The Devil's Historians
How Modern Extremists Abuse the Medieval Past
Published on 28. May 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-4875-8784-0 (ISBN)
Description
Amy S. Kaufman and Paul B. Sturtevant examine the many ways in which the medieval past has been manipulated to promote discrimination, oppression, and murder. Tracing the fetish for "medieval times" behind toxic ideologies like nationalism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, misogyny, and white supremacy, Kaufman and Sturtevant show us how the Middle Ages have been twisted for political purposes in every century that followed. The Devil's Historians casts aside the myth of an oppressive, patriarchal medieval monoculture and reveals a medieval world not often shown in popular culture: one that is diverse, thriving, courageous, compelling, and complex.
Reviews / Votes
"This is an important overview of both extremism in society today and its use of medieval symbols, folktales, and rewritten history by groups to justify everything from degradation of women to racism to the arbitrary construct of two genders."- Wendy J. Turner (Medievally Speaking ) "With a strong and well-argued thesis, supported with plentiful details, this book should be read by those who teach medieval studies as a guide to the political minefield their area has become."
- S. Morillo, Wabash College (Choice) "For anyone keen to know how medievalist myths are used as weapons, this book is the place to start. It is also a mine of information and analysis for anyone wishing to research more deeply into the dangerous uses of medievalism."
- Helen Dell, The University of Melbourne (Parergon) "The Devil's Historians is an accessible and quick introduction to many of the problems we confront in studying the medieval past in the twenty-first century, laying out both the stakes and some possible avenues of countering the use of history to support hate."
- Matthew Gabriele, Virginia Tech (The Public Historian)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
4 b&w illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
255 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4875-8784-0 (9781487587840)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Amy S. Kaufman is a scholar of medieval studies and popular culture.
Paul B. Sturtevant is Editor in Chief of The Public Medievalist and a Visitor Research Specialist at The Smithsonian Institution.
Paul B. Sturtevant is Editor in Chief of The Public Medievalist and a Visitor Research Specialist at The Smithsonian Institution.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Weaponizing History
1. The Middle Ages: Foundational Myths
2. Nationalism and Nostalgia
3. The "Clash of Civilizations"
4. White (Supremacist) Knights
5. Knights in Shining Armor and Damsels in Distress
6. Medievalism and Religious Extremism
Epilogue: The Future of the Medieval Past
Notes
Further Reading
Introduction: Weaponizing History
1. The Middle Ages: Foundational Myths
2. Nationalism and Nostalgia
3. The "Clash of Civilizations"
4. White (Supremacist) Knights
5. Knights in Shining Armor and Damsels in Distress
6. Medievalism and Religious Extremism
Epilogue: The Future of the Medieval Past
Notes
Further Reading