Purity Lost investigates the porous nature of social, political, and religious boundaries prevalent in the eastern Mediterranean-from the Black Sea to Egypt-during the Middle Ages. In this intriguing study, Steven A. Epstein finds that people consistently defied, overlooked, or transcended restrictions designed to preserve racial and cultural purity in order to establish relationships with those different from themselves. These mixed relationships-among people who did not share language, creed, or skin color-undermined the pervasive claims of purity. They forced people to reflect on their own identities and the bonds-whether social, political, religious, or racial-that defined their lives. Drawing on examples from daily life and interstate politics, Epstein takes a close look at the renegades and rule-breakers of this era. He explores race, master/slave relationships, diplomatic relations between Christian Italians and Muslim Turks, religious conversions from Christian to Muslim and vice versa, and religious boundaries of the human and the angelic. Epstein reveals the modern view of cultural, ethnic, and religious purity in the early modern Mediterranean as a mirage, and he offers new insights into how present-day conceptions about creed, color, ethnicity, and language originated.

A well-researched, engaging work populated by numerous fascinating examples on a broad range of topics and regions of the medieval Mediterranean. His focus is not on the great religious or political entities and events which have generally attracted the attention of scholars, but rather on the interstices, the margins and boundaries of the Mediterranean. -- Eric R Dursteler, author of Venetians in Constantinople

About the Author
Steven A. Epstein is the Ahmanson-Murphy Distinguished Professor of Medieval History at the University of Kansas.

Reviews
The book is a mine of interesting information and stimulating insights... It leaves the reader thirsting for more. -- Peter Lock Speculum 2009 Epstein has deftly brought together social, political, economic, and cultural history. -- George Dameron Journal of Interdisciplinary History 2008 The subject of this study is timely. -- Olivia Remie Constable English Historical Review 2008 Purity Lost is a stimulating read with much interesting material. -- John V. Tolan Crusades 2008



Book Information
ISBN 9780801884849
Author Steven A. Epstein
Format Hardback
Page Count 264
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 499g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 22mm