ISBN: 1317610660 9781317610663

Category: History / General

Page count: 192

<p>Magic: The Basics is a concise and engaging introduction to magic in world history and contemporary societies. Presenting magic as a global phenomenon which has manifested in all human cultures, this book takes a thematic approach which explores the historical, social, and cultural aspects of magic. </p><p>Key features include:</p><ul> <p> </p> <li>attempts to define magic either in universal or more particular terms, and to contrast it with other broad and potentially fluid categories such as religion and science;</li> <p> </p> <li>an examination of different forms of magical practice and the purposes for which magic has been used;</li> <p> </p> <li>debates about magic’s effectiveness, its reality, and its morality;</li> <p> </p> <li>an exploration of magic’s association with certain social factors, such as gender, ethnicity and education, among others.</li> </ul><p>Offering a global perspective of magic from antiquity through to the modern era and including a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading and case studies throughout, Magic: The Basics is essential reading for anyone seeking to learn more about the academic study of magic.</p>