burkina Faso. Author and collector Tom Wheelock had the good fortune to stumble upon this fact in the early 1970s. Persevering through chicanery and art market snobbery he assembled the largest collection of Burkina art in the world over the course of the next three decades. In this remarkable book, Land of Flying Masks, Tom Wheelock shares highlights from his collection in clean, bold images, with informative text and stunning field photography by Professor Christopher Roy, This is not a book of masterpieces- although there are more than a few- it is unique and long overdue survey of the traditional art of a single African nation lovingly rendered. Besides the flying masks one will find gorgeous baskets, stools, rings, hats, pots and musical instruments. A catalog with color thumbnail images and copious identifications takes up a substantial number of pages. For those of us who love African material culture in all its variety, particularly those passionate about the art of West Africa this book is an absolute must.

Paleo-indian Artifacts: Identification & Value Guide

Average customer rating:

Truely a Plea for Your Money
An excellent resource
Mistakes
Beautiful, but flawed
Paleo artifacts

Paleo-indian Artifacts: Identification & Value Guide
Lar Hothem
Manufacturer: Collector Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Firearms & Weapons | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 157432425X

Book Description

Lar Hothem, author of the bestselling series, Indian Artifacts of the Midwest, and several other books on arrowheads, pipes, and trade relics, is widely known for his research in the field of Indian artifacts. His latest book, complete with more than 2,200 color photographs, features the highly valuable chipped points and blades, plus many of the sometimes overlooked minor tool types. All of the basic Paleo artifaces and classes are shown and described, and interesting facts about ancient Paleo lifeways, supported by archaeology, are provided. Sections on discoveries and auction results will be of interest to the reader. Current values for Paleo artifacts of all types are given, and a large number of top-grade Paleo points, some never before published, are pictured. There are chapters of Paleo knives and non-point tools of all kinds, and tips on collecting these artifacts. This book contains the most Paleo artifacts pictured in any publication to date, including some of the more valuable fluted and lanceolate points in North America from some of the finest private collections. Paleo-Indian Artifacts offers a glimpse into an ancient world as revealed by the tools and weapons. AUTHORBIO: Lar Hothem is a well-known expert in the field of Indian arrowheads and artifacts. His popular series, Indian Artifacts of the Midwest series has now added its fifth volume. His other titles include Indian Axes Related Stone Artifacts, Indian Pipes, Arrowheads Projectile Points, and Indian Trade Relics.

Customer Reviews:

Truely a Plea for Your Money.......2007-01-19

I was completely dissapointed in this book. On the pro side: it has a lot of pretty pictures and is hardbound. That is about it. It has no technical merit, nor is there any organization to it. It is simply a mosaic of photographs many of which are subjective as to whether they are truley paleo or not, and they do not represent all paleo tools equally. You will have to work to find examples of redstones here. It may be suitable as a coffee table nicknack, but as a reference or good read....Zzzzzz.

An excellent resource.......2006-08-31

Once the reader is able to get by the occasional editorial oversight, any serious student, artifact collector or just someone interested in Paleo-Indian/Native American artifacts will find this book an excellent and most enjoyable resource. It is both easy to read as well as full of pictures of these hard to find artifacts. Beautifully photographed...that in itself makes it worth sitting down and enjoying.

Mistakes.......2006-02-07

As previous critiquer noted there is an error in the book RIGHT OFF THE BAT! Could ANYONE have proofread this and missed it? It made me not trust the rest of the book, valid as it might be.

Beautiful, but flawed.......2006-01-11

This is a BEAUTIFUL book, and well-worth the relatively low Amazon price. However, there are some flaws in it, which might make its usefulness a tad questionable to serious students of Paleo-Indian artifact values and identities. Several pictures are incorrectly ID'ed (see page 6 and 7...the same picture is used for a fluted point and a clovis point. The same thing happens on page 97. This is probably the result of carelessness on the part of the type/image setter, not the author, but it does make one wonder. The images are spectacular (and I'd give my eye-teeth to find any ONE of them), so ignore my carping and purchase this book. It is huge and loaded with full-color photos of points and tools that will make your mouth water. I want to go to Ohio and hunt for artifacts!

Paleo artifacts.......2005-07-28

Covers all classifications of Paleo, transitional paleo and related tools. Not enough western stuff for me. Hundreds of great pics, I have not counted, maybe a thousand. More clovis than you can shake a stick at. Very very few obvious fakes.
Well worth the little bit of money. Gives history when available, CoA's issused, auction prices when applicable. Best book out there for Paleo.

The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins

Average customer rating:

Excellent Artifacts
Scholarly examination of the origins
Manuscripts as Artifacts
Manuscripts as Evidence

The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins
Larry W. Hurtado
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0802828957

Book Description

Much attention has been paid to the words of the earliest Christian texts, yet Larry Hurtado argues that an even more telling story is being overlooked — that of the physical texts themselves. Well known for his nimble scholarship, Hurtado combines his comprehensive knowledge of Christian origins with an archivist's eye to make sense of these earliest objects of the faith.

Hurtado introduces readers to the staurogram, possibly the first representation of the cross, the nomina sacra, a textual abbreviation system, and the puzzling early Christian preference for book-like texts over scrolls. Intended for intellectually engaged readers as well as New Testament scholars and students, The Earliest Christian Artifacts introduces the distinctive features of early Christian manuscripts, illustrating their relevance for wider inquiry into the ancient history of Christianity.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Artifacts.......2007-05-14

Artifacts and their importance are excellently reviewed and discussed in written materials from the earliest papyri and documents in regard to Christianity.

Scholarly examination of the origins.......2007-04-12

Written by Larry W. Hurtado (Professor of New Testament Language, Literature, and Theology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland), The Earliest Christian Artifacts: Manuscripts and Christian Origins covers an oft-overlooked aspect of the study of ancient canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. Rather that discuss interpretations of what the words of the texts say, The Earliest Christian Artifacts focuses upon the stories of the physical texts themselves. Chapters discuss the staturogram, which was possibly the first ever representation of the cross; the textual abbreviation system of the "nomina sacra"; and the historical curiosity of Christian preference for book-like texts rather than scrolls. A bibliography and extensive appendix round out this scholarly examination of the origins, history, and modern-day physical remnants of ancient writings that utterly transformed the known world.

Manuscripts as Artifacts.......2007-01-03

The stage needs to be set. Hurtado argues that it is hard to identify any art, architecture, epigraphical evidence or whatever before 200 CE/AD. The earliest building dates to the middle of the third century. Manuscripts that can be dated with any confidence are dated to the third century. However there are some 400 papyri that can be dated to the time before the official recognition of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine. A growing number can be dated to the second century. Hurtado claims it is these which are the earliest Christian artifacts, and he focuses not on textual criticism but what can be found in the texts.

It is a fluke of history that most of the earliest Christian manuscripts come from Egypt due to the weather. Of these it appears that many came from a refuse dump of an ancient city called Oxyrhynchus. Thousands of manuscripts have been found there deposited over six centuries. Do these reflect broader Christian use? Hurtado does not intend to treat early Christian preferences monolithically, but he does argue that there are sufficient reasons for treating the manuscript evidence from Egypt as being practiced widely. For example, Christian networking brought a copy of Iranaeus' Against Heresies from Lyon to Oxyrhynchus within a few years.

The most outstanding feature of Christian manuscripts is that they are codex in form. A codex is unlike a rolled scroll. A codex is folded leaves attached by binding materials much like modern books. Christians did not invent the codex but by the second century, over 70 per cent of Christian writings were codices compared to only 5 per cent of the total number of manuscripts. It has been argued that Christians preferred the codex for such reasons as the expense of writing. However large margins do not indicate a writer concerned about saving costs. Hurtado argues that the Christian preference for the codex was heavy and early and reflected a belief that the text had "scriptural status."

In addition to a codex format, early Christians added other characteristics to their manuscripts, nomina sacra and the staurogram. Nomina sacra are typically abbreviations composed of the first and last letter of a word. Those used with far greater regularity are God, Lord, Christ, and Jesus. This early practice is connected to the Jewish practice of treating the divine name in a special way. Hurtado notes that at an early stage Christ and Jesus were put on the same plane as God and Lord. The staurogram is a compendium formed by superimposing a Greek rho over a Greek tau. In later Christianity the chi-rho became better known. Hurtado believes that the cross over the T formation was a visual reference for the early Christian to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Very early Christians chose a particular format for their sacred writings and implanted into them code devices of their own faith.

Manuscripts as Evidence.......2006-12-17

If, like me, you find the study of New Testament textual criticism somewhat less than thrilling, you might enjoy this new study by Professor Larry Hurtado. Prof. Hurtado focuses on a neglected aspect of New Testament studies: the ancient manuscripts as artifacts. This involves a number of features, such as the physical form of the manuscript (the codex, the roll, and opisthograph), corrections and mistakes in copying, words that were emphasized in certain ways, and the location of the manuscript. These "artifactual" features of the texts give insight into the early Christian movement.

While it doesn't appear that more intense study of early Christian manuscripts will lead to any bombshells for the study of Christian origins, Prof. Hurtado's findings and conclusions are interesting. Consider the question of gnosticism. The "Gnostic" Christians didn't make extensive use of John's Gospel. In fact, it was more popular among the "orthodox" Christians. In addition, it doesn't appear that any apocryphal Gospel texts were physically attached to the canonical Gospels.

A study of the ancient texts raises a number of questions as well. For example, most ancient manuscripts from the time of the NT texts are in roll form, however the early Christians preferred the codex (the precursor to our books) for reasons that remain unclear. In addition, the number of manuscripts of certain NT works - such as Hebrews, and Revelation - is quite interesting in light of later controversies that developed surrounding them. I saw surprised to learn that there are more copies of the Shepherd of Hermas than almost any NT book.

Prof. Hurtado provides an interesting case study of the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas. Although any conclusions are preliminary given that only three manuscripts are extant, a study of them tends to indicate that it wasn't viewed as scripture (at least by those groups connected to the manuscripts).

Tome of Artifacts (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

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Tome of Artifacts (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Keith Baker , Rich Burlew , C. Robert Cargill , Michael Gill , and George Hollochwost
Manufacturer: White Wolf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1588469352

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool: A Celebration of the Grooviest People, Events, and Artifacts of the 1960s

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Time Capsule to A Treasured Time
Not a complete disappointment, but still...
Great fun, but do you agree with the emphasis?
The Bible for Ring-a-Ding-Ding Revolutionaries
A great gift for yourself or loved one.

The Encyclopedia of Sixties Cool: A Celebration of the Grooviest People, Events, and Artifacts of the 1960s
Chris Strodder
Manufacturer: Santa Monica Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1595800174

Book Description

A celebration of the 1960s, this encyclopedia profiles the 250 most interesting personalities who significantly changed popular culture, including musicians, actors, directors, artists, athletes, politicians, writers, and astronauts. Sidebars provide a trip down memory lane with lists including the top movies, television shows, cars, Bond girls, Playmates, concerts, and cameos in beach movies, plus a running calendar of "what happened on this date" that lines the margin of each page for a day-by-day review of the most influential decade of the 20th century.

Customer Reviews:

Time Capsule to A Treasured Time.......2007-07-06

Anyone who contrasts the stresses of the new century with this special decade in the last one, can really appreciate this book. It brings us back to a better time in our lives. Despite the Vietnam War, a lot was going on in America that could be celebrated, and this book brings it all back for us. Great antidote to high blood pressure! Great memory prodder! I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the highlights of the sixties and the "cool" personalities who entertained us then, and, if only in the interest of spicing up the conversation at cocktail parties, I highly recommend absorbing the information in this book! -- Joanne ORoark, Santa Barbara, CA

Not a complete disappointment, but still..........2007-05-12

A lot of the book is just a rehash of Strodder's Swingin' Chicks of the 60's. I was disappointed that there were not photos for each subject in the encyclopedia. That being said, this is still a good book to have, but a bit of a let-down if you are expecting the same quality as Swingin' Chicks of the 60's.

Great fun, but do you agree with the emphasis?.......2007-04-17

First off, I agree with the majority opinion that THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SIXTIES COOL is great fun - since it came in I keep carrying it around to read one gripping entry after another. The emphasis is on people of the Sixties, and of quite a variety - singers, actors, athletes, artists, writers, politicians, astronauts - though entertainers are by far the majority. Also, the sidebars of data are very interesting and clever too. Srodder writes in a breezy, polished style that is very enjoyable, and he's either done a lot of research or just knows a heck of a lot about the era.

Still, I have a few reservations about the book. First off, one could debate the meaning of "cool" with the author. The vast majority of the book is devoted to famous entertainers - singers, actors, athletes. There are relatively few non-entertainers here, as, I was glad to see that Neil Armstrong of Moon fame gets his own entry, and some political figures like the Kennedys get theirs too. The ichthyologist Eugenie Clark made the list, but there aren't many scientists discussed in here. A few writers such as Kurt Vonnegut make it in. And some of the entertainers discussed are not even very significant, but are more cult figures. One could reasonably argue that it's just as "cool" to be making contributions to society in science, teaching, environmental protection, and the like as it is to be a famous entertainer. Strodder admits in the introduction that there was a lot he hated to leave out of his book, but with 334 pages to work with he had to draw a line somewhere. However, I'm probably trying to be too scholarly about it, since this book is clearly supposed to be fun, and relates mainly to popular culture that those who lived through the Sixties would most remember as being cool about the decade. Secondly, the book very much needs an index, or at least better cross-referencing. Most subjects have their own headings, arranged alphabetically. Yet there are a lot of people or things that are discussed under headings that you might not be able to guess. For instance, the comic strip Peanuts is discussed in the entry for the composer Vince Guaraldi, who wrote music for the animated Peanuts shows in the 1960s and '70s, yet there's no separate entry in the book for Peanuts or its creator Charles Schulz. Likewise, John Glenn and most of the other Mercury astronauts don't have separate entries, since they're discussed under "Alan Shepard." There are quite a few such examples, though there is some cross-referencing on the contents page.

Shifting back to what I like best about this EncyCOOLpedia, another aspect that I very much like is that Strodder tries to be positive, and focus more on what is good than what is bad about someone or something. And it's great that he always remembers to update us on "whatever happened to?" these people. All in all, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SIXTIES COOL is very enjoyable, and it's a fun way to learn about that fascinating decade.

The Bible for Ring-a-Ding-Ding Revolutionaries.......2007-03-25

No other decade in modern history was as influential, eclectic and packed with passion as the 1960s. From politics to pop culture, the 60s offered an incredible array of sights, sounds and swingin' sensations. It was the decade of Batman, Bond, the Beatles, bongs, Barbarella, beatniks, beach bunnies and Bob Dylan. From the Rat Pack at the dawn of the decade to the Rolling Stones at its zenith, from Motown to monster movie magazines, from drive-ins to dope, the 60s offered something for jet setters, hippies, suburban kids, surfers, radicals and fun lovin' freaks alike. There were also the tragedies, like JFK, Bobby, MLK and Viet Nam, that still resonate and affect our world today. And let's not forget the sexual revolution underlying this tumultuous explosion of art and war. Chris Strodder has already given us an essential chronicle of this era's sexual icons with his colorful tome "Swingin Chicks of the 60s." Now he broadens his lens to give us a widescreen view of the entire decade, spotlighting all the major figures who had such a powerful impact on all of us born before, during and since, from Hugh Hefner to Abby Hoffman to Andy Warhol and everyone in between and beyond, encompassing an amazing array of styles and attitudes, all of which are still very much evident in today's kaleidoscope, retro-obsessed but identity-challenged culture. Get Smart and Ride this Wild Surf, kids. It's groooooovy.

A great gift for yourself or loved one........2007-03-22

What a great book! A wealth of trivia, some of it well known, some not so. But all totally fascinating. We just kept turning the pages to find more & more interesting people & facts. Great also to see it covering more than just the States. The 60s were a world wide event & Chris has captured icons from across the globe.

Lost in Time: A Medieval Adventure (Spongebob Squarepants (8x8))

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Lost in Time: A Medieval Adventure (Spongebob Squarepants (8x8))
Steven Banks , and The Artifact Group
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416914641

Book Description

SpongeBob and Patrick were enjoying a lovely feast at Medieval moments restaurant when they were chosen to fight in the royal joust. After a freak accident, SpongeBob and Patrick find themselves back in medieval times where they are mistaken for great knights and sent to rescue the princess from the evil, one-eyed lord's jellyfish dragon! Can SpongeBob and Patrick save the princess? Will they ever return to Bikini Bottom?

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