Religion, historie og filosofi
On the Road to High Modernity559,-589,Why, where, when, and how should individuals engage in festivities? On the Road to High Modernity traces the modernization of public festivities during the nineteenth century, focusing on the Bohemian Crown Lands of the Habsburg Monarchy. Characterized by its rapid and successful modernization in the final century of the Monarchy's existence, this territory serves as a unique laboratory for examining the evolution of modern political culture. As organizers of celebrations navigated the complexities of an increasingly fragmented society marked by ethnic, religious, and social divisions, they faced the daunting challenge of promoting diverse interests. By analyzing the intricate organization of festive events in public spaces, it is revealed how these activities were not merely celebrations, but strategic orchestrations that balanced rationality with emotion, discipline with spontaneity, and the interplay between public and private realms. These modern festivities were instrumental in promoting various agendas within the intricate landscape of Central European identity politics—be it nationalist aspirations, monarchical loyalty, class interests, or religious affiliations. Ultimately, these celebrations had profound implications for the stability or disruption of political and social order in the late Habsburg Monarchy.Published: March 2, 2026 08:03Other BrandReligion, historie og filosofi
Independence Hall in American Memory379,-399,A chronicle of the lost history of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, reissued on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, with a new preface updating the constantly evolving public perception of Independence HallIndependence Hall is a place Americans think they know well. Within its walls the Continental Congress declared independence in 1776, and in 1787 the Founding Fathers drafted the U.S. Constitution there. Painstakingly restored to evoke these momentous events, the building appears to have passed through time unscathed, from the heady days of the American Revolution to today. But Independence Hall is more than a symbol of the young nation. Beyond this, according to Charlene Mires, it has a long and varied history of changing uses in an urban environment, almost all of which have been forgotten. During its existence, Independence Hall has functioned as a civic and cultural center, a political arena and courtroom, and a magnet for public celebrations and demonstrations. Artists such as Thomas Sully frequented Independence Square when Philadelphia served as the nation's capital during the 1790s, and portraitist Charles Willson Peale merged the arts, sciences, and public interest when he transformed a portion of the hall into a center for natural science in 1802.In the 1850s, hearings for accused fugitive slaves who faced the loss of freedom were held, ironically, in this famous birthplace of American independence. Over the years Philadelphians have used the old state house and its public square in a multitude of ways that have transformed it into an arena of conflict: labor grievances have echoed regularly in Independence Square since the 1830s, while civil rights protesters exercised their right to free speech in the turbulent 1960s. As much as the Founding Fathers, these people and events illuminate the building's significance as a cultural symbol. In Independence Hall, Mires rediscovers and chronicles the lost history of Independence Hall, in the process exploring the shifting perceptions of this most important building in America's popular imagination. According to Mires, the significance of Independence Hall cannot be fully appreciated without assessing the full range of political, cultural, and social history that has swirled about it for nearly three centuries. This timely reissue of the book features a new preface that brings the story up to the present, including the creation of the President's House site, and updates the constantly evolving public perception of Independence Hall.Published: March 2, 2026 08:03Other BrandReligion, historie og filosofi
Crossing Communities379,-399,War, sectarianism, and imperialism have eroded diversity in the Middle East. While Egypt has been spared the scale of violence devastating Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq, religious nationalism, economic turmoil, and state repression have deepened tensions between Egyptian Muslims and Coptic Christians – the region’s largest Christian community. Within this context, religious difference in contemporary Egypt is often framed through narratives of separation, violence, and decline. Yet beneath the surface of this tumult, most Egyptian Muslims and Christians live together in community and peace. Drawing on years of participant observation, extensive interviews, and the institutional archives of both Muslim and Christian communities in the provincial city of Beni Suef, this compelling work examines overlapping traditions, practices, and histories at Coptic Christian sites frequented by local Muslims to reveal patterns of confident and casual interfaith crossing. Egyptians remain acutely aware of the history of interfaith distrust, separation, and violence but nonetheless sustain flexible, tolerant, and communal relationships. Isaac Friesen offers a significant glimpse into how provincial Egyptians have experienced revolution, empire, neoliberalism, religious revival, globalization, and the state in their everyday lives. With its vivid settings and engaging portraits of communities and individuals, Crossing Communities tells a story not of lost diversity but of a diversity that is dynamic and enduring.Published: March 2, 2026 08:03Other BrandReligion, historie og filosofi