About

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The term 'Old World' describes the context of time and place in which early European, Asian, and African peoples established vital networks for the mutual exchange of goods and ideas among themselves. In this milieu of trade and proselytization, Jews, Christians, and Muslims - all claiming spiritual descent from a shared lineage of ancient monotheistic Prophets - propagated throughout the known inhabited world a common vocabulary of values and symbols.

Hence, an understanding of the 'Age of Faith', extending from Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages, forms the essential foundation for discerning the origins of globalization prior to the the establishment of the modern secular geopolitical order. For the purposes of this study, the Peace of Westphalia (A.D. 1648) has been selected as that end-date, given its establishment of tenets for national sovereignty and international law, apart from religious creed or belief.

Map Details

When displaying map points, the following icons are used to indicate the location's type and culture:

Gothic
Latinate
Levantine
Persianate
Oriental

Additionally, the following icons are tied to places of special cultural importance, which can be viewed as a city-level zoomed inset map when searching by location.

	Paris - Notre Dame
	Rome - Colosseum
	Venice - Saint Mark's
	Moscow - Saint Basil's
	Istanbul - Hagia Sophia
	Cairo - Masjid al-Azhar
	Damascus - Masjid al-Umayya
	Jerusalem - Qubbat as-Sakhra
	Baghdad - Masjid al-Kazimiyya
	Delhi - Masjid al-Jehanuma

Saints are historical or semi-mythical figures whose lives are considered models of virtue worthy of emulation in the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, either as a result of official sanction by religious authorities, or through the popular acclaim of the faithful. The veneration of saints has persisted from the earliest days down to the present, despite opposition based upon the widespread embrace of Enlightenment values demanding empirical evidence as the basis for belief, as well as the influence of iconoclastic reform movements seeking a return to so-called fundamental religious principles.

Nevertheless, confidence in the efficacy of saints' intercession - as well as the supernatural powers which their outstanding holiness is supposed to have conferred upon them - was at one time so widespread that virtually every social group, productive activity, and aspect of human experience became associated with their supposed patronage. For this reason, the institution of sainthood retains equal importance as an aid to the faith of the believer, and as an essential cultural and historical context for the secular-minded student of history.

Calendar Details

The following icons are used to indicate which calendars and rites observe a specific commemoration:

All Commemorations - All dates according to the Gregorian, Julian, Hijri, and Hebrew calendars

Tridentine Catholic - Gregorian solar calendar dates ('Anno Domini') using the Pre-Vatican II General Roman Calendar, to 1969

Novus Ordo Catholic - Gregorian solar calendar dates ('Anno Domini') using the General Roman Calendar of 1969

Anglican Christian - Gregorian solar calendar dates ('Anno Domini') using the Lambeth Calendar of 1958

Lutheran Christian - Gregorian solar calendar dates ('Anno Domini') using the Lutheran Book of Worship of 1978

Orthodox Christian - Julian solar calendar dates ('Anno Domini') using the Meletian Revised Calendar of 1923

Sunni Muslim - Hijri lunar calendar dates ('Anno Hegirae') using the Kuwaiti Tabular Calendar

Shiite Muslim - Hijri lunar calendar dates ('Anno Hegirae') using the Misri Tabular Calendar

Rabbinic Jewish - Hebrew lunisolar calendar dates ('Anno Mundi') using the Knesset Calendar

Celestial Map Details

Since time immemorial people have naturally looked to the heavens as the permanent abode of the sanctified dead and of other spiritual beings, sometimes going so far as to identify them with celestial objects or phenomena. Hence, this site provides an interactive star chart with which users can explore traditional myths and legends associated with these heavenly bodies:

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When displaying celestial map points, the following icons are used to indicate a star's designations:

	Named Star - a not otherwise classified celestial body belonging to one of the 48 classically-defined constellations
	Nakshatra - one of 28 stars lying near the ecliptic identified by Indian astronomers as a waypoint occupied by the moon in its monthly transit of the night sky
	Manzil - one of 28 stars lying near the ecliptic identified by Arabic astronomers as a waypoint occupied by the moon in its monthly transit of the night sky
	Manzil & Nakshatra - one of 28 stars lying near the ecliptic identified by both Indian and Arabic astronomers as a waypoint occupied by the moon in its monthly transit of the night sky
	Behenian Fixed Star - one of 15 stars identified by Near Eastern astronomy as possessing some particularily important celestial power
	Behenian Fixed Star, Manzil, & Nakshatra - a celestial body serving as both a lunar mansion and also thought to possess some particularily important celestial power in ancient Near Eastern astronomy

Note on Translation

Given that the vast majority of source material for the subject at hand is written in languages other than English, the author has endeavored to rely on a number of respected translations and primary source material written by others (see 'Sources'). However, editorial license has been exercised when settling on a standard convention for the transliteration of non-English names and titles. Preference has been given to comprehensibility over technical accuracy, e.g. the Arabic 'Ramadhan' and 'Caliphate.' At the same time, however, an attempt has been made to preserve some titles and terminology employed in the context of liturgical observances, such as lunar phases and zodiac constellations.

Editorial Style

Insofar as possible, entries have been written from a neutral editorial perspective which employs qualifying language - stating for example, that a saint is 'believed to' or 'reported to' have performed some miracle. This has not been done with the intention of disparaging or belittling deeply-held beliefs, but is rather designed to make the site accessible to as broad an audience as possible.

General Disclaimer

Users who ascribe to a specific religious denomination may object to the inclusion of specific events or individuals which they consider problematic, but which are honored in other calendars. Note that in addition to disclaiming any offense or injury resulting from the perception of insufficient respect paid to the subject of discussion, the author reiterates the stated goal of maintaining a neutral perspective towards historical events, and reserves the right to ban any user at any time, and for any reason.

Terms of Use

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of information displayed on this site, because the subject matter is by its very nature subject to belief and interpretation, the author neither condones nor advises its use as a primary source for scholarly research.

Print References

Information contained in the following printed works has been used as primary sources for multiple entries:

• 'The Encyclopaedia of Islam,' Hamilton A. R. Gibb et al., E. J. Brill (1986)
• 'The Jewish Encyclopedia,' Isidore Singer et al., Funk & Wagnalls (1901)
• 'The Lives of the Fathers,' Alban Butler, James Duffy (1866)
• 'Star Names and Their Meanings,' Richard Hinckley Allen, G. E. Stechert (1899)

Web References

The following electronic sources were also used to obtain additional information used in multiple entries:

• Celtic and Old English Saints
• Denis M. Moskowitz: New Constellation Symbols
• The Four Week Psalter
• GCatholic: Saints and Blesseds
• Habibur: Islamic Hijri Calendar For 1400 Years
• Jewish Holiday Calendars & Hebrew Date Converter
• Martin Mansson: Medieval Trade Networks Map
• Muqawwim.com: Calendar Converter for Near East Historians
• Gaius Julius Hyginus: Poeticon Astronomicon
• Sunnah.com: The Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad
• University of Michigan Library: King James Bible
• University of Michigan Library: The Koran
• World Map in the Sky: The Zenith Map

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