Comments on: From Minaret to Steeple

By: RJ Houston

RJ Houston — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:04:09 +0000

Does anyone see the irony in the passage of this law in Switzerland…..the country that has a symbol of Christianity, a cross, in its flag?

By: Minarets and madness « Inversion Layer

Minarets and madness « Inversion Layer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:01:08 +0000

[...] Mystery quotes an intriguing passage on the development of the church steeple. In this passage, from “The Origin and History of the [...]

By: Conrad Barwa

Conrad Barwa — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:48:19 +0000

It has no natural resources or strategic worth.<?

Doesn't it have one of the largest copper deposits in the world at Ayanak? Plus we are told that it has some considerable reserves of natural gas and precious stones in the north. But I agree that natural resources isn't one of the major reasons that have drawn powers to the country.

I think it depends on what you mean by 'controlled by proxies' foreign backed rulers by the British didn't last long and British occupations did alright as long as they didn't upset the regional power structures and disbursed generous amounts of cash to keep the tribal leaders and notables happy. When these things didn't happen or were stopped, trouble started. The Brits also never managed to exert any real control over the NWFP, they had to continually mount military incursions from the 1880s till the 1930s using large numbers of troops in the old 'butcher and bolt' strategy.

I don't know enough about the Persians, they might have been more successful

By: Yes man

Yes man — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:35:49 +0000

Someone has got to debunk this “graveyard of empires” theme that’s been going around. Afghanistan has been controlled by british and the persians for years through proxies. Of course they never really wanted to directly control it, who does? It has no natural resources or strategic worth.

By: The Other View | on Minarets

The Other View | on Minarets — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:00:17 +0000

[...] 2) sepoy at chapatimistery has dug up some background info. [...]

By: iiinteresting « online rihla

iiinteresting « online rihla — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:02:19 +0000

[...] 2009 December 1 by ummsqueakster At Chapti Mystery – From Minaret to Steeple It is a well-known fact that the early Christian basilica had no towers attached or superposed. The [...]

By: Nikolai

Nikolai — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:27:22 +0000

yeah, the autocrats are gonna love the Swiss decision. anything to distanct the populous from their own failings.

speaking of islamic history/influence on europe, Michael Morgan’s ‘Lost History” would be a good volume for English-speaking Western Muslims in their early teens. ( http://www.amazon.com/Lost-History-Enduring-Scientists-Thinkers/dp/1426202806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259627092&sr=8-1 )

not exactly “A Cambridge History of…” but it’s good for a younger audience

By: Welcome To The Islamic Republic Of Switzerland – Do You Want Your Burqa In Black Or Blue? « The Spinning Head

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:22:32 +0000

[...] steeple traces its own history to the Islamic minaret. Our friends at Chapati Mystery kindly posted a piece written by the historian Richard J. H. Gottheil. called “The Origin and History of the Minaret” in the [...]

By: Change

Change — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:04 +0000

The arab regimes are probably thrilled by the Swiss decision. They will allow street protests just like they allowed all those protests during the Mohammed cartoon controversy.

By: Conrad Barwa

Conrad Barwa — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:18:24 +0000

Why is the knowledge of history always the first casualty?

Because it is WAR, Baby!

By: Jonathan Dresner

Jonathan Dresner — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:54:51 +0000

History has no respect for partisans, does it?

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:44:35 +0000

The cathedral in Seville is built on top of a mosque (the mosque in turn is built on top of a visigoth temple). The spire is literally the minaret from the old mosque.