ISBN:
9780197650936
Language:
English
Pages:
xxiii, 402 Seiten
,
Karten, Illustrationen
Edition:
English language edition
Uniform Title:
Kultur und Geschichte Nepals
Parallel Title:
Erscheint auch als Michaels, Axel Nepal
Parallel Title:
Erscheint auch als Michaels, Axel, 1949 - Nepal
DDC:
954.96
Keywords:
Asian history
;
Asiatische Geschichte
;
Buddhism
;
Buddhismus
;
HISTORY / Asia / India & South Asia
;
HISTORY / Social History
;
Hinduism
;
Hinduismus
;
RELIGION / Buddhism / General (see also PHILOSOPHY / Buddhist)
;
RELIGION / Hinduism / General
;
Social & cultural history
;
Sozial- und Kulturgeschichte
;
Nepal Civilization
;
Nepal History
;
Nepal Politics and government
;
History
;
Nepal
;
Nepal
;
Nepal
;
Geschichte
Abstract:
Until 1951 Nepal was closed to the world, landlocked between the strongest Asian powers, India and China. With its exceptional landscape, it touts the highest mountains and the greatest biodiversity on earth. It is best known as the home of Mt. Everest and holds particular fascination for those interested in climbing the Himalayas. Having long maintained its self-imposed isolation, the nation is one of the least developed in the world. Yet it is inhabited by a remarkably diverse population of 125 ethnic groups, 123 languages, and numerous religions, most notably Hinduism and Buddhism.In this book, South Asia expert Axel Michaels covers the history of Nepal from prehistoric times and the period of the Licchavi dynasty through more recent developments, such as the rise of the republic, the first elections challenged by the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006), and the royal massacre in 2001. Chapters discuss the different principalities on the territory, among them the mysterious and legendary Mustang and Sherpa realms. Since the eighteenth century, these domains have been bundled into a contentious national history. Thus, going well beyond the center of power in the Kathmandu Valley, the book examines Nepal's relations with neighboring cultures in India, Tibet, and China, as well as the influence of British colonial power. It particularly focuses on its rich history of arts, architecture, and handicrafts. Although the Buddha was born in Nepal, the country is the world's last Hindu kingdom and is also a stronghold of Tantric traditions, shamanism, and many folk religions whose festivals and rituals mark daily life. Based on a wealth of primary sources in Nepali, Sanskrit, and other indigeneous languages, Nepal offers a comprehensive and updated history of this unique culture and history
Abstract:
"This book is a history of cultural, religious, and socio-political diversity in a landlocked state, squeezed between India and China (Tibet), a country with 125 ethnic groups and 123 languages and a plethora of religions, textual and art historical traditions and power centers. It thus deals with transcultural histories of the regions, different political claims and forms of organization, multiple and fluid identities, and cross-border transcultural, transreligious, and economic entanglements. It introduces into the infrastructure, the mountains along with the ever-threatening earthquakes, the importance of water reserves and forests. It deals with the different multi-ethnic population groups and the resulting challenges such as migration, social hierarchies, the caste system or the position of women. Another focus is on religions in their special forms: the Buddha born in Nepal and Buddhism with its tantric Vajrayana, the strongly syncretic Hinduism and the numerous folk religions. The political history is dealt with in a span from prehistoric times to the elections in 2022. In addition, the focus is on widely neglected topics that have so far hardly been dealt with in other histories of Nepal, such as relations with India and China, land and administrative structures in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the labor situation and slavery, democratization, and the influence on the Maoist movement as well as the lesser-known history of selected ethnic groups such as the Sherpa, Mustangi or Rai-Limbu in eastern Nepal. A common thread running through the book is the question how the country's major challenges in terms of social conflicts, nationalization, infrastructure, education, migration, or divided forms of rule and political instability can be addressed without sacrificing the impressive ethnic and cultural diversity"--
Description / Table of Contents:
The country -- The population -- The religions -- Scattered power and petty kingdoms: the country before the fourteenth century -- Divided rule: the Malla kingdoms, thirteenth to eighteenth century -- From Gorkha to Nepal: the imperial Śāha monarchy, 1768/69-1846 -- Patrimonial rule: the Rāṇā period, 1846-1951 -- From monarchy to republic, 1951-2022 -- Alliances and resistance: ethnic groups and their histories.
Note:
"This book is based on Kultur und Geschichte Nepals ©2018 Alfred Kröner Verlag Stuttgart"
,
Includes bibliographical references and index
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