The Cathars
Dualist Heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages
2nd Edition
Published on 3. October 2017
360 pages
978-1-351-22397-3 (ISBN)
Description
In the second half of the twelfth century, the Catholic Church became convinced that dualist heresy was taking root within Christian society and that it was particularly strong in southern France. The nature and extent of this heresy and the reaction of the Church to the perceived threat have been the focus of extensive research since the mid-nineteenth century, research which has become especially intense in the last decade.
Malcolm Barber's second edition of The Cathars (which first appeared in 2000) brings readers up-to-date with the challenges to previous conclusions of recent scholarship. At the same time, the wider implications of the subject remain relevant, most importantly the fundamental questions raised by the belief in the existence of evil, the ethical problems presented by the use of coercion to suppress forms of dissent believed to threaten the social and religious fabric, and the distortion of the past to underpin present-day policies and arguments.
Malcolm Barber's second edition of The Cathars (which first appeared in 2000) brings readers up-to-date with the challenges to previous conclusions of recent scholarship. At the same time, the wider implications of the subject remain relevant, most importantly the fundamental questions raised by the belief in the existence of evil, the ethical problems presented by the use of coercion to suppress forms of dissent believed to threaten the social and religious fabric, and the distortion of the past to underpin present-day policies and arguments.
Reviews / Votes
This book is beautifully written. While it is, generally, a work of synthesis, the sources have been read afresh in the context of recent research. Barber's cool common sense gives a chance to see the religion and the society in which it became rooted in a new light. Highly recommended, but it will disappoint romantics.Jonathan Riley-Smith, Times Higher Educational Supplement
The book is especially notable for its careful and sensitive attempt to see the Cathars and their beliefs in a concrete, localised context. The author has done his homework on the regional geography and topography of Languedoc to good effect; the location, role and significance of the castrum, or fortified village, which made Catharism as much a rural as an urban heresy, is particularly well set out.
Malcolm Vale, English Historical Review
More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
File size
8,09 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-351-22397-3 (9781351223973)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2017
2nd Edition
Routledge
€297.61
Shipment within 10-20 days
Book
06/2013
2nd Edition
Routledge
€70.20
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Malcolm Barber
Content
Illustrations, tables, maps, Series editor's preface to the first edition, Preface to the first edition, Author's preface to the second edition, Acknowledgements, Abbreviations, Introduction, 1. The spread of Catharism, 2. The Cathars and Languedocian society, 3. The Cathar Church, 4. The Catholic reaction, 5. The decline of Catharism, 6. The last Cathars, 7. Cathars after Catharism, Further reading, References, Tables, Maps, Index
