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Dynasty: A Very Short Introduction (Paperback)
Loot Price: R217
Discovery Miles 2 170
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Dynasty: A Very Short Introduction (Paperback)
Series: Very Short Introductions
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List price R269
Loot Price R217
Discovery Miles 2 170
You Save R52 (19%)
Expected to ship within 9 - 15 working days
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For thousands of years bloodlines have been held as virtually
unassailable credentials for leadership, with supreme political
power perceived as a family affair across the globe and throughout
history. At the heart of royal dynasties, kings were inflated to
superhuman proportions, yet their status came at a price: whilst
they may have reigned, they were very often ruled by others who
sheltered behind the ruler's proclaimed omnipotence. Descent
through the female line also occurred, subverting our common view
of dynasty as built on father-son succession. Everywhere, women
were important as mothers of boy-kings, and could even rule in
their own right in some places. In this Very Short Introduction
Jeroen Duindam connects the earliest history of kings and queens to
contemporary examples of family-based leadership. His sweeping
overview of five millennia of dynastic rule brings to light
recurring predicaments of families on the throne. Examining
persistent family conflict and the dilemmas of leadership, he shows
how the challenge of governing the family was balanced by the
necessity of family scions, close or distant, for the survival of
dynasties. Tensions between ageing fathers and eager sons can be
found among ancient kings as well as in modern business empires.
Guidebooks for rulers throughout history provided counsel that will
appear strikingly familiar to contemporary leaders. The thoughts
and confessions of rulers added a more personal touch to these
rules of thumb. Throughout, Duindam sheds light not only on
similarities, but also on divergence and change in dynastic
practice. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series
from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost
every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to
get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine
facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make
interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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