Cosmopolitanism and the Middle Ages - New Middle Ages by J Ganim & S Legassie Hardcover

About the Book

"Is it possible to be a citizen of the world? Cosmopolitan thought has been at the center of recent debates surrounding human rights, legal obligations, international relations and political responsibility. Most of these debates trace their origins to the Enlightenment of the Eighteenth Century or to the teaching of Greek and Roman philosophers. This collection of essays uncovers a wide array of medieval writings on cosmopolitan ethics and politics, writings generally ignored or glossed over in contemporary discourse. Medieval literary fictions and travel accounts provide us with rich contextualizations of the complexities and contradictions of cosmopolitan thought"--

Book Synopsis

This collection of essays uncovers a wide array of medieval writings on cosmopolitan ethics and politics, writings generally ignored or glossed over in contemporary discourse. Medieval literary fictions and travel accounts provide us with rich contextualizations of the complexities and contradictions of cosmopolitan thought.

Review Quotes

"The authors and the two editors are to be commended . . . [The essays] straddle various disciplines, they move us around in space and they carry us through many centuries. They are thoughtful, well documented, and up-to-date. The editors do their duty regarding the when and why of the collection." - The Medieval Review

"The volume altogether proves to be very stimulating." - Mediaecistik

"The balance of topics is extremely strong, and I think the book as a whole does a great deal to expand our notions of what cosmopolitanism means. The essays enrich historical understandings of interactions between different groups and between individuals of different faiths, backgrounds, and locales in the medieval era." - Lisa Lampert-Weissig, Professor of English Literature and Comparative Medieval Studies and Katzin Professor in Jewish Civilization, University of California San Diego, USA

"The essays in Cosmopolitanism and the Middle Ages constitute a powerful argument for a premodern cosmopolitanism, one that is marked by rich and complex cultural, social, linguistic, and economic exchanges. The cosmopolitan imaginary at work here is marked by plurality, division, and tension, as well as curiosity and creativity. This compelling book is a warm invitation to accompany medieval writers and travelers as they explore the world around them and push eagerly at the boundaries of what is familiar." - Stephanie Trigg, Professor of English, The University of Melbourne, Australia

About the Author

Karla Mallette, University of Michigan, USA Sharon Kinoshita, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA Christine Chism, UCLA, USA Marla Segol, University at Buffalo of the State University of New York, USA Shirin Khanmohamadi, San Francisco State University, USA Adnan Husain, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada Margaret Aziza Pappano, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada Karma Lochrie, Indiana University, USA Robert R. Edwards, Pennsylvania State University, USA Jessica L. Wolfe, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA