February 2024 MBR The World History Shelf

The World History Shelf

History of the Caucasus: In the Shadow of Great Powers
Christoph Baumer
I. B. Tauris Publishers
www.ibtauris.com
c/o Bloomsbury Press
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us
9780755636280, $48.00, HC, 384pp

https://www.amazon.com/History-Caucasus-Shadow-Great-Powers/dp/0755636287

Synopsis: "In the Shadow of Great Powers" is the second volume of Christoph=
 Baumer's "History of the Caucasus". It covers the period from the Seljuk d=
omination of the Southern Caucasus around 1050 CE to the present day.

After the Kingdom of Georgia's golden age of independent power and cultural=
 blossoming in the 12th and early 13th centuries, the Caucasus was overrun =
by the Mongols and soon disintegrated into innumerable smaller kingdoms, pr=
incipalities and khanates.

At the same time, an Armenian kingdom in exile maintained a precarious inde=
pendence in Cilicia, today's southern Turkey, by applying a three-way diplo=
matic policy balanced between the Mongol Il-Khanate, the Crusader states an=
d, to a lesser degree, the Mameluke Empire.

Then followed four centuries during which the highly fragmented polities of=
 the North and South Caucasus became political pawns of the regional great =
powers, above all the Ottomans, Iran and Russia.

In the wake of World War I the South Caucasus enjoyed a short-lived indepen=
dence whereas its northern neighbours were engulfed by the Russian civil wa=
rs. But by 1921 the Soviet Union had re-established Russian dominance over =
the whole region and, from a Western perspective, the region 'disappeared' =
behind the Iron Curtain.

Nevertheless, the Caucasian nations kept their pronounced identities even u=
nder Soviet rule, giving rise at the dissolution of the Soviet Union to a n=
umber of internecine conflicts. Whereas the Russian Federation managed to m=
aintain its supremacy over the North Caucasus (albeit at the cost of bloody=
 wars and insurrections) Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia succeeded in more =
or less gaining control over their destiny. Of these three republics, only =
Azerbaijan secured a wide-ranging independence thanks to its fossil fuel re=
sources.

Following Russian interference, Georgia lost control over two of its provin=
ces while Armenia remains dependent on Russian support in the face of its n=
otoriously antagonistic relations with neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey ov=
er the unresolved issue of Karabakh.

"In the Shadow of Great Powers" includes some 200 full-colour images and ma=
ps which further bring the turbulent history of this region to light.

Critique: This large format (9.8 x 1.3 x 11.7 inches, 5.15 pounds) hardcove=
r edition of Christoph Baumer's "History of the Caucasus: Volume 2: In the =
Shadow of Great Powers" from I. B. Taurus Publishers is profusely illustrat=
ed throughout in full color and extensively enhanced for the reader with th=
e inclusion of an Appendix (Chronology of the Most Important Caucasian Dyna=
sties), eighty-two pages of Notes, an eleven page Bibliography, a one page =
listing of Maps, and three Indexes (Concepts; People; Places). Exceptionall=
y well written, organized and presented, "History of the Caucasus: Volume 2=
: In the Shadow of Great Powers" is especially and unreservedly recommended=
 for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cauc=
asus History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Christoph Baumer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_B=
aumer) is a Swiss explorer and historian of Central Asia. Starting in 1984,=
 he has conducted explorations in Central Asia, China, Tibet and the Caucas=
us, the results of which have been published in numerous books, scholarly p=
ublications, TV and radio programs.

Road to Civil War, 1625-1642: The Unexpected Revolution
Timothy Venning
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399055888, $49.95, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Civil-War-1625-1642-Unexpected/dp/1399055887

Synopsis: With the publication of "Road to Civil War, 1625-1642: The Unexpe=
cted Revolution", author and historian Timothy Venning presents a revisioni=
st history showing a gradual build-up of opposition and a drift to conflict=
 which few expected or wanted. And this was despite growing Stuart absoluti=
sm, threats to Parliament and the accepted civil order and religious contro=
versy.

It is also a forensic study, replete with fascinating and even unexpected d=
etails, principal actors come to life and readers will feel involved in an =
existential crisis of the British state(s).

"Road to Civil War, 1625-1642: The Unexpected Revolution" is also an import=
ant study of the three Kingdoms covers the major themes of religious disput=
e with Laud, Wentworth and Strafford - towering figures - church reform, 'g=
odly' religions and explosion of 'news' and pamphlets, the King and Lords a=
nd Commons, the Queen's, often suspect influence, King Charles' absolutism =
and rigidity, and iconic events like the Grand Remonstrance, arrest of the =
Five Members, Charles' departure from London and the raising of the Royal S=
tandard for war.

Critique: Impressive, informative, exceptional, and enhanced for the reader=
's benefit with the inclusion of a seven page Bibliography, nineteen pages =
of Notes, and a five page Glossary, "Road to Civil War, 1625-1642: The Unex=
pected Revolution" is a seminal, groundbreaking, and unreservedly recommend=
ed for personal, professional, community, and college/university library 17=
th Century British History collections and supplemental curriculum studies =
lists. It should be noted for students, academia, historians, and non-speci=
alist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Road to Civil W=
ar, 1625-1642: The Unexpected Revolution" is also available in a digital bo=
ok format (Kindle, $22.49).

Editorial Note: Timothy Venning is a specialist in the English- British Civ=
il Wars and in the history and biography of the 17th century. He has a part=
icular interest in the history of Parliament and also Irish history. An est=
ablished author, he has contributed to New Dictionary of National Biography=
. (https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Timothy-Venning/a/2052)

The British Heroic Age: A History, 367-664
Flint F. Johnson
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786495221, $29.95, PB, 284pp

https://www.amazon.com/British-Heroic-Age-History-367-664/dp/0786495227

Synopsis: Drawing on historical documents, legends, archeology and literatu=
re, "The British Heroic Age: A History, 367-664" is history by Flint F. Joh=
nson who describes the disintegration of Roman Britain that reached a clima=
x in the decades after the Britons overthrew Constantine's government and w=
ere refused Roman rule.

Beginning with the weakening of Roman Britain, Flint chronicles the breakdo=
wn of the empire's social, political and economic order and the re-emergenc=
e of British political, economic and social structure as well as a parallel=
 development among the Germanic invaders.

Also examined are the roles of religion, disease, the military, the Irish a=
nd the Picts during the 4th through 7th centuries. "The British Heroic Age:=
 A History, 367-664" is a study that synthesizes advances in post-Roman stu=
dies since Leslie Alcock's 1971 classic "Arthur's Britain".

Critique: Impressively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion=
 of an Appendix (The Vortigern Figure), a three page Chronology: 367-664, a=
 two page Glossary, a five page Guide to Period Sources, twenty-seven pages=
 of Chapter Notes, an eighteen page Bibliography, and a five page Index, "T=
he British Heroic Age: A History, 367-664" is an fascinating and informativ=
e read from start to finish. Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'rea=
der friendly' in organization and presentation, "The British Heroic Age: A =
History, 367-664" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended contribution to =
personal, professional, community, and college/university library British H=
istory collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be =
noted for students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general reader=
s with an nterest in the subject that "The British Heroic Age: A History, 3=
67-664" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.49)=
.

Editorial Note: Flint F. Johnson is an independent scholar whose academic a=
reas of interest include post-Roman British history, Heroic Age Greek and N=
orse history, and the cultures existing before the first river valley civil=
izations. There is a listing of his books online at https://www.goodreads.c=
om/author/show/5860617.Flint_F_Johnson

The Worst Medieval Monarchs
Phil Bradford
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399083058, $49.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Worst-Medieval-Monarchs-Phil-Bradford/dp/1399083058

Synopsis: Stephen. John. Edward II. Richard II. Richard III. These five mon=
archs are widely viewed as the worst of England's medieval kings. Certainly=
, their reigns were not success stories. Two of these kings lost their thro=
nes, one only avoided doing so by dying, another was killed in battle, and =
the remaining one had to leave his crown to his opponent.

All five have been seen as incompetent, their reigns blighted by civil war =
and conflict. They tore the realm apart, failing in the basic duty of a kin=
g to ensure peace and justice. For that, all five of them paid a heavy pric=
e. As well as being incompetent rulers, some also have reputations for crue=
lty and villainy, More than one has been portrayed as a tyrant. The murder =
of family members and arbitrary executions stain their reputations.

All five reigns ended in failure. As a result, the kings have been seen as =
failures themselves, the worst examples of medieval English kingship. They =
lost their reputations as well as their crowns.

Yet were these five really the worst men to wear the crown of England in th=
e Middle Ages? Or has history treated them unfairly?

With the publication of "The Worst Medieval Monarchs", by author and histor=
ian Phil Bradford examines the stories of their lives and reigns, all of wh=
ich were dramatic and often unpredictable. It then examines how they have b=
een seen since their deaths, the ways their reputations have been shaped ac=
ross the centuries.

The standards of their own age were different to our own. How these kings h=
ave been judged has changed over time, sometimes dramatically. Fiction, fro=
m Shakespeare's plays to modern films, has also played its part in creating=
 the modern picture. Many things have created, over a long period, the nega=
tive reputations of these five. Today, they have come to number among the w=
orst kings of English history. Is this fair, or should they be redeemed?

That is the question that "The Worst Medieval Monarchs" sets out to answer.

Critique: An extraordinary and unique study, "The Worst Medieval Monarchs" =
is enriched for the reader's benefit with an informative Preface and Introd=
uction, a Conclusion (The Worst Monarchs?), thirteen pages of Notes, a twel=
ve page Bibliography, and a twenty page Index. A seminal and groundbreaking=
 study of meticulous scholarship and a simply fascinating read from first p=
age to last, and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.49), =
"The Worst Medieval Monarchs" is a very special and unreservedly recommende=
d addition to personal reading lists and community/college/university libra=
ry Royal English History collections and supplemental curriculum studies li=
sts.

Editorial Note: Phil Bradford gained his PhD in medieval history from the U=
niversity of York. He is the co-author of "Proctors for Parliament: Clergy,=
 Community and Politics, C.1248-1539" (Canterbury & York Society, 2017) and=
 is currently Vicar of St Michael's, Worcester.

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