The Thirteenth Tribe

De: Arthur Koestler

Narrado por: J. R. Moorland

All original edition. Nothing added, nothing removed.

This book traces the history of the ancient Khazar Empire, a major but almost forgotten power in Eastern Europe, which in the Dark Ages became converted to Judaism. Khazaria was finally wiped out by the forces of Genghis Khan, but evidence indicates that the Khazars themselves migrated to Poland and formed the cradle of Western Jewry.

To the general listener the Khazars, who flourished from the 7th to 11th century, may seem infinitely remote today. Yet they have a close and unexpected bearing on our world, which emerges as Koestler recounts the fascinating history of the ancient Khazar Empire. At about the time that Charlemagne was Emperor in the West, the Khazars' sway extended from the Black Sea to the Caspian, from the Caucasus to the Volga, and they were instrumental in stopping the Muslim onslaught against Byzantium, the eastern jaw of the gigantic pincer movement that in the West swept across northern Africa and into Spain. Thereafter the Khazars found themselves in a precarious position between the two major world powers: the Eastern Roman Empire in Byzantium and the triumphant followers of Mohammed.

As Koestler points out, the Khazars were the Third World of their day. They chose a surprising method of resisting both the Western pressure to become Christian and the Eastern to adopt Islam. Rejecting both, they converted to Judaism. Mr. Koestler speculates about the ultimate faith of the Khazars and their impact on the racial composition and social heritage of modern Jewry. He produces detailed research to support a theory which could make the term 'anti-Semitism' become void of meaning.

©1976 Arthur Koestler (P)2023 Arthur Koestler

Interesting story

I was super interested to hear the Khazar history itself. The sources and their reliability were thoroughly analyzed. This book highlights the preeminence of Jewish evangelism and religious identity over racial aspects of Jewish identity. This fits in well with Rodney Stark and others emphasizing the importance of religion to world history. Wikipedia argues it is “debunked” by vague scholarly consensus. Once you hear the unanimous medieval sources you won’t find that plausible.

The religiously Jewish Khazar Empire lost their imperial holdings to the Rus Vikings before the conquest of their Kingdom by the Mongol Golden Horde. My own interest in the Khazars derived from listening to Ghenghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World where the Mongols defeat the Khazars. That Secret History of the Mongols source also corroborated the book thesis but the source wasn’t available in English when this book came out.

I have one criticism. This book should have said more about the contribution of Khazar slavers to the trade in Slavs to Byzantine ports. They were the main Empire between the Slavs and Byzantine Black Sea slavers during the time Slav became the origin of the word slave. But the topic of economics and slaving was somewhat neglected.

But overall a fine and compelling book clearly read with a clear and convincing thesis.

Excellent Narrator, Near Genius Subject and book. Listened twice and bought the physical book.

Awesome subject that I knew nothing about. Fascinated me. Educated me. Now I am listening to another similar subject book, and there is no comparison to the excellence and depth of The Thirteenth Tribe. I gained a lot more the 2nd listen. I guess the first listen Fascinated me, while the 2nd educated me. The Thirteenth Tribe is a great book. The excellence of the Narration was definitely realized multiple times while listening. Personally I would say "'This is the book' on this subject."

The truth is right here

The truth is presented here respectfully and historically. Many don't know about the Khazars and their huge impact in ur world today. Easy listening and very engaging.

The dismantling of the Myth

As A Jew myself I feel so liberated by the exposure of generational corrupt information. I had always felt in my soul that something just wasn't right and I had many questions and expressed my thoughts and feelings to my family whereby I was met with the words " Self hating Jew." I never ever took those words to heart because my spirit felt of myself nothing but self love and self worth. In conclusion, I want to thank the Arthur Koestler from the Neshamah !

Poor storyline

Liked nothing… like a text book… no redeeming information…. This really is a poor attempt to prove why Jews are like other peoples.