Description
Book SynopsisThe French president Charles de Gaulle spoke of a Europe “from the Atlantic to the Urals”. Europe was spatially formed with these topographic parameters from the late 10th century onwards, with the massive Christianization of its inhabitants. At that time, however, all three monotheistic religions already had a steady presence there. Could such a macro-space be thought-and-narrated from a macro-perspective, in view of its medieval past? This has already been done through common ʻdenominatorsʻ such as the Migration Period, wars, trade, spread of Christianity. Could it also be seen through a common religious-philosophical and spiritual phenomenon – the Anticipation of the End of the world among Christians, Muslims, and Jews? This book gives a positive answer to the last question.
Table of ContentsPreface: How the Idea for This Book Came About Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction 1 European Dimensions of the Anticipation of the End of Times: Texts. Contexts. Real Places and Symbolic Topoi 1.1 Expectations for the End of Times in the Jewish Milieu, 10th–12th Centuries 1.2 Expectations for the End of Times in Western Europe 1.3 Expectations for the End of Times in Byzantium 1.4 Expectations for the End of Times in Kievan Rus’ 2 Topography of the Evil Forces before the End of Times: European Dimensions 2.1 The Question of the Sources 2.2 Genealogy of Some of the Topoi 2.3 Later Development of the Topos of the Direction of the Evil Forces’ Invasions in the 10th–12th Centuries 3 Bulgarian Dimensions of the Anticipation of the End of Times: Texts. Contexts. Real Places and Symbolic Topoi 3.1 Danube Bulgaria: ‘Texts’ of Word and Image 3.2 Topography and Names of the Evil Forces before the End of Times in the Notions of the Danube Bulgarians 3.3 Beginning and End of Tsardom: Bulgarian ‘Responses’ to the Expectation of the End of Times Conclusion Bibliography Illustrations Index
