Jona Lendering
Jona Lendering (born 29 October 1964 in Beneden-Leeuwen, Gelderland) is a Dutch historian and the author of books on antiquity, Dutch history and modern management. He studied masters in arts (MA) level history at Leiden University and Mediterranean culture at the Amsterdam Free University,[1] taught history at the Free University, and worked as an archivist employed by the Dutch government,[2] before becoming one of the founders of the history school Livius Onderwijs.[1]
Publications
In his writings, Lendering has attempted to pay more attention to the cultures of the ancient Near East.[citation needed][clarification needed] His 2004 biography of Alexander the Great (Alexander de Grote) attempted to make greater use than earlier scholars of Persian and Babylonian sources. For example, he argued from a Babylonian astronomical diary that Darius III of Persia was deserted by his troops when he faced Alexander at the Battle of Gaugamela, rather than personally leading the retreat as reported by Greek sources.[3]
In a passage cited by one commentator as characteristic of recent unsympathetic interpretations of Alexander,[4] Lendering argued that Alexander's respectful treatment of Darius' family was not just an act of chivalry but also a claim to be the "new king". Quality Non-Fiction from Holland called Alexander de Grote "fascinating" and highlighted Lendering's attention to non-Western evidence.[5] However, ancient historian Jan P. Stronk thought it clear from Lendering's book that these sources could at best illuminate specific details of Alexander's life.[3]
Lendering's interest in using western sources in combination with eastern sources can also be discerned in his book on ancient Rome (Stad in marmer), in which he quoted hitherto neglected Talmudic sources, and especially in his book on the legacy of Babylon and the world of Islam to Medieval Europe, Vergeten erfenis.
Livius.org
Since 1996, Lendering has maintained Livius, a website containing numerous articles on ancient history. The site is divided into sections on specific regions – Anatolia, Persia, Greece, etc. – and an individual selection of topics is treated for each of these.[6] The Mesopotamian section contains the recently discovered Babylonian Chronicles of the Hellenistic Period.[7][8] It has been described as having "authoritative information"about the topic areas.[9]
Livius Onderwijs
Livius Onderwijs is an association of teachers interested in ancient Mediterranean societies. ("Onderwijs" is Dutch for "education".) The association is based in Amsterdam and among other services offers a series of lectures there and elsewhere.[10] It was founded in 2005 by Lendering and Marco Prins.[11]
Award
After the publication of Lendering's Spijkers op laag water, a book highly critical about the shortcomings of modern classicists, archaeologists, and historians, the research school of Dutch classicists and historians awarded him their annual "Oikos publieksprijs", recognizing Lendering's contributions to explaining Antiquity to a larger audience.[12]
Selected works
- (with Arjan Bosman) De Rand van het Rijk. De Romeinen en de Lage Landen (2010; "Edge of the Empire. The Romans and the Low Countries");
- Spijkers op laag water. Vijftig misverstanden over de Oudheid (2009; "Fifty common errors about Antiquity");
- Vergeten erfenis. Oosterse wortels van de westerse cultuur (2009; "Lost Legacy. Eastern Roots of Western Civilization");
- Oorlogsmist. Veldslagen en propaganda in de Oudheid (2006; "Fog of War. Ancient Battles and Battle Narratives");
- Polderdenken. De wortels van de Nederlandse overlegcultuur (2005; "The Roots of the Dutch Consensus Culture");
- Alexander de Grote. De ondergang van het Perzische rijk, (2004, "Alexander the Great. The Demise of the Persian Empire");
- Stad in marmer. Gids voor het antieke Rome aan de hand van tijdgenoten (2002; "The Marble City. Literary Travel Guide of Ancient Rome");
- Archeologie van de futurologie (2000; "A History of Futurology");
- De randen van de aarde. De Romeinen tussen Schelde en Eems (2000; "The Edges of the Earth. The Romans in the Low Countries");
- Een interim-manager in het Romeinse Rijk. Plinius in Bithynië (1999; "An Interim-Manager in the Roman Empire. Pliny in Bithynia")
Lendering is a regular contributor to Ancient Warfare; his books have been translated into Turkish.
References
- ^ a b "About Jona Lendering". Livius. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ^ "About Livius.org". Livius. Archived from the original on 19 February 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ^ a b Jan P. Stronk (2005). "Jona Lendering, Alexander de Grote. De ondergang van het Perzische rijk". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Betsy Carpenter (November 14 2004). "Alexander's new look". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Jona Lendering, Alexander the Great (Alexander de Grote): The fall of the Persian Empire, 340-320". Quality Non-Fiction from Holland. 2004. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Thomas Kiely (May 20 2004). "Full record display for Livius : articles on ancient history". Intute. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Livius.org: Mesopotamian Chronicles". Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Arts, Prof. Dr. R.J. (Bert) van der Spek
- ^ Using internet primary sources to teach critical thinking skills in world By Roxanne M. Kent-Drury
- ^ "Livius Education: Colleges". Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ "Livius Education: Who are we?". Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ Jona Lendering wint de OIKOS publieksprijs 2010
External links
- Livius, his website
- Template:Worldcat id
