War, religion and empire
Book Description
In a world where spiritual communities and political powers have long intersected, Andrew Phillips examines the profound forces that shape how civilizations rise, flourish, and ultimately transform. War, Religion and Empire explores the delicate balance between shared spiritual visions and organized conflict that has defined human societies throughout history.
Phillips presents a thoughtful analysis of how international orders depend on both collective beliefs about what constitutes good governance and accepted practices of managing discord between different communities. Drawing from the medieval Christian world and the traditional East Asian cultural sphere, he reveals how these complex systems eventually face legitimation crises that challenge their foundational principles.
The author traces how prevailing social understandings can disintegrate, leading to the breakdown of empires and the emergence of disruptive innovations in how societies organize themselves. From ancient Rome to the China-centered order that persisted into the nineteenth century, Phillips demonstrates how the human impulse toward harmony has manifested through various forms of governance, including imperial systems, sovereign states, and the unique papal-imperial structure that characterized medieval Christendom.
This scholarly work offers readers interested in understanding the intersection of spirituality and governance a framework for comprehending both historical patterns and contemporary challenges facing our interconnected world. Phillips concludes by examining current threats to global order and potential responses needed to preserve cooperative international relationships.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages)
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Middle Ages
- ✓ Explore Religion and politics
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Christianity and politics
- ✓ Explore Imperialism
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Terrorism
- ✓ Explore Weltordnung
