Kingship: The Politics of Enchantmant

by Francis Oakley

In this book, Francis Oakley argues that kingship may be the most common form of government known to humankind. He traces its history from the time of the Neolithic revolution and the spread of agrarian modes of subsistence around the eastern Mediterranean (c.8000 - 5000 BCE) down to its widespread loss of legitimacy in the modern industrial world.The author considers the many forms that kingship took during this period, including: the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt; the emperors of Japan; the Maya rulers of Mesoamerica; the medieval popes and emperors; and the English and French monarchs of early modern Europe. While acknowledging the panoply of governing roles that kingship could involve - administrative, military, judicial, economic, religious, and purely symbolic - his central focus is on its intimate connection with the sacred.

Genres: History, Politics

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Lance Kinzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol 2 of a 3 Vol series marked by great titles!! I read Vol 1 “Empty Bottles of Gentilism” in 2016; I don’t plan to wait another four year before reading Vol 3, “The Watershed of Modern Politics”

Oakley is adept at weaving together church and political history in a way that sheds substantial light on how developments dating back to late antiquity bear on our current understanding of a myriad of fundamental issues including, church state relations, political legitimacy, consent, authority and more.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good stuff. Oakley is, I think, more convincing than Skinner in his thesis.