Publisher's Synopsis
The activity of "ordering" relies on models that help us to perceive and categorize the information conveyed by experience and tradition alike. In turn, its results effectively influence the behaviour and actions of individuals and groups. With a focus on premodern societies in Europe, the Arab world and East Asia, this volume proposes new approaches to premodern models of world-order, by analyzing their effects on individual of collective actions. Examples include socio-religious concepts (Christianity, terra paganorum, dar al-harb), political ideas (empire) and geographical notions. A section dedicated to Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and Pre-Columbian America considerably broadens the geographic scope and provides innovative additional material for further comparative insights.
