Terrorism Before the Letter

Description:

Beginning around 1559 and continuing through 1642, writers in England, Scotland, and France found themselves pre-occupied with an unusual sort of crime, a crime without a name which today we call 'terrorism'. These crimes were especially dangerous because they were aimed at violating not just the law but the fabric of law itself; and yet they were also, from an opposite point of view, especially hopeful, for they seemed to have the power of unmaking a systematic injustice and restoring a nation to its 'ancient liberty'. The Bible and the annals of classical history were full of examples: Ehud assassinating King Eglon of Moab; Samson bringing down the temple in Gaza; Catiline arousing a conspiracy of terror in republican Rome; Marcus Brutus leading a conspiracy against the life of Julius Caesar. More recent history provided examples too: legends about Mehmed II and his concubine Irene; the assassination in Florence of Duke Alessandro de 'Medici, by his cousin Lorenzino.0.

subjects: English literature, history and criticism, early modern, 1500-1700,  French literature, history and criticism,  Terrorism in literature,  Europe, social conditions,  English literature,  History and criticism,  French literature,  Terrorism,  History,  Terrorisme dans la littérature,  Terrorisme,  Histoire,  LITERARY CRITICISM,  European,  English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh,  Early modern