The Monstrous Races in Medieval Art and Thought (Medieval Studies)

Friedman, John Block

ISBN 10: 0815628269 / ISBN 13: 9780815628262

Published by Syracuse University Press (edition 2nd), 2000

About this Item

The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.

Seller Inventory # 0815628269-7-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Monstrous Races in Medieval Art and Thought (Medieval Studies)
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press (edition 2nd)
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0815628269
• ISBN 13: 9780815628262
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 2nd.
• Condition: Fair

About this title

Synopsis

Beyond the boundaries of the known Christian world during the Middle Ages, there were alien cultures that intrigued, puzzled, and sometimes frightened the people of Europe. The reports of travelers in Africa and Asia revealed that "monstrous" races of men lived there, whose appearance and customs were quite different from the European norm. This book examines the impact of these races upon Western art, literature, and philosophy, from their earliest mention until the age of exploration. Friedman furnishes a descriptive catalog of the races, most of which were real, geographically remote peoples, some of which were fabled creatures that served as symbols. He traces the evolution of European attitudes toward them, with particular emphasis on the high Middle Ages, when they seem most strongly to have captured the Western imagination. Ranging through literature, the arts, cartography, canon law, and theology, he considers the widely varying ways in which Christians viewed and depicted strange races of men. Finally, he examines transformations in European consciousness brought about by the discoveries of the exotic peoples of the Americas. Whatever their form—pygmy, giant, hirsute cave—dweller, cyclops, or Amazon-the monstrous races clearly challenged the traditional concept of man in the Christian world scheme. It is the medieval thinking about this challenge that Mr. Friedman addresses in this revealing account.

About the Author

<b>John Block Friedman</b> is visiting professor of English at Kent State University, Salem, and professor emeritus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the author of <i>Orpheus in Middle Ages</i> also available from Syracuse University Press.