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That's a poor excuse and you know it. Hellenism, asides from the very minor Epicureans (who were long dead even by Late Antiquity), never held this view in any way. Infact, as stated, it would directly go against the ancient theory of sacrifice (do ut des) common among Indo-European groups. I can even go further and say that not only was this immanent view completely integral to ancient Graeco-Roman religion, but it was a basis of the real life attempt at reforming the religion by Emperor Julian. Must I repeat the thing I already posted from Emperor Julian's "A Letter to a Priest"? Or do I need to talk about theophanies, manifestations of the divine, in the Ancient World? The divine Emperor Julian experienced a theophany on the spring of 363 CE when taking the route to Mount Kasios to bear witness to the early dawn and give worship and provide a sacrifice to Zeus. The sun rose, and in broad daylight, Julian received an epiphanic vision from Zeus, and “saw the God and after seeing him… received advice” (Libanius, Or.18.172). It is here that Zeus, “[as] one of the immortals descended from heaven, took [Julian] by the hair, spoke to him, and after listening to [Zeus’] answer [Julian] departed” (Libanius, Or.18.172).

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Want a book about how the divine would directly engage with humans? Here, have one on miracles in the ancient world. Better yet, I think you should read primary resources. Go read Arcana Mundi: Magic and the Occult in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Collection of Ancient Texts by Georg Luck, it has a great many collections of primary resources translated, many of which involve how Ancient Hellenes understood theophany and their interactions with the divine. None of which involved "non-caring Gods."

Aha! but Zoroastrianism was far from the de facto religion of the Middle East. The Persian Empire was far from Persian in its demographics. That's why many modern Historians have begun to call it either the Iranian Empire or name the empire by its current Dynasty (Sassanid in Khosrow's case).

I bring this up because Zoroastrianism wasn't proselytized. Only a true-blooded Persian could be Zoroastrian. While converts were more or less accepted they were treated as an in-between class. Large groups of non-Persian Iranians practiced Christianity and Judaism. In fact, the Nestorian Church (an "Orthodox heresy") was based in Iran!

CK2 misses this when it allows the conversion of provinces to Zoroastrianism when the culture is not Persian. A big nono in my opinion!

But unlike Islam, Zoroastrians didn't tax non-Zoroastrians any more than normal (re. the Jizya tax).


If we're in the realm of alternate histories, had Khosrow II not squandered his grandfather's army like he did the Muslims would not have been able to expand like they did. Only a decade before the Muslim conquests began Khosrow II had, for the first time, truly won against the Graeco-Romans and taken not only the oft-traded Armenia, but most of Anatolia, all of Syira and the Levant, and even Egypt.

A counter-offensive by the Romans had devastated Khosrow's I masterpiece army and Khosrow II wouldn't surrender. The protracted war of attrition that followed put the Persian Empire is such a downward spiral that Khosrow II is often considered the last of the non-Muslim kings of Persia. Those that followed ruled briefly and were assassinated more often than not. Rome itself had very little defenses left in their regained holdings. (Borders went back to normal after the Perso-Roman war ended.)

Sidenote The story goes that during the peace negotiations between Emperor Heraclius (who REALLY deserves a story on his own, such a badass) and the General-King Shahrbahz (who REALLY deserves a story on his own, such a badass)...anyway, during the peace negotiations between the badasses they got a letter from some nobody self-proclaimed prophet from Mecca insisting they convert to some new faith. (Hee hee)

Had these wars gone differently, Islam would not have spread to dramatically, if at all, throughout Africa or Asias minor and major. Now THAT is some alternate history. :)

I made a thread a while back saying that paradox should make a game based on all this good stuff. At the very least they should make it a bookmark in EU: Rome 2 if i ever comes out. I would be SO happy.

Do you want to know more?

Yeah, I'm sure I irked quite a few authors and readers alike with that comment hahaha, but I will say you could argue his is among the best - in the science-fiction/fantasy genre, that is. It would be near-impossible and likely biased-based to compare anyone to every known author in existence. I probably used the wrong word in "unmatched," but even though you've likely read a lot more than I have (casual reader, tough not to be with college :/), I'll make a stretch and say you'll at least agree with me on that after you've read a few of the books. I'll say this, he certainly rivals Tolkien and his series rivals LOTR. Although, again, LOTR was far more of a pure-fantasy series so it's kind of an apples-to-oranges comparison (red apples-to-green apples?).

I definitely recommend adding it to your list, though, moreso that I'd recommend any other fiction/fantasy series. In case you ever need the info, the book order is as follows: A Game of Thrones -> A Clash of Kings -> A Storm of Swords -> A Feast For Crows -> A Dance With Dragons. There are two more books in the series that have yet to be released (potentially three if he pushes it, it was originally planned as a trilogy).

Anyway, I do hope you pick it up some day and give it a try. If you ever have any questions about it, feel free to send me a message. Take care!

Edit: Here are the links to the UK Box Sets for Season 1
Game of Thrones - Season 1 [DVD]
Game of Thrones - Season 1 [Blu-Ray]

I actually have the reverse of all these "did well on history tests" experiences. I was already a history buff, but most histories lack a sense of comprehension that the Crusader Kings II start map does (despite occasional inaccuracies). But it's great to watch the rise and fall of the Plantagenet Empire in France while at the same time watching what's going on in the Byzantine Empire, in Italy, with the hordes in the east, etc. Not only that, but you can also look at the vassals of the Kings and Emperors, the religions, etc. so it helps balance out my understanding of European history and make it more holistic for the time period.

For example, I picked up the book "Four Queens" (see below) and while I loved the history, I was appalled at the map inside that listed only the local Cathar conflict, Provence, and named the big three powers as the Pope, the HRE, and Rome. No one else mattered or was listed. I put the book down, ran home, and immediately logged on to CK2 to check out the world map at that time and immediately had a better understanding of Europe at the start of the book. (I still haven't gone out and bought it though...)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670038431/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=5PW1PAVSSXEQ&coliid=I3JPBPIUDWX5NF

Also as an aspiring novelist, CK2 has given me tons of great stories to work with. I already have a ridiculous alternate history based on the Magyar conquest of Constantinople and establishment of Carpathia, the Shaoshyant Khan, a powerful Fylkirate, and a reformed Mali that replaces Islamic al-Andalus with their own West African variety.

Other stories I've been outlining/writing didn't follow CK2 so explicitly, but the family relationships served as the basis for other stories. There's some good articles about these facets of the game. One of my favorites being "Like Worms in the Belly of Some Great Beast."

http://ruthlessculture.com/2013/05/07/like-worms-in-the-belly-of-some-great-beast-family-values-and-crusader-kings-ii/

Might be a good time to get into audio books as well? You can get a free audiobook on audible with a membership that you can then just cancel.... a pretty cheeky discovery. My recommendations:

1- The Era of the Crusades - By The Great Courses - Narrated by Professor Kenneth W. Harl from Tulane Univ. Louisiana(woot! home state baby)

2- The Medieval World - By The Great Courses - Narrated by Professor Dorsey Armstrong from Purdue Univ.

I loved both of these audio books and they both give a very clear view of the world back then. The Era of the Crusades focuses on of course the crusades but it goes into the whole background as well. You hear all about the different Byzantine emperors such as Alexios Komneus and Manuel I. It's pretty cool. The medieval world though is a very detailed look at the people, architecture, culture, political, and economic standpoints. It even goes into detail about medieval diet.

Edit: ------ The Mongoliad is pretty cool. The fighting techniques are spot on.

https://www.amazon.com/Mongoliad-Cycle-Neal-Stephenson/dp/1612182364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500647832&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mongoliad

I re-edited this. Here's some other cool stuff everyone might like or want to check out:

• Byzantium, The Lost Empire - YT playlist, it's a documentary series sort of along the lines of the civilization by Ken Clark (Which is awsome in itself).
  
  
• 12 Byzantine Rulers by Lars Brownworth. I've only listened through it once (maybe it's time to again?) but it's absolutely amazing.
  
  
• Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization Also by Mr. Brownsworth. I've only listened to the Audiobook (Got it through Audible awhile back), but it's pretty cool.
  
  I'm sure I'll remember some other cool stuff. The Roman/Early Middle Ages are one of my favorite time periods, and I've seen a lot of documentaries, read a lot of books, and such on this era.

Sire,

I present the Crusader. $720 but the cost is reduce able.

It seems expensive but you can cut the cost in a few ways.

First, this build is more powerful than your xbox. If you want to use a controller you just need to get an xbox one controller receiver for computer.

Second cost cutter. If you have any parts around your house, let me know. I can work those into the current game.

Third, you can replace the windows OS with a linux build. Linux is a free operating system that just happens to work with ck2. It does not work with much else.

Fourth, the graphics card is optional if you really only want to do ck2 and other simple games on this machine. However, keeping this card will ensure you can play many games on this and they will look better than on the xbone.

If you decide to build this, check out /r/buildapc and /r/pcmasterrace.

I just finished reading Lost to the West, and it was a very fascinating and in-depth look at the broad history of the ERE as well as all the number of colorful and interesting people who sat on the throne. Although it does do some time skips, and glosses over some of the less important or less interesting emperors, I still enjoyed it none the less.

I think you're underselling SoI a little. The Muslim experience is pretty radically different from Christians. You have polygamy, decadence, many religious events, and the agnatic open succession system. In addition, SoI added sub-traits for commanders so you can customize what your ruler is good at, if he has a martial education.

Edit - Also you can spare yourself the headache and just buy this puppy. Amazon had it for $10 in January and $15 in March, so there's a very good chance it will be in that range for their inevitable summer sale.

If you're a fan of when CK2 bleeds a bit into the fantasy/supernatural world, I can heartily recommend The Black Company by Glen Cook. Follows a mercenary company in dark fantasy world, and is a damn good read.

And then if that takes you, then maybe give Battle Brothers a try. You run a mercenary band in dark fantasy world. It's sort of like Mount and Blade mixed with XCom, in a good way. Best of all, it's just about to leave Early Access, so no waiting 3 years for it to be complete!

Enguerrand I, Lord of Coucy

I have been reading "A Distant Mirror" an amazing book about medieval history, and decided to play as , the first royal ancestor of the main character in the book.

To play him the start date has to be January 1, 1077, and choose the County of Amiens in the Kingdom of France.

Me and my friend have had a back and forth succession game as his line and it has been a blast. You are constantly caught in the middle of France exploding into revolutions, the English, Flemish, and HRE, among others, all trying to encroach on your position. It is a constant defensive battle, but very rewarding when you manage to snag an extra county or two.

At the moment you can get the base game, all the DLC except that which came out yesterday (which is a LOT of content, you can get the new DLC later if you are interested - I have played 100s of hours without it and still am not bored), and CK1 on Amazon for $15.

This is to celebrate the new DLC's release. If you are not comfortable with spending the small amount of extra money before playing the normal game - there will be sales again.

EDIT, non-mobile link (was on phone): http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Interactive-41303-Kings-Pack1/dp/B00B7UK2I2

If you're interested in the opposite perspective on things, I sincerely recommend The Book of Contemplation by Usama ibn Munqidh, a Syrian muslim soldier, diplomat and adventurer who lived in 1100s.

Court intrigue in Fatimid Egypt, taking on the Crusaders, fighting the Hashashin in personal combat, participating in many battles and sieges described in detail, all told in the form of short stories he recounts from his own memory or relays from other people. Most stories are told from grassroots level and some stories go so deep as to tell the stories of individual soldiers who Usama knew.

Despite its age it's a very easy read thanks to the quality of Penguin Classics translation and footnotes.

If Nestorian Christianity/ Christianity in Asia interest you, the two best books I have found about it are Phillip Jenkins' The Lost History of Christianity , which is aimed toward a more popular audience, and Samuel Moffet's History of Christianity in Asia before 1500 , which is a more academic text.

The Alexiad very understandable source material written by the Princess Anna during her father Alexios I Komnenos reign.

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe this is a tale that every CK2 player would enjoy reading. Published 2007 both well written and well researched. It's the story of one count of Provence who each rose to be influential queens of England, France, Germany and Sicily. There's also more than a bit on when some of them accompanied their husbands on crusade.

Yea it's not even kind of comparable to a laptop. More of a 'hey this works nice for lan parties', which are pretty rare these days anyway.

They make some slim monitors and, some wireless keyboards are pretty compact, but no matter what you're making compromises to make it work.

Plus for true mobility you need one of those portable cells with a 110 outlet on them, unless you feel like engineering your own battery pack.

Hey, just FYI if you're American it's up for sale on the Amazon Game Downloads store again. 75% off CK2 ($10) and Sword of Islam, and the other dlc's are either 40% or 75% off as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Interactive-40914er-Kings-II1/dp/B006ULENFG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342446989&sr=8-1&keywords=crusader+kings+2

If you wanted to buy everything (including Old Gods) your best bet would probably be:

$15 - for game and all released dlcs and packs from Amazon

And then preorder Old Gods plus new norse packs from GMG with 20% off code which would come out to $16.77.

This will give you steam keys for all base game, all released dlc and packs, plus Old Gods dlc and packs for $31.57.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/James-History-Homosexuality-Michael-Young/dp/0814796931

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^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Some good answers here. If you were really interested in learning a lot about the subject Black Garden by de Waal is the definitive book.

That said, I'll explain my comment since others have explained the overall conflict.

In Armenia, Karabakh holds an important, almost mythical sway on the consciousness. Pretty much every Armenia I have ever met has asked me "have you been to Karabakh?" They see the land as theirs, wrongfully stolen from them when the Soviets drew the borders, putting this area they see as part of ancient Armenia (and, to be fair, had a lot of ethnic Armenians in it) in to Soviet Azerbaijan.

The Armenians have been screwed by border drawing by foreign powers before--their holy Mountain, the Mountain that Noah's Ark landed on, the Mountain that adorns their coat of arms and every Armenian home--was drawn on the other side of the border with Turkey at the close of WW1. Of course, WW1 also had the Turks carrying out a massive genocide of the Armenian people, and so this literally added insult to massive injury. But there's nothing to be done about Mount Ararat; Turkey is far too powerful. Karabakh, on the other hand, can be held and there are many Armenians living there. As a people who have suffered so much holding on to that land is important.

The sons of Armenia (and Azerbaijan, to be fair) die all the time on the front line of this Cold War. Territory doesn't change hands, but snipers fire over the border, sometimes hitting civilians. Armenians see themselves as having given so much to protect this land they will not give it up--and they also fear not having Karabakh as a buffer between their main state and Azerbaijan. I don't know any Azeris so I can't speak to their feelings, but the impression I get is that they believe they should hold the territory that was in their borders during Soviet times. However--and I admit I am biased when making this statement--I don't think that's realistic. This area of the world has a strong ethnic association with territory (Azeris in Azerbaijan, Armenians in Armenia, etc.) that I don't see how it could end well for the ethnic Armenians in Karabakh if the Azeris got that territory back.

This is one of the most complicated situations in the world right now, and very few people know about it.

Here is Main Game in Steam

Here are the DLC, in Steam

Here it is on Amazon, DLCs are on the recommendations below I think

So yeah, all you need is a decent PC (or Mac, though I dont know how viable that is) :D

http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Interactive-41303-Kings-Pack1/dp/B00B7UK2I2

amazon has all of it for 14.99. only the first game is not steam. Your welcome.

do not buy that version. The complete pack is $15 and contains Ck1 + CK2 + All the DLC

http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Interactive-41303-Kings-Pack1/dp/B00B7UK2I2

Why not all of them?

http://www.amazon.com/Paradox-Interactive-41303-Kings-Pack1/dp/B00B7UK2I2

Bought it myself, can confirm that everything works.

Link for the lazy

https://www.amazon.com/James-History-Homosexuality-Michael-Young/dp/0814796931

This book claims that King James has been accused of homosexual conduct even while he was a live and that his "endeavours" created problems for his heirs' rule. That's as "pre-modern" as you can get.