History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume C: Romanticism to the Present

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Great Quality

Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume C: Romanticism to the Present
Timothy J. Roden , Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 049500894X

Book Description

The perfect companion to MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION! With an introduction to, a score for, and lyrics and translation for each piece, ANTHOLOGY FOR MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION, VOLUME C: ROMANTICISM TO THE PRESENT enhances your understanding of the major European styles, genres, and composers.

Customer Reviews:

Great Quality.......2007-05-14

I received this book within 3 days on standard shipping and it was in great quality. The textbook is also very clear and easy to understand. I recommend it to anyone in music history as a supplemental textbook.

Music in Western Civilization, Volume C: Romanticism to the Present

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Music in Western Civilization, Volume C: Romanticism to the Present
Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0495008699

Book Description

Understand music in context with MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION, VOLUME C: ROMANTICISM TO THE PRESENT! Clear and easy-to-understand, this music text provides you with the tools you need to succeed in this course. With a focus on the history of music in the wider context of Western civilization, you will see how study of music history is important to the practice and performance of music today. Numerous full-color photographs, maps, and timelines give you a sense of the place of music within the arts and humanities in the West. Class preparation is made easy with the book-specific website that contains features such as additional musical selections, a music glossary, unit resources, and more.

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Great book on the preaching to the church in 'exile'
Outstanding!

Cadences of Home
brueggemann
Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0664257496

Customer Reviews:

Great book on the preaching to the church in 'exile'.......2004-08-12

This book is simply the best book on theological preaching that I have ever read. Forget all the other evangelica books on preaching techniques and tricks. This book drives to the core what preaching, or more simply speaking the word means when we consider it as part of the activity of the people of God who are attempting to maintain their lives in 'exile.'

Brueggemann's use of the theme of exile as a metaphor for understanding the condition of the church in modern culture is amazing and insightful. He shows, by analogy with Israel's history as 1) Wandering in the Wilderness (= New Church Start/Early Church), 2) The Monarchy (= a culturally legitimated church/Christendom), and 3) Exile (= a culturally displaced church/the church today).

Brueggemann builds off of the important work done by George Lindbeck and Stanley Hauerwas onthe church to support his case the preaching is essentially the communal rehersing of its constitutive narrative to cultivate ans sistain the Christain vision of reality in the face of the idls and ideologies of the hegemonic powers of our age.

Bruggemann's case is lucid and persuasive. I cannot recommend this work highly enough. For pastors that want to truly understand preaching and Christians that want to truly understand what it might mean to proclaim the scriptures in the face of today's empire(s) this book will be a great help.

Outstanding!.......2000-02-24

Brueggeman's finest exegesis is applied specifically to preaching in the 21st century. Application for today's preachers is powerful amidst a culture absorbed with materialism.

Temperament: How Music Became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization

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Listen to tempered instruments instead of reading about it
Fascinating, Yet Flawed
An entertaining read
AN Essential Book for Pianists
Not quite what I was looking for.

Temperament: How Music Became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization
Stuart Isacoff
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375703306
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

Involving mathematics, philosophy, aesthetics, religion, politics, and physics, Stuart Isacoff 's Temperament invokes the tone of a James Burke documentary. However, the focus is not on a modern invention, but rather a modern convention: that of tuning keyboards so that every key is equally in tune--and equally out of tune.

With the existing literature tending to bog down in mathematical theory or historical tuning methods, Isacoff bravely attempts to make this seemingly arcane topic interesting to the general reader. He distills the mathematics and music theory into their simplest essences, and draws apt analogies from the everyday. He also generously peppers the text with the quirks and escapades of its more flamboyant central characters; the relevance of the information is often tenuous at best, but Isacoff has obviously done his homework, and he can be forgiven some frivolity.

Less forgivable is his neglect of "well-temperament." Namesake of Bach's masterful collection of 24 pieces (one each in all the major and minor keys), the well-tempered keyboard liberated composers from the howl of badly tuned keys in the way equal temperament did, while preserving the distinct quality of each key. It was a pragmatic and aesthetically rich solution that captivated composers and theorists for decades. Yet Isacoff reserves less than two pages for its description. (Perhaps he deliberately overlooked the topic since it doesn't fit well with his casting of equal temperament's opponents as rigid, dogmatic, and impractical.)

Despite its flaws, Temperament is an accessible guide to a fascinating topic seldom discussed outside musical circles. Though the book may not invigorate hard-core theorists, the amateur musician, armchair scientist, history buff, or plain old curious can glean plenty from it. The advent of digital keyboards--some of which can be tuned to historical temperaments at the flip of a switch--makes this an ideal time for the topic to be rejuvenated. --Todd Gehman

Book Description

Few music lovers realize that the arrangement of notes on today’s pianos was once regarded as a crime against God and nature, or that such legendary thinkers as Pythagoras, Plato, da Vinci, Galileo, Kepler, Descartes, Newton and Rousseau played a role in the controversy. Indeed, from the time of the Ancient Greeks through the eras of Renaissance scientists and Enlightenment philosophers, the relationship between the notes of the musical scale was seen as a key to the very nature of the universe.

In this engaging and accessible account, Stuart Isacoff leads us through the battles over that scale, placing them in the context of quarrels in the worlds of art, philosophy, religion, politics and science. The contentious adoption of the modern tuning system known as equal temperament called into question beliefs that had lasted nearly two millenia–and also made possible the music of Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, and all who followed. Filled with original insights, fascinating anecdotes, and portraits of some of the greatest geniuses of all time, Temperament is that rare book that will delight the novice and expert alike.

Customer Reviews:

Listen to tempered instruments instead of reading about it.......2007-03-12

I was quite impressed the first time I read Temperament. How Music became a Battleground for the Great Minds of Western Civilization by Stuart Isacoff, which is the same book as Temperament: The Idea That Solved Music's Greatest Riddle. I had a the time some theoretical knowledge about temperaments and effects on music playing but I didn't had any chance to experience it until recently.

A friend of mine showed me few months ago a recording called Six Degrees of Tonality. A Well Tempered Piano issued on Gasparo (GSCD-344). I liked so much what I heard that I ordered a second recording available on the same label and called Beethoven In The Temperaments. Historical Tunings on the Modern Concert Grand (GSCD-332). These recordings made by Ed. Foote (see review Not so fast, please., January 2, 2002)are a unique chance to experience other tunings than the widely spread equal temperament.

Returning recently to Isacoff's Temperament after reading L'Histoire de l'Acoustique Musicale by Serge Donval, I realised that the author just wanted to justify historically how and why ET is "THE" temperament that the world has been seeking for over thousand of years.

I invite readers of Temperament to listen to the four Piano Sonatas played on a Steinway D on Beethoven In The Temperaments (two tuned after Prinz and two after Young temperaments) and to compare with any other recordings performed on ET piano.

They will hear how Key Colors used to sound and how triads and chords sound so differently. Listening to the same works on a ET piano make it an uncomfortable experience even if the performer's name is Arrau, Serkin or Pollini.

My wish would be that Mr. Foote and Gasparo come up with more recordings of Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt on a period tempered piano.

Fascinating, Yet Flawed.......2006-04-18

Temperament, by Stuart Isacoff, is almost a great book. It covers a little-known aspect of music history in great depth and with delightful insights and cute 'asides.' In short, it takes a technical subject that is over the heads of most readers and makes it accessible and interesting-- and in the process of course brings it down to a level that the average person can almost understand.

And there's where it fails.

Without audio examples to illustrate the points being made, most of the niceties of the different kinds of scale tuning throughout history are just so much description. Unless you've *heard* the type of tuning known as 'just tuning,' you really can have no idea how strange and sometimes beautiful and sometimes alarming the sounds can be, particularly the effects that familiar harmonies can have when tweaked away from our usual experience in this way. There is a website referred to in the book where you can go and listen to some of these things, but that's just not good enough. The book cries out for an audio CD to be included, with examples tied to specific points in the text, and vice versa. I'm sure the author would have been glad to do it. The publisher goofed.

The other problem in the book is that the author occasionally comes up with a 'fact' which is simply not the case. This is rare, but the fact that it happens at all is cause to wonder about the truth of some of the allegations that he makes. The book isn't scholarly [thank God] and there are no footnotes to use in checking the author's data, but I have a funny feeling that he has played a bit fast and loose with us on some points. No evidence-- just a feeling.

Still-- the book is well worth reading, particularly if you have enough musical background to be able to appreciate some of the author's stories and examples. The tales about politics, philosophy, and personalities gone awry would be fascinating even if the information about music weren't compelling-- which it is.

An entertaining read.......2005-12-15

A good superficial read on the historical development of 12 tone equal temperament. For a more in-depth and analytical look at temperament I would recommend Harry Partch's Genesis of a Music.
A word of warning, this book is available under 2 titles. Temperament - the idea that solved music's greatest riddle, and Temperament - how music became a battleground for the great minds of western civilization. I purchased both assuming that they were companion works, but they are identical.

AN Essential Book for Pianists.......2005-09-06

Stuart Isacoff is a serious pianist and scholar, and his book, Temperament, answers the mysterious questions that those of us who are also serious pianists wish to know and probe. His book is dense with information, but at the same time accessible and clear, so that the pianist who is curious about her instrument and its place in cultural history is enriched with new understanding for the metamorphoses that have produced our modern piano. I am grateful for his impressive research and the deep insights between its covers. Carol Montparker, pianist and author

Not quite what I was looking for........2005-08-27

This book contains some very good and entertaining history, but it doesn't have much physics and/or mathematics of the 12 tone scale and/or its precedents. If you are interested in the history of the development of the various scales however, I think you will find it very interesting. I was looking for something a little more technical in nature. for technical discussions of the subject, I recommend, "On the Sensation of Tone" by Hermann Helmholtz.

Average customer rating:

The Best General Survey of Western Music History Ever Written!

Music in Western Civilization
Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0534619622

Book Description

Understand music in context with MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION! Clear and easy-to-understand, this music text provides you with the tools you need to succeed in this course. With a focus on the history of music in the wider context of Western civilization, you will see how study of music history is important to the practice and performance of music today. Numerous full-color photographs, maps, and timelines give you a sense of the place of music within the arts and humanities in the West. Class preparation is made easy with the book-specific website that contains features such as additional musical selections, a music glossary, unit resources, and more.

Customer Reviews:

The Best General Survey of Western Music History Ever Written!.......2006-03-27

I am a doctoral student in conducting and an avid lover of books. I purchase many books each year and am constantly in search of texts that are interesting, well-designed, well-written, and easy to understand. I loathe all books that do not meet these qualifications. Craig Wright and Bryan Simms have written what I believe is the best general survey of western music history EVER! The writing is clear, engaging, and easy to understand. The book is in full color with thousands of maps, examples of art, architecture, pictures of composers, palaces, instruments, etc. The chapters are short and are written in such a way that the material is easily retained. Furthermore, each chapter concludes with an EXCELLENT summary and list of key terms which can be used as a self-test for recall of important facts and concepts. Finally, the book is built around a comprehensive list of pieces spanning all periods in the history of western music. The accompanying scores and CD's are also excellent (though the CD's can be hard to find online). The book also contains an exceptional glossary and an easy-to-use index. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand history of music. It is also exceptional for use as a graduate history review text and I highly recommend it for anyone facing doctoral qualifying or comprehensive exams in history. A beautiful work - well worth the price.

Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume II: The Enlightenment to the Present

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Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume II: The Enlightenment to the Present
Timothy J. Roden , Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0495030007

Book Description

The perfect companion to MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION! With an introduction to, a score for, and lyrics and translation for each piece, ANTHOLOGY FOR MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION, VOLUME II:THE ENLIGHTENMENT TO THE PRESENT enhances your understanding of the major European styles, genres, and composers.

Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume I: Antiquity through the Baroque

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Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume I: Antiquity through the Baroque
Timothy J. Roden , Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0495029998

Book Description

The perfect companion to MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION! With an introduction to, a score for, and lyrics and translation for each piece, ANTHOLOGY FOR MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION, VOLUME I: ANTIQUITY THROUGH THE BAROQUE enhances your understanding of the major European styles, genres, and composers.

Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume B: The Baroque and Classical Eras

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Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume B: The Baroque and Classical Eras
Timothy J. Roden , Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0495008818

Book Description

The perfect companion to MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION! With an introduction to, a score for, and lyrics and translation for each piece, ANTHOLOGY FOR MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION, VOLUME B: THE BAROQUE AND CLASSICAL ERAS enhances your understanding of the major European styles, genres, and composers.

Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume A: Antiquity through the Renaissance

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Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume A: Antiquity through the Renaissance
Timothy J. Roden , Craig Wright , and Bryan R. Simms
Manufacturer: Schirmer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 0495008796

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The perfect companion to MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION! With an introduction to, a score for, and lyrics and translation for each piece, ANTHOLOGY FOR MUSIC IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION, VOLUME A: ANTIQUITY THROUGH THE RENAISSANCE enhances your understanding of the major European styles, genres, and composers.

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