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This book presents twenty chapters by experts in their fields, providing a thorough and interdisciplinary overview of the theory and practice of magic in the West. Its chronological scope extends from the Ancient Near East to twenty-first-century North America; its objects of analysis range from Persian curse tablets to US neo-paganism. For comparative purposes, the volume includes chapters on developments in the Jewish and Muslim worlds, evaluated not simply for what they contributed at various points to European notions of magic, but also as models of alternative development in ancient Mediterranean legacy. Similarly, the volume highlights the transformative and challenging encounters of Europeans with non-Europeans, regarding the practice of magic in both early modern colonization and more recent decolonization.
This book presents twenty chapters by experts in their fields, providing a thorough and interdisciplinary overview of the theory and practice of magic in the West. Its chronological scope extends from the Ancient Near East to twenty-first-century North America; its objects of analysis range from Persian curse tablets to US neo-paganism. For comparative purposes, the volume includes chapters on developments in the Jewish and Muslim worlds, evaluated not simply for what they contributed at various points to European notions of magic, but also as models of alternative development in ancient Mediterranean legacy. Similarly, the volume highlights the transformative and challenging encounters of Europeans with non-Europeans, regarding the practice of magic in both early modern colonization and more recent decolonization.
1. Ancient Near East Daniel Schwemer; 2. Ancient Egypt Friedhelm Hoffmann; 3. Early Greco-Roman antiquity Kimberly B. Stratton; 4. Imperial Rome Kyle A. Fraser; 5. The early church Maijastina Kahlos; 6. The early medieval West Yitzhak Hen; 7. Magic in medieval Byzantium Alicia Walker; 8. Magic, marvel, and miracle in early Islamic thought Travis Zadeh; 9. Jewish magic in the Middle Ages Gideon Bohak; 10. Common magic Catherine Rider; 11. Learned magic David J. Collins, S.J.; 12. Diabolic magic Michael D. Bailey; 13. Magic and priestcraft: reformers and reformation Helen L. Parish; 14. Spain and Mexico Louise Burkhart; 15. Folk magic in North America Richard Godbeer; 16. Colonial magic: the Dutch East Indies Margaret Wiener; 17. Magic in common and legal perspectives Owen Davies; 18. Elite magic in the nineteenth century David Allen Harvey; 19. Magic in the postcolonial Americas Raquel Romberg; 20. New-age and neo-pagan magic Sabina Magliocco.
This book analyzes the history of magic's changing role in the West from antiquity to the present day.
David J. Collins, S. J., is Associate Professor of History at Georgetown University, Washington DC. His research has been supported by prestigious fellowships from the Charlotte Newcombe Foundation, the Alexander Humboldt Foundation, and the Gerda Henkel Foundation. He has published extensively on the medieval cult of the saints, Renaissance humanism, and learned magic, especially in central Europe. He is currently working on the reception of Albertus Magnus' teachings on magic in the early modern period.
'This impressive collective volume proposes a coherent history of
learned magic in Western Europe and the colonial world between
Christianization and contemporary neo-paganism. It has found an
access to magic that contrasts with the many studies that situate
magic in a religious or anthropological context, and thus is a
welcome and necessary supplement and corrective. Giordano Bruno
would have relished it.' Fritz Graf, Ohio State University
'This volume offers a rich and exciting set of essays that will
prove invaluable to scholarly discussions of Western magic and
witchcraft. With contributions from a range of innovative scholars,
the collection masterfully intertwines expansive historical and
cultural insight with creative theoretical reflection.' Randall
Styers, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
'This important and ambitious collection of twenty authoritative
essays … is likely to become a standard work in the field because
of the quality of the contributions, and the unprecedented wide
range of material covered in a single volume … the choice of
chapters and selection of scholars would be hard to better … it
ought to be on the shelf of every historian of religion, let alone
historians of witchcraft and magic.' Francis Young, Journal of
Jesuit Studies
'… this volume is well constructed, thoughtful, and interesting,
with contributing authors of high scholarly standing. It is
recommended to readers interested in magic and witchcraft, and
their close relatives - religion and esotericism - across a broad
historical and geographical sweep.' Carole M. Cusack, Church
History
'There can be no doubt that it is a welcome addition to magic and
witchcraft studies since it offers a refreshing number of
departures from tired clichés, and invites the reader to think
about magic beyond the boundaries of western Europe. … Both Collins
and his contributors are to be congratulated on their ambition for
this volume, and its individual accomplishments.' Peter
Maxwell-Stuart, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History
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