Casting the tumultuous history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam against the rich canvas of the Near East, The Biblical World reveals how three great religions emerged from the same cradle. Author Jean-Pierre Isbouts employs a non-denominational perspective and a wide range of sources—from ancient hieroglyphic texts to the latest scientific findings—to place Bible stories in the framework of history. Chronologically arranged chapters detail battles, conquests, tribal migrations, natural calamities, and more, supporting the stories with intriguing archaeological evidence. To locate sites and events, National Geographic cartographers have created fifty all-new maps of stunning quality. Hundreds of photographs and artifacts add visual excitement. Quick-read timelines link events across cultures while illustrated sidebars focus on what life was like during each era: family roles, farming, trade, dress, childbirth, burial customs, and other aspects of daily existence.
The story traces the evolution of Judaism from Abraham to the Unified Kingdom of Israel... chronicles the emergence of Christianity in the context of Greco-Roman civilization... and identifies the unique circumstances that prepared for the rise of Islam. The multi-dimensional approach weighs similarities and differences among the three faiths and follows developments in nearby lands. With a foreword from bestselling author Bruce Chilton and text reviewed by distinguished advisers, The Biblical World offers a carefully researched, balanced view of history and religious tradition. For its scope, beauty, and relevance in today's world, this unparalleled atlas is destined to become a classic.
The scope of the biblical world is large, but this mass of history is concisely packaged in The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas. Like most National Geographic material, the work is professional, thorough, and geared not to scholars but to the average person. Readers will enjoy the balance between the visual and the verbal. The visual component includes photos, artwork, archaeological images, and, of course, maps. The photos are prolific and in full color. The maps, numbering slightly more than 45, are typically large, with plenty of detail. Like many biblically based atlases, the verbal portion of the volume consists largely of a retelling of scripture, with occasional insights that a scholar can offer. The atlas is organized by biblical chronology, complete with a running time line across the bottom of roughly half the pages. The time line spans from about 9000 BCE to 392 CE. Numerous sidebars are scattered throughout the volume, highlighting topics related to the corresponding text. Among the subjects addressed in the sidebars are Assyrian astronomy, the secret of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the dating of the Exodus, and what Jesus may have looked like. The volume concludes with an index of moderate length and a list of further-reading suggestions for each of the book’s 11 chapters. The tone and appearance of the atlas suggest an audience that may not wish to get bogged down in technical information. Its photos and maps are pleasing to the eye and serve to break up (and complement) the text in a well-balanced manner. This combination makes The Biblical World a user-friendly tool for a nonacademic library collection. Those looking for a wider selection of maps—even those highlighting less-significant biblical events—may prefer The Carta Bible Atlas, previously, The Macmillan Bible Atlas (1993), which boasts more than 250 maps. --Wade Osburn
About the Author
Jean-Pierre Isbouts holds a Ph.D in archaeology and art, and is currently Professor of Culture and Media Studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA. He is the writer and producer of four programs that explore the legacy of the Bible, including the award-winning television mini-series The Quest For Peace.
Product Details
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: National Geographic; 1St Edition edition (November 6, 2007)
ABOUT JEAN-PIERRE ISBOUTS Jean-Pierre Isbouts is an author, historian and award-winning filmmaker. He is currently a Professor in two doctoral programs at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA. He has written extensively on art, biblical history and archaeology. He is also a musicologist who has produced classical music with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and ensembles in Amsterdam, New York and Los Angeles.
BACKGROUND Isbouts was born in Eindhoven, Holland and studied Attic Greek and Latin before continuing in archeology, art history and musicology at Leyden University. He completed his doctoral research on the 19th century Beaux-Arts architectural firm of Carrère & Hastings at Columbia University in New York. He then joined the American Council for the Arts (ACA) in New York City, which advocated a strong continued role of the Federal Government in support of the arts.
MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS It was through ACA that Isbouts was introduced to North American Philips, which in 1981 commissioned him to write and direct the film "Van Gogh Revisited", starring Leonard Nimoy. This film was subsequently released on laserdisc by Philips in both the U.S. and Europe, and ranks as the world's first interactive entertainment program released internationally. Later, Dr. Isbouts was appointed head of the Authoring Group, a global software engineering firm owned by Philips Electronics, followed by his appointment as head of the ArtSpace Studio, a unit of Philips Interactive Media in Los Angeles, CA.
At ArtSpace, Isbouts was able to put his ideas about art and modern digital media in practice. In the span of less than two years, he produced nine award-winning multimedia programs, including "Harvest of the Sun: Van Gogh Revisited" (a re-make of the 1981 laserdisc); "The Renaissance of Florence"; "The French Impressionists"; "The World of Impressionism"; and "Art of the Czars". Most of these were subsequently translated and released in seven languages.
In 1994, Isbouts designed and produced one of Germany's first all-multimedia encyclopedias (the "Lexikon", for media publishing giant Bertelsmann), and also designed and produced the first multimedia encyclopedia in Dutch (the "Standaard Encyclopedie".) The latter was a run-away commercial success and is one of the few multimedia programs to be crowned with a Platinum CD.
In 1996, Isbouts co-wrote and directed "Hamlet: A Murder Mystery", a massive game based on the Castle Rock Entertainment epic starring Kenneth Branagh, followed by the acclaimed two-part program "Charlton Heston's Voyage Through the Bible", for Agamemnon Films and Jones InterCable.
FILM AND TELEVISION In 1998, together with Sir David Frost and Porchlight Entertainment, Isbouts co-wrote and produced "Inside the Cold War", the acclaimed History Channel mini-series released both for television and on CD-ROM. This was followed by the feature-length film "Walt: The Man behind the Myth", also directed by Isbouts, which premiered in Monte Carlo in 2001 and was subsequently broadcast by ABC in prime-time.
His most recent films are "Miraculous Health", a 3-part mini-series for Public Television, and the acclaimed feature-length docu-drama "Operation Valkyrie", released by Koch Entertainment.
Dr. Isbouts was previously Professor of Media Studies at Los Angeles-based National University and is currently Professor of Media Psychology and Media Studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA.
BOOKS His recent books include "Charlton Heston's Hollywood" (GoodTimes Publishing) and "Discovering Walt" (Hyperion). In 2007, National Geographic Society published his first book in his trilogy on the source and history of the three monotheistic faiths. This was the bestseller "The Biblical World", which explored the foundation of the Judeo-Christian tradition in the context of the Near East geography and archaeology.
This was followed in 2008 by "Young Jesus: Restoring the Lost Years of a Social Activist and Religious Dissident," which offered a forensic reconstruction of Herod Antipas' Lower Galilee and the socio-economic context of Jesus' New Kingdom program.
The third book in the trilogy is the upcoming "From Moses to Muhammad: The Extraordinary Shared History of Judaism, Christianity and Islam," which Francis Peters ("The Children of Abraham" calls "an exciting and scrupulously fair book.
"From Moses to Muhammad" tells the fascinating story of the shared origins of the three faiths as seen through the unique prism of both the Bible and the Koran (or Qur'an). In doing so, the book identifies striking parallels, producing a narrative that, in the words of Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, "is especially refreshing in our religiously charged times." These parallels, Isbouts argues, were caused to a great extent by the specific needs of their immediate socio-political context.
The result is a narrative that, while grounded in secular scholarship, makes an important contribution to understanding the shared vocabulary of the three great faiths - and particularly, the vernacular of their biblical narratives.
This review is from: The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas (Hardcover)
This Is unlike any bible atlas I have read before.It Is a great book to read, especially In these times. we today could learn a lot from the past, and this atlas Is a great place to start. It reviews the history, geography and culture of the holy land.Full of beautiful pictures,photos maps and filed with very Interesting facts on life in bible times.It Is written from a non biased viewpoint, which should appeal to all, except those who take every story In the bible on face value. Highly recommended.
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This review is from: The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas (Hardcover)
The Biblical World an Illustrated Atlas. I was mesmerized when I saw this book at my niece's home. When I bought a copy for myself, I was completely satisfied. I plan to walk in the footsteps of Paul, visiting major stops on his three journeys. This book provided pictures, commentary, and historical references which will enhance my trip. I strongly recommend this book to anyone, especially biblical scholars.
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This review is from: The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas (Hardcover)
Published by National Geographic, this is a beautiful volume of explanatory text with scripture quotes which look in chronological order the world of The Bible (Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament). Within the texts are references to the latest 'digs' within archeological sites which correspond to various reference made in each chapter. Each chapter also has a timeline. Great, of course, are all the maps for each significant biblical time period and VERY detailed explanatory notes which connect to the text. Saving the best for last, all the many brilliant color photographs which one would expect to find in a National Geographic publication. This is really nice text to have when doing Bible study... or an enjoyable read, in and of itself, if you want to 'tackle' the Bible in a new way. A nice gift for yourself or a friend.
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