The History of Death

Introduction

Chapter One: The Beginning or the End: Ideas of Afterlife The significance of death in religion, the community and in psychology (e.g. dealing with grief). The symbolism of funeral rites.

Chapter Two: Ancient Funerary Rites From the ancient customs of Greece and Rome to the traditional Japanese ceremonies. The origins of customs such as burial and funeral pyres.

Chapter Three: Death and Judgment The lingering presence of the dead; souls who come back or stay beside their loved ones. Native American and African beliefs of ever-present spirits.

Chapter Four: The Ancestors at Hand Development of funeral rites through the ages; links with attitudes towards death. Religious implications of festivals such as Halloween, All Saints and All Souls.

Chapter Five: The Demanding Dead Paying tribute to the dead, customs around the world. Examining mourning, human sacrifice and ritual killings

Chapter Six: Towards Modernity, The Western Tradition Funeral ceremonies for royalty in various countries; the pomp and circumstances associated with state funerals. For instance, elaborate portraits carried on royal coffins in medieval England and France.

Chapter Seven: A World of Rituals Funerary rituals. From India's Hindu tradition of Antyeshti or cremation to Salah the Islam ritual of cleansing of the dead

Chapter Eight: Death, Present and Future Beliefs and practices today; changing attitudes to death in the 21st century in social and religious terms.

Bibliography Index