Dear Turkey Traveling Friends,
While we are still several months away from our departure, I thought I would give you a little "preview" reading material for those who are interested. As you know, the trip itself will be an introduction to the historical, social, political, and cultic context of the world out of which the New Testament and early Christianity emerged in Asia Minor. We'll immerse ourselves in archaeological ruins from the first through sixth centuries ce, and think together about how our experience of ancient spaces and images will shape our readings of New Testament texts.
While we are still several months away from our departure, I thought I would give you a little "preview" reading material for those who are interested. As you know, the trip itself will be an introduction to the historical, social, political, and cultic context of the world out of which the New Testament and early Christianity emerged in Asia Minor. We'll immerse ourselves in archaeological ruins from the first through sixth centuries ce, and think together about how our experience of ancient spaces and images will shape our readings of New Testament texts.
Below are a few highly recommended books for your perusal. You can see if your local public library has them (sometimes public libraries have great guidebook sections). You can also order them books from your
locally owned bookstore or even directly from the publisher. All of these
titles are also available through mass online book distributors (read:
Amazon, Barnes&Noble).
Everyone should look at Joerg Rieger's Traveling: Christian Explorations of Daily
Living. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011). This
short volume will help us think theologically about our travels, early
Christians' travels, and our own spiritual journeys.
If you would like a guidebook or two in which to look up different spots on our itinerary, Mark Wilson and Ege Yayinlari, Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the
Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor. (Istanbul: Umraniye, 2010) is one option.This
book is not a traditional guidebook, but rather contains photos, maps, excerpts
from ancient texts, and descriptions of many of the sites we will see on our
trip. It is a good, accessible reference. Some participants will find this book
sufficient for referencing ancient history. Others will find Bernard McDonagh, Blue
Guide Turkey (New York: W.W. Norton, 1995) more helpful. It is a "nerd's" travel-guide to Turkey and focuses on the
ancient history of the sites we will see and much, much more. Copies of the Blue Guide are easily shared among
fellow travelers. I will have one with me if you'd like to borrow it on the trip.
Be in touch with questions, discoveries, or inquiries about further reading. I've got a whole library to share and we've got the whole wide-world of western Turkey to explore!
Katherine
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