Sacred Kingship in World History

This comprehensive examination explores the role of sacred kingship across various cultures and historical contexts, as detailed in Sacred Kingship in World History.

The concept of sacred kingship has been a pivotal political structure throughout history, influencing both small societies and vast empires. Sacred Kingship in World History offers a collaborative and interdisciplinary exploration of this institution, examining the intricate relationship between religion and politics from a long-term and global comparative perspective. The editors, A. Azfar Moin and Alan Strathern, provide a comprehensive theoretical framework that helps to understand the dynamics of sacred kingship, allowing leading scholars to contribute their insights through a series of essays.

In this insightful book, the authors distinguish between two significant religious tendencies that shape kingship: immanentism and transcendentalism. Immanentism emphasizes the king's role in performing priestly and cosmic rites to ensure the flourishing of life, while transcendentalism focuses on ethical goals and the pursuit of salvation. Notably, the struggle between these two forces does not dissipate with the advent of secular modernity; instead, it shifts from kings to nations and individuals, reflecting a broader socio-political landscape.

The essays within Sacred Kingship in World History span a remarkable range of historical contexts, from ancient Egypt to modern European drama. By examining the interplay of religion and rulership across various cultures, the book sheds new light on the ways in which religious beliefs have shaped political authority throughout global history, offering valuable insights for scholars in fields such as religious studies, political theory, and anthropology.