General and world history Books

Book SynopsisExplore the entire history of the ancient Egyptian state from 3000 B.C. to 400 A.D. with this authoritative volume The newly revised Second Edition of A History of Ancient Egypt delivers an up-to-date survey of ancient Egypt''s history from its origins to the Roman Empire''s banning of hieroglyphics in the fourth century A.D. The book covers developments in all aspects of Egypt''s history and their historical sources, considering the social and economic life and the rich culture of ancient Egypt. Freshly updated to take into account recent discoveries, the book makes the latest scholarship accessible to a wide audience, including introductory undergraduate students. A History of Ancient Egypt outlines major political and cultural events and places Egypt''s history within its regional context and detailing interactions with western Asia and Africa. Each period of history receives equal attention and a discussion of the problems scholars face in its Table of ContentsList of Illustrations xii Maps xxviii Preface to the Second Edition xxix 1 Introductory Concerns 1 1.1 What is Ancient Egypt? 1 Chronological boundaries 1 Geographical boundaries 2 What is ancient Egyptian history? 3 Who are the ancient Egyptians? 4 1.2 Egypt’s Geography 6 The Nile River 8 The desert 9 Climate 10 Frontiers and links 11 1.3 The Makeup of Egyptian Historical Sources 12 Papyri and ostraca 12 Monumental inscriptions 14 Historical criticism 14 1.4 The Egyptians and Their Past 15 King lists 15 Egyptian concepts of kingship 19 1.5 The Chronology of Egyptian History 20 Modern subdivisions of Egyptian history 20 Absolute chronology 20 1.6 Prehistoric Developments 21 The beginning of agriculture 21 Naqada I and II periods 24 2 The Formation of the Egyptian State (ca. 3400–2686) 27 2.1 Sources 29 2.2 Royal Cemeteries and Cities 31 The Late Naqada culture 31 Dynasty 0 31 2.3 The First Kings 33 Images of war 33 The unification of Egypt 34 2.4 Ideological Foundations of the New State 35 Kings 35 Cemeteries 36 Festivals 36 Royal annals and year names 37 Gods and cults 38 Bureaucracy 40 2.5 The Invention of Writing 42 Precursors at Abydos 42 Hieroglyphic script 42 2.6 Foreign Relations 47 The Uruk culture of Babylonia 47 Late 4th‐millennium Nubia 50 Late 4th‐millennium Palestine 50 3 The Great Pyramid Builders (ca. 2686–2345) 52 3.1 Sources 53 3.2 The Evolution of the Mortuary Complex 55 Djoser’s step pyramid at Saqqara 56 Sneferu’s three pyramids 57 The great pyramids at Giza 58 Solar temples of the 5th dynasty 61 3.3 Administrating the Old Kingdom State 62 Neferirkara’s archive at Abusir 62 Officialdom 64 3.4 Ideological Debates? 67 Problems of royal succession 67 The gods Horus and Ra 69 3.5 Foreign Relations 70 Contacts with Nubia 71 Contacts with Asia 72 The western desert 72 3.6 Later Traditions about the Old Kingdom 73 Djoser and Imhotep 73 Sneferu 74 The great pyramid builders 74 4 The End of the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period (ca. 2345–2055) 77 4.1 Sources 78 4.2 The Rise of the Regions and Political Fragmentation 79 Nomes and nomarchs 79 Officials’ biographies 79 Pepy II 83 Why did the Old Kingdom dissolve? 84 4.3 Foreign Relations 87 Nubian independence 87 The eastern desert and the Levant 89 Mercenaries 90 4.4 Competition between Herakleopolis and Thebes 90 Herakleopolis 90 Thebes 90 4.5 Appraising the First Intermediate Period 92 Middle Kingdom literary reflections 92 Historical critique 93 5 The Middle Kingdom (ca. 2055–1650) 95 5.1 Sources and Chronology 96 5.2 Kings and Regional Elites 98 Reunification and the 11th dynasty 99 The start of the 12th dynasty and the foundation of Itj‐tawi 99 Provincial powers in the early Middle Kingdom 101 Royal interference in the provinces 102 Administrative reorganization 104 Royal power in the 13th dynasty 104 5.3 Kings as Warriors 107 The annexation of Nubia 110 5.4 Egypt in the Wider World 112 The early Kingdom of Kush 112 The eastern desert and Sinai 112 Syria and Palestine 114 The world beyond 114 Rhetoric and practice in foreign relations 115 5.5 The Cult of Osiris 116 5.6 Middle Kingdom Literature and its Impact on Egyptian Culture 118 6 The Second Intermediate Period and the Hyksos (ca. 1700–1550) 122 6.1 Sources and Chronology 123 6.2 Avaris: Multiple Transformations of a Delta Harbor 124 A history of Avaris 124 Cultural hybridity 125 Other immigrants 127 6.3 The Hyksos 127 The name Hyksos 127 Hyksos origins 127 Egyptian cultural influences 128 Political history 130 The 14th and 16th dynasties 131 Hyksos rule in Palestine? 131 6.4 Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush 131 The independence of Lower Nubia 131 The Kingdom of Kush 132 Kerma 132 The extent of the Kingdom of Kush 134 6.5 Thebes in the Middle 136 Royal tombs 136 Seqenenra Taa 137 Kamose’s war 137 6.6 The Hyksos in Later Perspective 138 Queen Hatshepsut 139 The gods Ra and Seth 139 Manetho and Josephus 141 7 The Birth of Empire: The Early 18th Dynasty (ca. 1550–1390) 145 7.1 Egypt in a New World Order 148 7.2 Sources and Chronology 149 7.3 Egypt at War 150 War and society in the New Kingdom 150 The “war of liberation” 152 The annexation of Nubia 153 Wars in western Asia 157 7.4 Egypt and the Outside World 159 7.5 Domestic Issues 162 Royal succession 162 Hatshepsut 163 Royal funerary customs 167 New Kingdom bureaucracy 169 Building activity in the early 18th dynasty 171 8 The Amarna Revolution and the Late 18th Dynasty (ca. 1390–1295) 175 8.1 An International Age 177 The Club of the Great Powers 178 The administration of Syria and Palestine 179 The rise of the Hittites 181 A failed marriage alliance 182 8.2 Amenhotep III: The Sun King 182 Amenhotep III’s divinity and his building projects 183 The king’s family 186 The king’s court 187 8.3 From Amenhotep III to Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten 188 8.4 Akhenaten 189 Theban years (years 1 to 5) 191 Akhetaten (years 5 to 12) 192 Turmoil (years 12 to 17) 196 Akhenaten’s successors 197 8.5 Akhenaten’s Memory 199 9 The Ramessid Empire (ca. 1295–1213) 203 9.1 Domestic Policy: Restoration and Renewal 205 Sety I 205 Rameses II 206 9.2 International Relations: Reforming the Empire 209 Wars in Syria 209 Egyptian–Hittite peace 212 A new imperial structure 212 Foreigners in Egypt 214 9.3 Rameses’s Court 217 Officials 217 The royal family 219 9.4 A Community of Tomb Builders 222 10 The End of Empire (ca. 1213–1070) 229 10.1 Problems at Court 231 Sety II and Amenmessu 232 Saptah and Tausret 233 Sethnakht 233 10.2 Breakdown of Order 235 Tomb robberies 235 Workers’ strikes 236 10.3 The Decline of Royal Power 237 10.4 Pressures from Abroad 239 Libyans and Sea Peoples 239 The end of the international system 244 10.5 End of the New Kingdom 244 11 The Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1069–715) 249 11.1 Sources and Chronology 250 11.2 Twin Cities: Tanis and Thebes (the 21st dynasty, 1069–945) 253 Tanis 254 Thebes 256 A peaceful coexistence 258 11.3 Libyan Rule (22nd to 24th dynasties, 945–715) 260 Centralization and diffusion of power 260 The God’s Wife of Amun 263 11.4 The End of the Third Intermediate Period 265 Nubian resurgence 265 Saite expansion 267 12 Egypt in the Age of Empires (ca. 715–332) 272 12.1 Sources and Chronology 273 12.2 The Eastern Mediterranean in the 1st Millennium 275 12.3 Egypt, Kush, and Assyria (ca. 715–656) 279 Military incidents 279 12.4 Egypt, Greeks, and Babylonians (656–525) 283 Greek–Egyptian relations 283 Military activity 286 12.5 Recollections of the Past Under the Kings of Kush and Sais 286 12.6 Egypt and Persia (525–332) 290 Domination and resistance 291 Mixing cultures 296 13 Greek and Roman Egypt (332 bc–ad 395) 301 13.1 Sources and Chronology 302 13.2 Alexandria and Philae 304 Alexandria 304 Philae 307 13.3 Kings, Queens, and Emperors 308 The Ptolemies 309 Queen Cleopatra VII 311 Roman Egypt 312 13.4 Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians 313 Administration 313 Culture and religion 316 13.5 Economic Developments: Agriculture, Finance, and Trade 319 13.6 The African Hinterland 321 13.7 The Christianization of Egypt 324 Epilogue 327 Guide to Further Reading 329 Glossary 340 King List 343 Bibliography 349 Index 368

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"In this remarkably thorough, articulate portrait of Hezbollah, Norton . . . analyzes how the organization was formed, how it evolved and its current role in Lebanese politics." * Publishers Weekly *"Augustus Richard Norton's timely Hezbollah chronicles [a] dramatic evolution and its sweeping implications for the region and beyond. His lucid primer is the first serious reappraisal of the radical Shiite group since [the 2006] war shattered six years of relative calm on one of the world's most volatile frontiers."---Jonathan Finer, Washington Post Book World"Norton, who has been studying Lebanon, and especially the Lebanese Shiites, for longer than Hezbollah has been in existence . . . offers here a brisk and balanced history . . . of Hezbollah while situating the party in the larger Lebanese and regional contexts."---L. Carl Brown, Foreign Affairs"The best recent study of Hezbollah."---Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek"Augustus Richard Norton, an American academic and former U.S. army officer, has studied that Islamic fundamentalist organization since its formation. And now, in Hezbollah . . . he offers a cogent analysis of its emergence and impact on Lebanese politics."---Sheldon Kirsher, Canadian Jewish News"A clear, concise history of Hezbollah with specific reference to its relevant sociopolitical context. Piquant anecdotes and richly textured details make the book enjoyable reading."---Kristian P. Alexander, Middle East Policy Council"This short, authoritative book, based on first-hand experience, efficiently analyses [Hezbollah's] status."---Iain Finlayson, The Times"This excellent short history of Hezbollah . . . demonstrates that dismissing it as a 'terrorist organization' is both glib and dishonest. . . . . Everyone who wants to understand the complexities of the Middle East, and particularly those of Lebanon and Israel, and wants to reach the truth beyond the political rhetoric, should read this book."---Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald"How do you classify and develop policy toward an organization that has committed acts of terrorism in the past, that currently provides important social services . . . that defends its country from occupation . . . that plays by the rules in official Lebanese national politics? . . . Norton elucidates these domestic and international complexities in Hezbollah: A Short History. . . With other similarly complex organizations on the rise, such as Hamas in Palestine, Norton provides a model of how we might begin to think through their multidimensional, seemingly contradictory natures."---Allen McDuffee, In These Times"In his new book Hezbollah, Augustus Richard Norton . . . provides a succinct account of the group's rise from the chaos created by Israel's invasions and occupation of Lebanon in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which ended only in 2000. Mr. Norton also explores the origins and political orientation of the group, now led by the Shiite cleric Hasan Nasrallah, in a complex web of religious and political identities in Lebanon--with a special emphasis on the role of Shia Islam in the organization."---Richard Byrne, Chronicle of Higher Education"The most fluent survey of Hezbollah to date. This extremely accessible yet scholarly read covers the Lebanese resistance group from its inception to the current Lebanese political crisis, aided by a collection of poignant photographs and maps."---Margeret Hall, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs"The many complex and often changing dimensions of Hezbollah are presented in the book in a clear, concise manner that allows for a more accurate and complete understanding of what the group represents and aspires to achieve. . . . Wherever one may stand on this spectrum of views, a vital starting point--offered in this small but rich volume--is an accurate, comprehensive view of why Hizbullah has succeeded as a political party, a sectarian representational group, a social services agency, and a resistance force, and why it continues to generate so much opposition at the same time."---Rami G. Khouri, Daily Star"In an easily read, easily comprehended book, Norton traces the origins and history of Hezbollah.... The twisting allegiances of the players, the role of Syria and other neighboring states, the emergence of discord and sectarianism as the young movement matured and began to intrude on the elected government, all take place in the pressure cooker of a land and people long torn, used by factions for their own purposes."---Suzi Brozman, Atlanta Jewish Times"In this highly informative, jargon-free book, Norton, one of America's top experts in Lebanese politics, provides an objective account of the genesis and development of Hezbollah, explaining its central role in contemporary Lebanon." * Choice *"The book is a must read for anyone wanting to have an idea of the Lebanese puzzle and the role played in it by one of the most interesting political actors emerging in the Middle East." * International Spectator *"A good, concise survey by a perceptive student of the Lebanese Shia."---David Gardner, Financial Times"A dedicated researcher and writer, Norton has contacts all across Lebanon who are both his friends and informants. He writes with the same fluency about Shi'a religious customs as he does about Lebanese politics. The book comes with advance praise from scholars who tell us Norton has written an accessible and balanced account of a movement poorly understood by many in the United States who too often view the Middle East through the 'terrorist' lens."---Donna Robinson Divine, Democratiya"The book is a dynamic and multifaceted account. . . . Overall, Norton's book balances international political factors with the local and regional conditions that shaped the outlook and activities of Hezbollah. Norton deserves praise for writing an insightful and multilayered work accessible to a wide and often uninformed readership."---Rula Abisaab, Journal of Palestine Studies"Norton's work is essential for those more concerned with an approach that rejects the rhetoric of the 'war on terror.' His historical and social analysis of Hezbollah's origin and subsequent evolution into its current manifestation is as objective an analysis as one can hope for--not to mention timely and fascinating."---Michael Teague, Al Jadid Magazine"Few scholars are as qualified to situate Hezbollah in local, regional, and socio-religious contexts as Augustus Richard Norton."---Joel Gordon, Journal of Military History"[T]his new edition of Norton's book is probably the best introduction to Hezbollah for a general reader, or even college students. The author cannot be accused of writing apologetically about the party because he does not shy away from dealing with Hezbollah's practice and ideology of violence. Amid the intense and ongoing propaganda surrounding Hezbollah, this short volume succeeds in rising above the passions of the debate."---As'ad AbuKhalil, Journal of Palestine Studies

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Book SynopsisDiscover how the modern world came to be with this easy-to-follow and up-to-date history companion Want to get a taste of the entirety of human history in a single book? With World History For Dummies, you'll get an overview of the history of, well, everything, from the Neanderthal experience to the latest historical developments of the 21st century. Re-live history from your armchair as you ride into battle alongside Roman generals, prepare Egyptian pharaohs for the afterlife, and learn from the great Greek poets and philosophers. Written in the easy-to-digest style the For Dummies series is famous for, you'll discover: How religion, philosophy, and science shaped, and were shaped by, the great figures of historyThe human consequences of warfare, from historical battles to more modern conflicts from the 20th centuryWhat's influencing events in the 21st century, from climate change to new regimes and economies World History For Dummies is the perfect gift for the lifelong learner who wants to brush up on their world history knowledge. It's also an indispensable resource for AP World History students looking for a supplemental reference to help them with their studies.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting into History 5 Chapter 1: Tracing a Path to the Present 7 Chapter 2: Digging Up Reality 19 Chapter 3: Putting History into Perspective 29 Part 2: Finding Strength in Numbers 41 Chapter 4: Getting Civilized 43 Chapter 5: Rising and Falling Empires 61 Chapter 6: Splitting Eras: The Middle Ages 77 Chapter 7: Struggling for Dominance 93 Chapter 8: Grabbing the Globe 113 Chapter 9: Pulling Empires Together as Subjects Push Back 135 Part 3: Seeking Answers 161 Chapter 10: Worshipping through the Ages 163 Chapter 11: Loving Wisdom: Philosophy’s Impact 185 Chapter 12: Being Christian, Thinking Greek 201 Chapter 13: Awakening to the Renaissance 211 Chapter 14: Breaking Away: The Reformation 229 Chapter 15: Opening Up to Science and Enlightenment 251 Part 4: Fighting, Fighting, Fighting 267 Chapter 16: Wielding Sticks and Stones: Old-Fashioned War 269 Chapter 17: Upgrading the War Machine 283 Chapter 18: Modernizing Mayhem 297 Part 5: Meeting the Movers and Shakers 313 Chapter 19: Starting Something Legendary 315 Chapter 20: Battling Toward Immortality 329 Chapter 21: Exploring and “Discovering” 343 Chapter 22: Turning Tables: Rebels and Revolutionaries 357 Part 6: The Part of Tens 373 Chapter 23: Ten Unforgettable Dates in History 375 Chapter 24: Ten Essential Historical Documents 383 Index 393

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Book SynopsisComposed in a prison cell in 1298 by Venetian merchant Marco Polo and Arthurian romance writer Rustichello of Pisa, The Description of the World relates Polo's experiences in Asia and at the court of Qubilai, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. In addition to a new translation based on the Franco-Italian "F" manuscript of Polo's text, this edition includes genealogies of the Mongol rulers and nine maps of Polo's journey, as well as thorough annotation and an extensive bibliography.Trade Review"Marco Polo's account provided both what was thought to be a reliable guide to East Asia—Columbus carried with him a heavily annotated copy of Marco Polo's work during his own expedition to the Americas—and an intriguingly fantastical account that for centuries has continued to fuel the imagination of poets and artists. Kinoshita's superb, groundbreaking translation brilliantly renders into modern English this crucial text of the Middle Ages. Indispensable in the undergraduate and graduate classroom, The Description of the World will also appeal to a wide range of readers curious about the medieval encounter of East and West." —Suzanne Conklin Akbari, University of Toronto"This excellent and lucid translation is comprehensible to 21st-century students, yet retains the medieval flair of the original text. Kinoshita's footnotes, which support a reading of the text without overwhelming the reader, properly address and consider the latest scholarship. This will undoubtedly become the standard translation of Marco Polo for classroom use." —Timothy May, University of North Georgia"Ever since Marco Polo and Rustichello's creation first piqued the interests of the reading public, it has been shaped and reshaped, reformed and deformed to meet the desires of the medieval and modern readers. With this new translation, Kinoshita gives English-speakers for the first time something like the original 'Description of the World' that electrified medieval Europe. Racy and readable, this translation is the only one that actually aims to recreate the type of language that Polo and Rustichello used to reach their public." —Christopher Atwood, Indiana University"An excellent book, both an accessible edition of Polo’s text and a scholarly one. The translation reads well, following the oddities of the Franco-Italian without compromising readability in English. Kinoshita's introduction is brief but highly informative and offers much to scholars as well as students in different disciplines; the notes are likewise informative and to the point. This is the Polo that students and scholars alike will want to read if they are not going to read the original(s)." —Iain Macleod Higgins, University of Victoria"An excellent new translation of the earliest known version of the text. . . . Kinoshita synthesizes a vast body of scholarship in her admirably concise but rich introduction, her notes, and her critical apparatus. . . . Kinoshita has also used to good effect medieval Asian sources that were not so comprehensively available to most earlier scholars; her notes at every stage offer supplementary information about the places, peoples, and customs the Devisement describes, contextualizing much of the information more helpfully and succinctly than other translations into English. Six genealogical tables and nine maps also direct the reader's attention firmly towards Asia. . . . Kinoshita embraces the stylistic quirkiness and rough edges of her source. Furthermore, whereas previous translators (including the recent Penguin Classics translation) conflate different versions of the text and, like many medieval transmitters, manicure stylistic imperfections and inconsistencies, Kinoshita's translation gives English readers better access, if not to the authentic version of the text, certainly to a particularly challenging and interesting medieval iteration of it. This gives us a much better sense of contact with the different narrative voices of the first Devisement (which was supposedly co-written by Marco Polo with a fellow Italian, Rustichello da Pisa). . . . Kinoshita's translation . . . amply deserves to become the standard text for teaching in the anglophone world." —Simon Gaunt, King's College London, in Speculum"This excellent edition and translation will be a standard course text. It is simply superb." —Theresa Earenfight, Seattle University"There is much to appreciate in this volume. Kinoshita, a specialist in medieval French literature, is also a leading scholar in the burgeoning field of global medieval studies, and her knowledge of the many fields that illuminate Polo's text is on display throughout. Her translation is true to a single edition of a single authoritative source, not the product of fanciful--and questionable--compilation. She thereby gives us a particular Marco Polo text, not the "definitive" text other translators have concocted, and in so doing is true to the work's history. Polo's text is not a major work of literary art, and the translation challenges it poses relate more to idiom and accuracy than to the aesthetics of tone or imagery. Perhaps the biggest challenge, as Kinoshita recognizes, is deciding how to handle the text's medieval features: its repetition, parataxis, euphemism, etc. Here again, one can only respect Kinoshita's decision to retain many of these features, which are constant reminders of this text's complicated genesis and of the ways it shows its author(s) devising how to represent the new and the strange. As advertised, the introduction and annotations are written for non-specialists and deliver facts and arguments concisely and clearly. The footnote annotations are particularly helpful: short yet informative, inserted when needed, and based on current research, they render the text accessible and provide useful context. The bibliography is current, thorough, varied, and will be of use to anyone interested in learning more about Polo and his era. In addition to the introduction, annotated translation, and bibliography, the book also includes genealogies of Mongol rulers, a map of Eurasia, seven maps of regions discussed by Polo, maps of medieval Beijing and Xian, and an index. This volume is an excellent resource for the curious reader, for high school and university courses, and for specialists alike." —Mark Cruse, in The Medieval Review

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Book SynopsisWe often think of the Balkans as a region beset by turmoil and backwardness, but from late antiquity to the present it has been a dynamic meeting place of cultures and religions. Marie-Janine Calic invites us to reconsider the history of this intriguing, diverse region as essential to the story of global Europe.Trade ReviewPanoramic and convincingly presented history of the region…Calic is an authoritative guide. Her book is a work of ambitious chronological and thematic scope, taking the story from Alexander the Great to the present day. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Since the early twentieth century, southeastern Europe has been disparaged as ‘the Balkans,’ a term that often connotes tribalism and violence. In this detailed and comprehensive history, Calic nimbly seeks to broaden the way the region is understood. The book ranges from the advent of Ottoman dominion to the collapse of Yugoslavia. -- Larry Wolff * Foreign Affairs *Calic provides a sweeping overview of the history of this region and its people, from the late antiquity to the present day… Informed, comprehensive, and methodical, The Great Cauldron provides valuable insight into southeastern Europe and its turbulent past. -- Iva Glisic * Australian Book Review *Covers in detail the history of a geographical region that currently comprises more than a dozen nations, from its earliest recorded tribes through to modernity…An impressive work. -- Andrea Tallarita * PopMatters *An outstanding book…An original and thought-provoking history of Southeastern Europe that should be read by both specialists and scholars whose expertise lies elsewhere, but who seek to understand the region. This is a fascinating story of how global ideas—transcontinental, transborder, and translocal contacts, exchanges, and movements of peoples and goods—shaped Europe’s southeast, the region also known, frequently pejoratively, as the Balkans…A monumental work. -- Dejan Djokić * Journal of Modern History *An indispensable new history of southeastern Europe…It stands out for its integration of economic and demographic data with political and cultural history. * Choice *The best text by far on the history of the Balkans yet written, and I suspect it will remain the standard for a long time. -- Nick Miller * Slavonic and East European Review *On rare but memorable occasions, a book comes along that fills a vacuum one did not know existed. In an era when nationalist stereotypes and conflicts dominate, Calic tells a totally absorbing, transformative story of the far more significant role of transborder, and even global exchanges of people, ideas, and things that have defined the Balkan Peninsula—from Romania to Albania to Greece—over two thousand years. So much for the myth of a peripheral backwater! Her eloquent narrative tells us much more than the story of southeastern Europe; it also sheds light on our interpretations of contemporary history and our assumptions even beyond Europe. -- Susan L. Woodward, author of Balkan TragedyCalic convincingly and thoroughly shows the Balkans to be a quintessential ‘world region,’ one whose historical character has been decidedly cosmopolitan, diverse, and dynamic. She successfully challenges and overturns the usual assumptions that uncritically reproduce stereotypes of Balkan parochialism and isolationism. -- Edin Hajdarpasic, author of Whose Bosnia?There has long been a need for a comprehensive, new history of Europe’s controversial quadrant. Calic’s lucid, authoritative account, from ancient times and ethnic origins to warfare and recovery since 1989, is a stellar example of the new global history. She sees southeastern Europe as a cauldron in which its peoples and polities are stirred together with Europe’s longest and largest set of transnational and transcultural influences. Throughout, she shows how these interrelations belied any separate Balkan definition of this all-too-accessible corner of the continent. -- John R. Lampe, author of Yugoslavia as History

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Book SynopsisTranslation of: Kafka, die Jahre der Entscheidungen.Trade ReviewOne of The Guardian Best Books of 2013, chosen by Colm Toibin "Most impressive is Stach's recounting of the creation of his subject's writings... Stach's own writing is wonderfully expressive."--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "A scrupulous, discriminating, and highly instructive account of Kafka's life."--Robert Alter, New Republic "[S]uperbly tempered... [T]hrough this robustly determined unearthing he rescues Kafka from the unearthliness of his repute... Shelley Frisch, Stach's heroic American translator, movingly reproduces his intended breadth and pace and tone... In this honest and honorable biography there is no trace of the Kafkaesque; but in it you may find a crystal granule of the Kafka who was."--Cynthia Ozick, New Republic "Stach aims to tell us all that can be known about [Kafka], avoiding the fancies and extrapolations of earlier biographers. The result is an enthralling synthesis, one that reads beautifully... I can't say enough about the liveliness and richness of Stach's book... Every page of this book feels excited, dynamic, utterly alive."--Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World "Stach's is a splendid effort and will be hard to surpass."--William H. Gass, Harper's Magazine "A masterpiece of inspired biographical writing."--Choice "Probing... Essential reading."--Booklist (starred review) "Magnificent."--Die Zeit "Stach develops the various elements that play a role in Kafka's life brilliantly."--Der Spiegel "The first great biography of Franz Kafka ... exciting and instructive from the first to the last page."--Tagesanzeiger "This extraordinary biography fills the empty spaces between Kafka's own writings and the writings of friends, family, and contemporaries with so much empathy and imagination that one can't put it down."--Frankfurter Rundschau "[M]onumental... [A] superb English-language translation by Shelly Frisch ... now reprinted in a handsome paperback by Princeton... In this first volume, Stach sifts through that rubble with huge amounts of energy and discretion (and Frisch follows him without a misstep; it feels like exactly the book I read ten years ago in its original language)... His letters and journals are marshaled with sometimes breathtaking ingenuity, and the sheer scope of the work allows Stach to be expansive when painting his backgrounds... Always in these recountings, Stach is searching for his elusive subject, trying--as all previous biographers have tried, though none so well--to hear Kafka's strange, singular voice in the noise... Kafka: The Decisive Years was greeted with a loud chorus of praise when it first appeared in English, and the passage of almost a decade has cast no doubt on that verdict. Princeton has re-issued this classic so that it can stand next to the following volume, Kafka: The Years of Insight, newly published in hardcover. No one interested in Kafka (or, by almost inevitable extension, 20th century literature) should miss either."--Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly "[F]lawlessly translated... [A] wonderfully intelligent and perceptive portrait of a uniquely powerful writer."--PD Smith, Guardian "Stach reads the work and the life with minute care and sympathy. He has a deep understanding of the world that Kafka came from and this is matched by an intelligence and tact about the impulse behind the work itself."--Colm Toibin, Irish Independent "[T]he definitive biography."--Jonathon Sturgeon, Flavorwire "Superbly translated from German by Shelley Frisch... Illuminating facts and intelligent commentary... The three volumes are so carefully composed and densely woven--blending history, literary analysis, psychological insights, quotes and commentary from others--that it would be practically impossible to produce an abridged version in a single volume."--Alexander Adams, Spiked ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 PROLOGUE: The Black Star 16 1At Home with the Kafkas 21 2Bachelors, Young and Old 42 3Actors, Zionists, Wild People 54 4Literature and Loneliness: Leipzig and Weimar 71 5Last Stop Jungborn 86 6A Young Lady from Berlin 94 7The Ecstasy of Beginning: "The Judgment" and "The Stoker" 108 8A Near Defenestration 119 9The Girl, the Lady, and the Woman 134 10Love and a Longing for Letters 145 11Exultant Weeks, Little Intrigues 159 12The Bauer Family 169 13America and Back: The Man Who Disappeared 175 14The Lives of Metaphors: "The Metamorphosis" 192 15The Fear of Going Mad 206 16Balkan War: The Massacre Next Door 226 171913 231 18 The Man Who Disappeared: Perfection and Disintegration 242 19Invention and Exaggeration 253 20Sexual Trepidation and Surrender 266 21The Working World: High Tech and the Ghostsof Bureaucracy 281 22The Proposal 297 23Literature, Nothing but Literature 324 24Three Congresses in Vienna 350 25Trieste, Venice, Verona, Riva 368 26Grete Bloch: The Messenger Arrives 379 27An All-Time Low 390 28Kafka and Musil 401 29Matrimonial Plans and Asceticism 413 30Tribunal in Berlin 433 31The Great War 444 32Self-Inflicted Justice: The Trial and "In the Penal Colony" 464 33The Return of the East 484 34The Grand Disruption 493 35No-Man's-Land 508 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 517 TRANSLATOR'S NOTE 519 KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS 521 NOTES 523 BIBLIOGRAPHY 551 PHOTO CREDITS 563 INDEX 565

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Book SynopsisHow was it that this well-educated, mixed-race, middle-class girl from a respectable family came to be fighting with the Tamil Tigers? Two days before Christmas in 1987, at the age of seventeen, Niromi de Soyza found herself in an ambush as part of a small platoon of militant Tamil Tigers fighting government forces in the bloody civil war that was to engulf Sri Lanka for decades. With her was her lifelong friend Ajanthi, also aged seventeen. Leaving behind them their shocked middle-class families, the teenagers had become part of the Tamil Tigers' first female contingent. Equipped with little more than a rifle and a cyanide capsule each, Niromi's group managed to survive on their wits in the jungle, facing not only the perils of war but starvation, illness and growing internal tensions among the militant Tigers. But then events erupted in ways that she could no longer bear.Trade ReviewMore than a military memoir, this is a humanising account of the tragedy of war. * Courier Mail *De Soyza shines a light both on her personal experience and a political situation that is too little known * Saturday Age *Beautifully written. * Sunday Herald Sun *De Soyza's beautifully written debut is a reflection on her journey from naïve girl to woman. * Newcastle Herald *Tamil Tigress is a fascinating account of her radicalisation, stemming from the horrors she witnessed as a child and the losses that shattered her family and community. She captures a uniquely personal vision of Tamil Sri Lanka and the strangeness of childhood joys experienced amid bloodshed and family fracturing... This is a book about suffering, resilience and personal strength that I found ultimately unsettling and uniquely insightful. * Good Reading *

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Book SynopsisIn 1631 Barbary pirates kidnapped the inhabitants of Baltimore, West Cork in a daring night time raid. Only two of them ever returned. Here is the story of their kidnap, sale in the slave markets of Algiers and the political fallout from the attack.

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Book SynopsisTranslation of: Kafka, die Jahre der Erkenntnis.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2014 Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize Finalist for the 2013 National Jewish Book Award in History, Jewish Book Council One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 One of The Guardian Best Books of 2013, chosen by Colm Toibin Longlisted for the 2014 PEN Translation Award, Pen American Center "[S]cholars and specialists lost and absorbed in the many rooms of the Kafka factory will find much to discuss in the labors of Reiner Stach."--Joy Williams, New York Times Book Review "[Stach's] resplendent Kafka: The Years of Insight, tracking Kafka's final eight years, meditates on the limits of the knowable even as it exhibits unparalleled dedication to the Kafka's life and work."--Gary Giddins, Wall Street Journal "This well-researched new biography details the last nine years of Franz Kafka's life and explores the personal, social, and political events that shaped his writing... Despite the narrow time frame, this insightful book is likely to become a standard by which future biographies are measured."--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) "[S]uperbly tempered... [T]hrough this robustly determined unearthing he rescues Kafka from the unearthliness of his repute... Shelley Frisch, Stach's heroic American translator, movingly reproduces his intended breadth and pace and tone... In this honest and honorable biography there is no trace of the Kafkaesque; but in it you may find a crystal granule of the Kafka who was."--Cynthia Ozick, New Republic "Stach's book succeeds brilliantly at clearing a path through the thick metaphysical fog that has hung about Kafka's work almost since his death... [I]lluminating... It is common to say of biography that it sends you back to the work. Stach's book does this in spades, but, importantly for English readers, it also presents new aspects of the work in Shelley Frisch's superb and lucid translations... Between them, she and Stach have produced a superbly fresh imaginative guide to the strange, clear, metaphor-free world of Kafka's prose."--Tim Martin, Telegraph "Stach reads the work and the life with minute care and sympathy. He has a deep understanding of the world that Kafka came from and this is matched by an intelligence and tact about the impulse behind the work itself."--Colm Toibin, Irish Independent "This work is a monumental accomplishment with a first-rate translation by scholar Frisch."--Library Journal (Starred Review) "Conclusion of a massive, comprehensive life of the famed Czech/German/Jewish writer, chockablock with neuroses, failures and moments of brilliance... An illuminating book built, like its subject's life, on small episodes rather than great, dramatic turning points. Essential for students and serious readers of Kafka."--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) "With impressive insight into imaginative artistry, Stach illuminates the way Kafka responds to personal trauma and global firestorm, sometimes incorporating his negative circumstances into his fiction, but sometimes transcending those circumstances in metaphysical creations informed by a profoundly personal myth. This literary-biographical analysis will help scholars penetrate major Kafka works, including The Castle and The Trial, The Hunger Artist and The Burrow. Thanks to a lucid translation, English-speaking readers can now share the German enthusiasm for this masterful portrait."--Bryce Christensen, Booklist (Starred Review) "[T]he definitive biography of Kafka... [A] supple and accurate English translation by Shelley Frisch... Stach presents a full, nuanced treatment of Kafka's feelings about Jewishness. He is particularly adept in his depiction of Kafka's relationships with the women he loved."--David Mikics, Forward.com "[M]agnificent."--John Carey, Sunday Times "[S]uperlative, readable and ... genuinely gripping... Stach manages to recreate the worlds through which Kafka moved and in which he suffered in a manner that reads ... like high-quality fiction... Stach on Kafka is more than worthy to be put on a shelf of the magisterial literary biographies of the last few decades... It is quite splendid."--Kevin Jackson, Literary Review "No one will ever be able to write Kafka's story as well as he could, but Reiner Stach, a first-class German scholar, does remarkably well in Kafka: The Years of Insight."--Robert Fulford, National Post "The second volume of Reiner Stach's epic biography of Franz Kafka ... [is] a tangle of counter-grained and often under-sourced life stories, but reading Stach's magnificent narrative (wonderfully translated by Shelley Frisch) straight through brings death, not life, to the forefront. Stach is a compulsively readable writer... [A]s in the previous volume, the prose in The Years of Insight is supple and very appealingly complex--all of which, once again, is perfectly rendered by Frisch."--Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly "[H]ighly readable."--Ian Thomson, Financial Times "[M]onumental... [A] superb English-language translation by Shelly Frisch ... now reprinted in a handsome paperback by Princeton... In this first volume, Stach sifts through that rubble with huge amounts of energy and discretion (and Frisch follows him without a misstep; it feels like exactly the book I read ten years ago in its original language)... His letters and journals are marshaled with sometimes breathtaking ingenuity, and the sheer scope of the work allows Stach to be expansive when painting his backgrounds... Always in these recountings, Stach is searching for his elusive subject, trying--as all previous biographers have tried, though none so well--to hear Kafka's strange, singular voice in the noise... Kafka: The Decisive Years was greeted with a loud chorus of praise when it first appeared in English, and the passage of almost a decade has cast no doubt on that verdict. Princeton has re-issued this classic so that it can stand next to the following volume, Kafka: The Years of Insight, newly published in hardcover. No one interested in Kafka (or, by almost inevitable extension, 20th century literature) should miss either."--Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly "A definitive biography of a rare writer... [M]asterful... [T]his biography makes for an excellent read. Mr Stach, a German academic, expertly presents Kafka's struggles with his work and health against a wider background of the first world war, the birth of Czechoslovakia and the hyperinflation of the 1920s."--The Economist "A definitive biography of a writer as transcendent as Franz Kafka might be unattainable, but in his massive trilogy, Stach comes as close as one can."--Robert Legvold, Foreign Affairs "[A] further passionate attempt to reinscribe works such as Metamorphosis, A Report To An Academy, and The Castle on 21st century readers... Stach does us a great service... By dint of a rhythmic sequencing of narration and discussion, Stach illuminates the symbiosis of Kafka's inner catastrophes and vocational ardour with the violent military devastation of Europe, the birth of the Czech Republic and his frail body's tortuous decline."--Gregory Day, The Age Praise for Kafka: The Years of Insight: "It would be impossible to describe the work and essence of this key artist of the twentieth century in a livelier and more vibrant style... A masterpiece of the art of interpretation and of empathy."--Der Tagesspiegel Praise for Kafka: The Years of Insight: "Reiner Stach has recounted Kafka's life more vividly than any other biographer. The reader moves through his Kafka biography, which reads like a novel, in breathless anticipation... No one has written about Kafka as suggestively and insightfully, and in such a beautiful and clear language, as Reiner Stach."--Ulrich Greiner, Die Zeit "[E]xtensive ... impeccably translated... Each volume is crafted such that one simply must read the other two: Stach peppers his writing with tantalizingly vague references and foreshadowings to elsewhere in the series, and his allusions compel the reader to absorb Kafka's complete biography from start to finish... The author's meticulous chronicle of Kafka's life by no means precludes examination of the literary legacy that it produced; rather, it sharpens our understanding of some of Kafka's most obscure and abstract works... An utterly thorough biography, the three-volume set will prove a treasure to any admirer of Franz Kafka--or good research."--Nat Bernstein, Jewish Book Council "Kafka: The Years of Insight ... wonderfully translated ... is Volume III of what will surely be the definitive biography. Kafka is brought to vivid life by an author at once scholarly and entertaining."--John Banville, New Statesman "Stach's declared aim is to find out what it felt like to be Kafka, and he succeeds."--John Banville, Irish Times "Countering the prevailing notion that Kafka was out of touch with reality, Stach details how this quixotic modernist was actually well informed about the crisis and how this knowledge altered the course of his writing. In addition to being a skillful biographer, Stach is an authority on Kafka, having worked for more than a decade on the definitive critical edition of Kafka's writings... [T]his biography is an extraordinary accomplishment."--Choice "Stach's riveting narrative, which reflects the latest findings about Kafka's life and works, draws readers in with a nearly cinematic power, zooming in for extreme close-ups of Kafka's personal life, then pulling back for panoramic shots of a wider world."--World Book Industry "Reiner Stach's biography of Franz Kafka, planned for three volumes, has assumed a commanding position in a crowded field: this is a work that simply must be studied by anyone with a serious interest in Kafka... The appearance in English of this groundbreaking work is a publishing event of major importance."--Peter Zusi, Slavic Review "Stach pursues what can be known of Kafka so far and so exhaustively... Sometimes I thought of Stach as the captive and Kafka as the captor... Vivid and valuable."--Rivka Galchen "Masterly ... Stach's great achievement is to place the literary work into a biographical context that emphasises the interplay of memory, experience and symbolism in the writing... A triumph of biography and literary scholarship."--PD Smith, Guardian "[A] brilliant, authoritative portrait."--John Yargo, The Millions "Superbly translated from German by Shelley Frisch... Illuminating facts and intelligent commentary... The three volumes are so carefully composed and densely woven--blending history, literary analysis, psychological insights, quotes and commentary from others--that it would be practically impossible to produce an abridged version in a single volume."--Alexander Adams, Spiked ReviewTable of ContentsPROLOGUE The Ants of Prague 1 CHAPTER ONE Stepping Outside the Self 8 CHAPTER TWO No Literary Prize for Kafka 31 CHAPTER THREE "Civilian Kavka": The Work of War 46 CHAPTER FOUR The Marvel of Marienbad 83 CHAPTER FIVE What Do I Have in Common with Jews? 105 CHAPTER SIX Kafka Encounters His Readers 129 CHAPTER SEVEN The Alchemist 141 CHAPTER EIGHT Ottla and Felice 157 CHAPTER NINE The Country Doctor Ventures Out 170 CHAPTER TEN Mycobacterium tuberculosis 186 CHAPTER ELEVEN Zurau's Ark 201 CHAPTER TWELVE Meditations 222 CHAPTER THIRTEEN Spanish Influenza, Czech Revolt, Jewish Angst 244 CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Pariah Girl 266 CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Unposted Letter to Hermann Kafka 287 CHAPTER SIXTEEN Merano, Second Class 311 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Milena 319 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Living Fires 332 CHAPTER NINETEEN The Big Nevertheless 353 CHAPTER TWENTY Escape to the Mountains 380 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Fever and Snow: Tatranske Matliary 387 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO The Internal and the External Clock 404 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE The Personal Myth: The Castle 423 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Retiree and Hunger Artist 451 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE The Palestinian 475 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Dora 497 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN The Edge of Berlin 512 CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT Last Sorrow 546 EPILOGUE 573 Acknowledgments 577 Translator's Note 579 Key to Abbreviations 581 Notes 583 Bibliography 647 Photo Credits 665 Index 667

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Book SynopsisClimate Change and Human History provides a concise introduction to the relationship between human beings and climate change throughout history. Starting hundreds of thousands of years ago and going up to the present day, this book illustrates how natural climate variability affected early human societies and how human activity is now leading to drastic changes to our climate. Taking a chronological approach the authors explain how climate change created opportunities and challenges for human societies in each major time period, covering themes such as phases of climate and history, climate shocks, the rise and fall of civilizations, industrialization, accelerating climate change and our future outlook. This 2nd edition includes a new chapter on the explosion of social movements, protest groups and key individuals since 2017 and the implications this has had on the history of climate change, an improved introduction to the Anthropocene and extra content on the basic dynamics oTrade Review“A superb work of historical and scientific synthesis. Lieberman and Gordon show how fruitful collaborative efforts between scientists and humanists can be.” * Frank Zelko, Associate Professor of History, University of Hawaii, USA *“Climate Change in Human History demonstrates just how fundamentally a changing climate has worked its way through into the pores of the historical record. This impressive and vastly important volume lays out, in an accessible and stimulating way, a comprehensive narrative from human origins to what may become our anthropogenic twilight. Essential reading not just for historians but students of all disciplines!” * Mark Levene, Emeritus Fellow, History, University of Southampton, UK *They say that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. When it comes to climate change, understanding the impact of past climate changes on human civilization is critical to assessing the unprecedented threat we face with human-caused climate change. Now updated to include key movements and events since 2017, there is no better treatment of the topic than Climate Change in Human History. It is a must-read for anyone seeking greater knowledge of climate history and what it can teach us. * Michael E. Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science, Penn State University, USA *Climate Change and Human History remains easily the best introduction to this topic for students. Each chapter combines up-to-date climate science and apt historical interpretation with a global scope. The new edition brings the story up to the present, with a concise explanation of climate change impacts, adaptations, and policies. I recommend it to anyone seeking historical perspectives on our current crisis. * Sam White, Professor of Environmental History, Ohio State University, USA *Table of ContentsGlossary Timeline Introduction 1. A Fragile Start: Ice Ages 2. The Rise of Farming 3. Complex Societies 4. Climate and Civilizations of the Middle Ages 5. Little Ice Age and Regional Climate Change 6. Humans Take Over: Industrialization and Climate Change 7. The Future is Now: Climate Change and Human Societies in the 21st Century 8. Climate Change and Human Responses: Projections and Controversies 9. Declarations, Rebellions and Marches: The Climate Change Emergency Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[An] imaginative retelling of world history."---Thomas E. Ricks, New York Times

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisRetrospectively, we see the time of the 1910s being invaded with the images of the First World War, and yet in the early years of that decade people were focussed on events at home, whether King George V''s coronation or the women involved in the suffragette movement. Another major event was the loss of the ocean liner Titanic in 1912. Then in 1914, the Great War devastated the tranquil life of post-Edwardian Britain, as recruiting posters rallied the youth of the Empire to the defence of France. The 1910s Scrapbook brings a new focus to this pivotal moment of the twentieth century, a time more often seen through the media of black and white film footage or sepia photographs. Over 1,000 colourful images tell the tale of ordinary people - their courage and humour, their patriotism and fortitude in the face of Zeppelin air raids, rationing and the decimation of a generation.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Mr Wagner argues his case fluently and rigorously in this excellent book. The centenary would be as good a time as any to apologise for Amritsar. In Mr Wagner's telling, such contrition might apply to many other acts of cruelty and violence visited upon Britannia's imperial subjects.” —The Economist“The hideous story of Jallianwala Bagh has been told often and well, notably by Nigel Collett in The Butcher of Amritsar. Yet no one has told it quite like Wagner, a professor at Queen Mary University of London. He calls his book “a microhistory of a global event”, and he is true to his word. Local events from March 30 to April 30, 1919 are examined and parsed into a narrative as he assembles an elaborate forensic jigsaw. In less skilled hands this spare-no-detail approach might well have suffocated readers, but the book is written with a humane commitment to the truth that will impress.” — Tunku Varadarajan, The Times“Kim Wagner [. . .] skilfully maps a tale of growing tensions, precipitate action, and troubled aftermath.” —Andrew Lycett, The Telegraph“A compelling account” — Tony Barber, Financial Times“Amritsar 1919 chronicles the run up to Jallianwala Bagh with spellbinding, almost minute-by-minute focus. . . . Mr. Wagner’s achievement is one of balance—of minutiae and sweep and, above, all, of perspective. E. M. Forster observed in A Passage to India (1924): ‘It is impossible to regard a tragedy from two points of view.’ Mr. Wagner does so without sacrificing moral clarity or verve.”—Maxwell Carter, Wall Street Journal“The book is written with a humane commitment to the truth that will impress”— Tunku Varadarajan, The Times“An extremely well-researched and highly readable account, Wagner's book will appeal to anyone who has an interest in Anglo-Indian history or those with ancestors in India at the time.” —Mark Simner, Who Do You Think You Are?“Sober and impeccably researched, it stands as the finest of centennial memorials in its own right” —John Keay, Literary Review"[A] brilliantly clear and authoritative analysis of the massacre."—William Dalrymple, Spectator“Wagner's considerable research and diligence in putting together this account is admirable.” —Navtej Sarna, Times Literary Supplement“[The book] examines the Amritsar massacre and, even though this is already well-trodden ground, makes an important contribution to deepening our understanding”– Jonh Newsinger, Race & Class“Wagner has produced the best narrative of Amritsar 1919” — Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Chowkidar "Wagner's Amritsar 1919 is a timely and well-written work on the Amritsar massacre, reminding readers that the contingent choices exercised by the perpetrators of savage violence in Jallianwala Bagh were based on longer traditions of colonial authority in which violence was presented as just retribution"—Sharmishtha Roy Chowdhury, Queens College, City University of New York, Journal of British Studies "A vivid, finely researched account of the Amritsar massacre which will be of great interest to both specialist and general readers alike. It is also an important book for our postcolonial world more generally."—Yasmin Khan, author of The Great Partition“The fullest, and by far the most authoritative, account of the causes and course of the Jallianwala massacre in any language. Wagner’s exposition of the way fear caused an event that started the unravelling of the Raj will take its place as the definitive version of a story hitherto capable of controversy, but now finally exposed in its full, undeniable horror. This is now the standard work.”—Nigel Collett, author of The Butcher of Amritsar"In this compelling yet exacting study, Kim Wagner combines the intimacy of the storyteller and the distance of the historian to evoke the ‘microhistory’ of the massacre while understanding it as the ‘final stage of a much longer process’, stretching back to the Sepoy Uprising. Mining a variety of sources – diaries, memoirs and court testimonies - he uncovers fresh perspectives and examines the relation between colonial panic and state brutality with sophistication, sincerity and style rare in published accounts of this much-trodden ground."—Santanu Das, author of India, Empire, and First World War Culture"In the cautionary tale provided in Amritsar 1919, it is enduring racist fear that lies at the heart of precipitate violence. Analytically sharp but gripping to read, the book is a page-turner"—Barbara D. Metcalf, co-author of A Concise History of India

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Book Synopsis'An exceptional account.' Prospect'Enlightening.' SpectatorFor the first time in millennia we live without formal empires. But that doesn't mean we don't feel their presence rumbling through history. The Great Imperial Hangover examines how the world's imperial legacies are still shaping the thorniest issues we face today. From Russia's incursions in the Ukraine to Brexit; from Trump's 'America-first' policy to China's forays into Africa; from Modi's India to the hotbed of the Middle East, Puri provides a bold new framework for understanding the world's complex rivalries and politics. Organised by region, and covering vital topics such as security, foreign policy, national politics and commerce, The Great Imperial Hangover combines gripping history and astute analysis to explain why the history of empire affects us all in profound ways.Trade ReviewEnlightening... [Puri] makes a credible case for how, in the US and China, imperial legacies have left those powers withdifferent values that would be hard to reconcile. * Spectator *Puri has many penetrating insights into the way the legacies of empire still affect the behaviour of states and the international climate. * Financial Times *An exceptional account, both personal and scholarly. * Prospect *Masterly. I found new insights on almost every page. It achieves the remarkable feat of deepening our self-knowledge while at the same time broadening our understanding of the world around us. * Paul Strathern, author of Rise and Fall: A History of the World in Ten Empires *An excellent read. Samir Puri has written a calm, distilled and bracing book. * Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Return of Marco Polo's World *Well written, comprehensive and judicious... a stimulating book. * New York Times *This is a masterly, engaging, thought-provoking and wide-ranging study of how the vestiges of past empires shape the ways in which the world works today. * James Daybell, author of Histories of the Unexpected *A timely and important re-thinking of imperial dominion. * Sam Willis, author of The Struggle for Sea Power *Table of Contents1: America's Imperial Inheritance 2: Britain's Grandeur and Guilt of Empire 3: The European Union's Post-Imperial Project 4: Russia's Embrace of its Imperial Legacy 5: China's Janus Faces of Empire 6: India's Overcoming of the 'Intimate Enemy' 7: The Middle East's Post-Imperial Instability 8: Africa's Scramble Beyond Colonialism 9: The World's Intersecting Imperial Legacies

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Book SynopsisThe Oxford Illustrated History of the Holy Land covers the 3,000 years which saw the rise of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - and relates the familiar stories of the sacred texts with the fruits of modern scholarship. Beginning with the origins of the people who became the Israel of the Bible, it follows the course of the ensuing millennia down to the time when the Ottoman Empire succumbed to British and French rule at the end of the First World War.Parts of the story, especially as known from the Bible, will be widely familiar. Less familiar are the ways in which modern research, both from archaeology and from other ancient sources, sometimes modify this story historically. Better understanding, however, enables us to appreciate crucial chapters in the story of the Holy Land, such as how and why Judaism developed in the way that it did from the earlier sovereign states of Israel and Judah and the historical circumstances in which Christianity emerged from its Jewish cradle. Later paTrade ReviewFor those interested in the Bible, history or spiritual pilgrimage, this is a captivating guide and will be a great asset to anyone who has travelled, or will travel, to the Holy Land. * Mark W. Scarlata, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament *The Oxford Illustrated History of the Holy Land is full of ... remarkable details. Thirteen fact-packed chapters, each by an expert in his or her field, take us on a tour from the earliest recorded history onwards. It is a remarkable, readable, and useful achievement, one that will illuminate a thousand sermons and provide much to think about for anyone interested in the subject. * William Whyte, Church Times *Three great world faiths have invested so many hopes and passions in one relatively small part of the eastern Mediterranean seaboard and its hinterland, that there are risks even in calling it by a single name. This collective study of the "God-trodden land" is a richly informative, reliable, and sane guide to its troubled history: one valuable contribution to crafting it a more peaceful present and future. * Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford *A fascinating read overall. * Medieval Archaeology Journal vol 67.2 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Avraham Faust: The Birth of Israel 2: Lester L. Grabbe: Iron Age: Tribes to Monarchy 3: André Lemaire: Israel and Judah: c. 931-587 BCE 4: H. G. M. Williamson: Babylonian Exile and Restoration: 587-325 BCE 5: John J. Collins: The Hellenistic and Roman Era 6: Konstantin Klein: A Christian Holy Land: 284-638 CE 7: Milka Levy-Rubin: The Coming of Islam 8: Carole Hillenbrand: The Holy Land in the Crusader and Ayyubid periods: 1099 - 1250 9: Nimrod Luz: The Holy Land from the Mamluk Sultanate to the Ottoman Empire: 1260-1799 10: Robert Fisk: From Napoleon to Allenby: the Holy Land and the wider Middle East 11: Robert G. Hoyland and Peter Walker: Pilgrimage 12: Richard S. Hess and Denys Pringle: Sacred Spaces and Holy Places 13: Adam Silverstein: Scripture and the Holy Land Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Fake History, Otto English, comes a shocking yet hilarious look at ten of the greatest liars from our past, examining these previously unquestioned idols and exposing what they were trying to hide.'A brilliant book.' James O'BrienWas Che Guevara really a revolutionary hero?Should Mother Teresa be honoured as a saint?Is Henry V actually England's greatest king?And why does JFK's legend continue to grow?Having exposed some of the greatest lies ever told in Fake History, journalist Otto English turns his attention to some of history's biggest (and most beloved) figures.Whether it's virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations?Exploring everything from Captain Scott's reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol's flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel's murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history's most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time.Fake Heroes exposes the truth of the past and helps us understand why that matters today.Trade Review'A fascinating mixture of subjects and lots of offbeat information ... Eye-opening' -- Andrew Lownie'A brilliant book' -- James O'Brien'The most controversial book of the year' * Daily Express *'A fascinating and humorous look at some of the seminal characters of our recent histories ... An uproarious narrative' -- Iain MacGregor, Aspects of History

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth examination of the law and geopolitics of China’s maritime disputes and their implications for the rules of the international law of the seaTrade Review“Kardon seeks to correct a common misconception about China’s expansive maritime claims. Rather than simply flouting laws, the PRC has sought to minimize the weight of existing laws and shape new ones through its activities. The volume is a carefully argued and brilliant contribution to scholarship on the evolution of ‘global order.’”—Margaret M. Pearson, University of Maryland, College Park“Now that China has the world’s largest navy, is it really a threat to the rules-based maritime order? Those who share this concern will find China’s Law of the Sea an essential analysis of Beijing’s practice as well as theory.”—Jerome A. Cohen, Council on Foreign Relations“China’s maritime reach and activity will continue to be components of its ambition and power. Isaac Kardon’s perspectives and keen insight into China’s view of maritime order are unmatched. China’s Law of the Sea is an essential read for everyone who depends on the maritime domain and for all who ponder China’s approach to regional and global order.”—Gary Roughead, Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired), and former U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations“China’s contested maritime claims are a potential flashpoint for Asian conflict. Isaac Kardon systematically explains how China, in pursuing those claims, manipulates, disregards, or violates international legal norms in ways that could have global implications.”—Thomas J. Christensen, Columbia University and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State “China’s rise as a maritime power is a defining element of its ascent. In this carefully researched and insightful book, Kardon documents China’s distinctive approach to the law of the sea that combines legal interpretations, bureaucratic mobilization, and maritime forces on the water. China’s Law of the Sea is a terrific contribution to the literature that illuminates China’s challenge to the international maritime order in East Asia and beyond.”—M. Taylor Fravel, director of the Security Studies Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Book SynopsisToday, Dubai is a city of shimmering skyscrapers attracting thousands of tourists every year. Yet just sixty years ago Dubai's population scraped a living by picking dates, diving for pearls, or sailing in wooden dhows to trade with Iran and India. Dubai is everything the rest of the Arab world is not. Until recently it was the fastest-growing city in the world, with an economy whose growth outpaced China's while luring more tourists than all of India. The city has become a metaphor for the lush life, where the wealthy mingle in gilded splendour and luxury cars fill the streets, yet it is also beset by a backwash of bad design, environmental degradation and controversial labour practices. Dubai tells its unique story.Trade ReviewDubai examines this small emirate with admirable even-handedness and good humour... Krane also writes movingly of the conditions of the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers who have built Dubai. -- James Drummond * Financial Times *Jim Krane traces the fascinating and long overlooked history of this city... in prose as spare and enchanting as a desert fairy tale. * The Times *A well researched and gripping tale of how... the city was transformed from a pre-modern hideout for smugglers and pirates * Sunday Telegraph *Engagingly written and sympathetic to its subject... Dubai will be a welcome addition to the cabin baggage of the many western visitors to the Emirates * Guardian *Jim Krane's breathless style complements his subject: Dubai is a city that has arisen impetuously and incoherently, its shape shifting as incessantly as the desert sands on which it is built. * Times Literary Supplement *Full of engaging anecdotes * Daily Telegraph *Packed with detail and colour, Dubai explores the city's remarkable history, bringing it to life and confronting its controversies. -- Dr Christopher Davidson, author of 'Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success'

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Book SynopsisAn eloquent call to draw on the lessons of the past to address current threats to international orderTrade Review“A brilliant new book.”—Philip Bobbitt, Wall Street Journal "In this spare, almost mathematical primer, Hal Brands and Charles Edel deliver a rebuke to complacency and a defense of constructive pessimism in the service of America’s engagement with the world."—Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Return of Marco Polo’s World: War, Strategy, and American Interests in the Twenty-first Century"Hal Brands and Charles Edel have written a crucial reminder that being so safe for so long has dulled our imagination of how dangerous and destructive the alternatives are to the ‘flawed masterpiece’ of post-World War II order the U.S. created. Read this to relish two fine minds expertly marshaling 5,000 years of western culture to motivate our communal resolve to preserve the liberal international order. What an education!"—Kori Schake, author of Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony"Brands and Edel show that the tragedy of international relations is not, as some would argue, that nations are doomed to war—but rather that war comes when leaders and the public fail to learn from the past how to preserve the peace. This is a compelling account of the dangers of “historical amnesia” at time when many question the need for sustained U.S. global leadership. The Lessons of Tragedy does more than warn of the dangers; it draws on the demonstrable achievements of past U.S. statecraft to chart a more hopeful course for the future."—James B. Steinberg, Professor at Syracuse University and former Deputy Secretary of State“This powerful book by two of America's most brilliant historians and theorists of grand strategy writing at the top of their game provides a timely reminder that the history of international relations has been replete with catastrophes and costly disasters."—Eric Edelman, former Ambassador to Turkey, Finland and Under Secretary of Defense for Policy 2005-2009“This compact, engaging, and evocative volume packs a sharp, lasting punch. Brands and Edel argue persuasively for a return to the “tragic sensibility” that spurred the creation of all previous international orders. Reading The Lessons of Tragedy would benefit politicians, national security professionals, and civilians alike—in the same way that the great theatrical tragedies benefited ancient Greek society. I cannot recommend it highly enough.”—Robert Work, 32nd United States Deputy Secretary of Defense

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Book Synopsis''Hugely enjoyable'' AN Wilson, Sunday Times''Thoughtful, entertaining and enjoyable'' Michael Gove, Book of the Week, The TimesInspired by William Makepeace Thackeray, the first great analyst of snobbery, and his trail-blazing The Book of Snobs (1848), D. J. Taylor brings us a field guide to the modern snob. Short of calling someone a racist or a paedophile, one of the worst charges you can lay at anybody''s door in the early twenty-first century is to suggest that they happen to be a snob. But what constitutes snobbishness? Who are the snobs and where are they to be found? Are you a snob? Am I? What are the distinguishing marks? Snobbery is, in fact, one of the keys to contemporary British life, as vital to the backstreet family on benefits as the proprietor of the grandest stately home, and an essential element of their view of who of they are and what the world might be thought to owe them.The New Book of SnoTrade ReviewHugely enjoyable - Sunday TimesThoughtful, entertaining and enjoyable . . . Taylor has a shrewd eye for the ways in which snobbery evolves over time - The TimesAn intelligent writer - Guardian

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] compulsively readable book about bad habits becoming big business…In crisp and playful prose and with plenty of needed humor, Courtwright has written a fascinating history of what we like and why we like it, from the first taste of beer in the ancient Middle East to opioids in West Virginia. -- Micah Meadowcroft * American Conservative *A fascinating history of corporate America’s efforts to shape our habits and desires. -- Sean Illing * Vox *One admires the eclectic sweep of Courtwright’s catalogue of addictions, his sheer wealth of knowledge…As with all addictions, the book offers many pleasures and rewards. -- Lennard Davis * Times Higher Education *A sweeping, ambitious account of the evolution of addiction…This bold, thought-provoking synthesis will appeal to fans of ‘big history’ in the tradition of Guns, Germs, and Steel. * Publishers Weekly *An important addition to Courtwright’s groundbreaking work on the history of substance use disorders, this study of the accelerating ‘weaponization’ of pleasure—and the biological, social, and economic incentives that fuel excess—is compulsory reading for anyone wondering how addiction became the foremost public health problem worldwide. Deeply researched, intensely readable, and a sobering reminder of our vulnerability to bondage marketed as liberation. -- Deborah Rudacille, author of The Riddle of GenderThe delight I took in reading this book can perhaps best be expressed by saying that I read it end-to-end in two sittings and might have done it in one if life hadn’t intruded. Courtwright’s erudition is astonishing, and his wit makes the book fun to read as well as informative. -- Keith Humphreys, author of Circles of RecoveryIs limbic capitalism the tail that wags the dog? Is it a vital cog in a larger and more complex machine? Courtwright offers a powerful and compelling history of the changing forms of pleasure and addiction over the long span of human history. A bold and fascinating book, sure to generate much discussion. -- Daniel Lord Smail, author of On Deep History and the BrainA mind-blowing tour de force that unwraps the myriad objects of addiction that surround us daily. From alcohol to internet gaming, food to gambling, drugs to sex, Courtwright covers the globe over thousands of years. This intelligent, incisive, and sometimes grimly entertaining book will become the standard work on the subject. -- Rod Phillips, author of Alcohol: A HistoryThis rich and rewarding book explores the long history of the global pleasure revolution. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, commercialized food, gambling, and even the internet lean toward addiction, rooted in pleasure centers in the brain. Courtwright shows how today’s capitalism supplies those desires at an often frightful price. -- William Rorabaugh, author of Prohibition: A Concise HistoryCompelling and ingenious, this book deals the reader into a reality game where the crafty biology of pleasure meets what David Courtwright calls limbic capitalism. No one’s leveling up in the high-stakes game that is The Age of Addiction. The question is how you play, whether or not you can stop, and what happens when you do. -- Nancy D. Campbell, author of Discovering AddictionOffers dire warnings about our society…Courtwright has long been America’s leading voice on the history of drugs, and now he has shown how, in the world of limbic capitalism, addiction is promoted as a marketing tool for a wide variety of products, ones that guarantee customers, often for life. -- Emily Dufton * EH.net *

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Book Synopsis‘This splendid and often moving work of history… Schama has a gift for combining novelistically colourful detail, serious analysis and wryly amusing asides’ Daily Telegraph   ‘Superb’ Observer   ‘Extraordinary… A meticulous retelling of a terrible yet scientifically innovative period… Makes an urgent case for building a better future on our toxic past’ Guardian   ‘This is history of the best sort – humanly engaged but never sentimental’ Mail on Sunday Cities and countries engulfed by panic and death, desperate for vaccines but fearful of what inoculation may bring. This is what the world has just gone through with Covid-19. But as Simon Schama shows in his epic history of vulnerable humanity caught between the terror of contagion and the ingenuity of science, it has happened before. Trade Review‘Superb' * Guardian *'A splendid and often moving work of history . . . Schama has a gift for combining novelistically colourful detail, serious analysis, and wryly amusing asides’ * The Telegraph *‘The histories Schama weaves together in this very personal and rather wonderful book should encourage us to know what is possible, in astonishingly short periods of time, if compounding human talent is channelled to good and universal ends’ * Literary Review *‘This is history of the best sort – humanly engaged but never sentimental’ * Mail on Sunday *'With the aplomb of a young A. J. P. Taylor, Schama neatly balances the obligation to disparage empire with the historian’s love of valorous action. He pricks the pretensions of the Raj, whose grandees thought they had materially bettered the lives of Indians; but he handsomely acknowledges the human efforts expended, in crowded slums and roadside clinics, pursuing that fond vision' * Financial Times *'Schama’s now-familiar approach, with its over-the-shoulder perspective and deluge of local detail, gives a pleasing verisimilitude to his stories of jostling individuals, ideas and institutions. It is Haffkine’s political fall that provides the book’s strongest passages. The colonial administration – a bureaucratic machine for misery, terrified of resistance – was willing to mobilise against what it saw as a foreign threat, even with millions of lives, and its own legitimacy, in the balance. We see the reactionary drive towards both self- and collective harm repeat on the scale of the nation, institution and individual, in Haffkine’s world as well as our own. History suggests there are other paths, imperfect and difficult though they might be, if we could only recognise them' * New Statesman *'A fascinating story of vaccines’ spread' * The Economist *‘Do yourself a favour, buy this book . . . it’s vast and terrifying and somehow beautiful, and it reads like a Ted Talk all-timer, but instead of a blank screen you’re left with this beautiful bow to untie and book to read’ * Irish Times *‘Delves into the history of pandemics and their cures, through the gripping personal narratives of some fascinating individuals’ * Radio Times *’Schama’s account makes the case for learning from history and opening our minds to ideas that come from strange places. Whether we like it or not, we’re all connected, now more than ever' * The Times *'His account of the individuals who have helped curb the devastating effects of widespread infections – often defying medical hierarchies and courting controversy in the process – ultimately presents an inspiring and hopeful read' * Perspective *'Schama’s skill as a narrator makes for an effortless ride between the minutiae of particular diseases, their spread throughout communities, and the story of the forces of biology in shaping global history’ * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisFrom brilliant young polymath Andrew Rader – an MIT-credentialled scientist, popular podcast host and SpaceX mission manager – an illuminating chronicle of exploration that spotlights humans’ insatiable desire to continually push into new and uncharted territory, from civilisation’s earliest days to current planning for interstellar travel. For the first time in history, the human species has the technology to destroy itself. But having developed that power, humans are also able to leave Earth and voyage into the vastness of space. After millions of years of evolution, we’ve arrived at the point where we can settle other worlds and begin the process of becoming multi-planetary. How did we get here? What does the future hold for us? Divided into four accessible sections, Beyond the Known examines major periods of discovery and rediscovery, from Classical Times, when Phoenicia

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Jewish Book of the Year AwardThe first comprehensive yet accessible history of the state of Israel from its inception to present day, from Daniel Gordis, one of the most respected Israel analysts (The Forward) living and writing in Jerusalem.Israel is a tiny state, and yet it has captured the world’s attention, aroused its imagination, and lately, been the object of its opprobrium. Why does such a small country speak to so many global concerns? More pressingly: Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future?We cannot answer these questions until we understand Israel’s people and the questions and conflicts, the hopes and desires, that have animated their conversations and actions. Though Israel’s history is rife with conflict, these conflicts do not fully communicate the spirit of Israel and its people: they give short shrift to the dream that gave birth to the state, and to the vision for the Jewish people that was at its core. Guiding us through the milestones of Israeli history, Gordis relays the drama of the Jewish people’s story and the creation of the state. Clear-eyed and erudite, he illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic and military powerhouse—but also explains where Israel made grave mistakes and traces the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation. With Israel, public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic, and political history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, levelheaded, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on the Israel’s past so we can understand its future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn.

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Book SynopsisAcknowledged as one of the greatest achievements of modern scholarship, Arnold Toynbee's A Study of History is a ten-volume analysis of the rise and fall of human civilizations. Contained in two volumes, D.C. Somervell's abridgement of this magnificent enterprise preserves the method, atmosphere, texture, and, in many instances, the very words of the original.Trade Review'McNeill's book will be read, and enjoyed, for its own sake. I hope it will revive interest in Toynbee.' The Advertiser, AustraliaTable of ContentsPreface VI. Universal States VII: Universal Churches VIII. Heroic Ages IX. Contacts Between Civilizations in Space X. Contacts Between Civilizations n Time XI. Law and Freedom in History XII. The Prospects of the Western Civilization XIII. Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisWhat are the imagined communities that compel men to kill or to die for an idea of a nation? This notion of nationhood had its origins in the founding of the Americas, but was then adopted and transformed by populist movements in nineteenth-century Europe. It became the rallying cry for anti-Imperialism as well as the abiding explanation for colonialism. In this scintillating, groundbreaking work of intellectual history Anderson explores how ideas are formed and reformulated at every level, from high politics to popular culture, and the way that they can make people do extraordinary things. In the twenty-first century, these debates on the nature of the nation state are even more urgent. As new nations rise, vying for influence, and old empires decline, we must understand who we are as a community in the face of history, and change.Trade ReviewSparkling, readable, densely packed. * Guardian *Anderson's knowledge of a vast range of relevant historical literature is most impressive; his presentation of the gist of it is both masterly and lucid. * New Statesman *A brilliant little book. * Neal Ascherson, The Observer *

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Book SynopsisAn eyewitness account of one of the greatest-ever battles as a few men under the Knights of St John took on a huge Turkish armada. This is the history of one of the great battles of the world, written by a private soldier who was an eye-witness. The siege of Malta was a crucial moment in the long struggle between Islam and Christendom for domination of the Mediterranean, fought out by unequal forces on the small island which commands the sea-routes at the centre of that sea. The Knights of St John were a survival from the medieval world, the largest of the surviving crusading orders,and they had been driven out of their base on Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean after a great onslaught by the Turks in 1522. Now, forty-three years later, the Turkish ruler, Suleyman the Magnificent, who had been the victor atRhodes, was determined to finish them off. He sent out a huge armada, carrying the pick of his army, under two commanders. Against this powerful force, the Knights could only raise a handful of men and mercenaries, and had to depend on the fortifications they had raised in the thirty-five years since they first came to Malta, which bore no comparison to the massive walls and ditches on Rhodes. Francisco Balbi di Correggio was a humble soldier of fortune who enlisted under the charismatic command of the Grand Master of the Order, Jean de la Valette. The extraordinary drama that unfolded after the first appearance of the Turkish fleet in the summer of 1565 is told in his own words, giving equal credit to the courage and leadership of the Knights and the grim determination of the ordinary people of Malta.Trade ReviewThis is a carefully-presented, well-translated and well-edited book, with an excellent commentary to accompany the original source documents. [...] Thanks are due to Boydell Press for making this serious academic publication available. * BRITISH BULLETIN OF PUBLICATIONS *Will serve as a useful primary source for undergraduates and as well as for scholars. * SIXTEENTH CENTURY JOURNAL *An extremely welcome reprint...of a seminal work on the subject and the prime reference source for all those who have written about the 1565 siege. An extremely readable account. * CASEMATE *

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Book SynopsisA new, fully updated edition of the world's leading guide to the historical sites of the Holy Land, providing the ultimate guide to all the main Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sites.Trade ReviewAll who plan to visit the Holy Land in the coming years should buy a copy of this excellent guide * J. Day, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament *Table of ContentsPART 1; PART 2

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Book SynopsisA Short History of the World in 50 Animals provides a new perspective on the grand sweep of our planet’s making, taking readers from the time of the dinosaurs to the time of Dolly, the first cloned mammal. This book will include a great variety of beasts from across the animal kingdom, some well known and others far more surprising, from every continent in the world. Each entry will show the creature’s influence on world development, economy, health, culture, religion and society. The size of the animals range from hulking elephants to tiny bees but each one has made a significant impact on history.A Short History of the World in 50 Animals details the impact, legacy and role of fifty animals that determined the world’s history and shows how many of them are essential for our future survival. Featuring charming black and white illustrations throughout, which celebrate these extraordinary animals.In the same series: A Short History of the World in 50 Places.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing an annotated cutaway and artwork detailing the features of the ships, this book explores the design, development, and deployment of both the Essex and Independence class of light carriers that were at the forefront of many actions in World War II, including the climatic battles of Phillipine Sea and Leyte Gulf in 1944.

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Book SynopsisThe French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars encompassed a period when rival European fleets vied for naval supremacy, and naval tactics were evolving. The British Royal Navy emerged triumphant as the leading world sea power, and the epitome of Britannic naval strength was the Ship-of-the-Line. These ''wooden walls'' were more than merely floating gun batteries: they contained a crew of up to 800 men, and often had to remain at sea for extended periods. This book offers detailed coverage of the complex vessels that were the largest man-made structures produced in the pre-Industrial era.

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Book SynopsisThe history of the telegraph - the men and women who made it - and its relevance to the current Internet debate.

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Book SynopsisWhy do people go to war? Is it rooted in human nature or is it a late cultural invention? How does war relate to the other fundamental developments in the history of human civilization? And what of war today - is it a declining phenomenon or simply changing its shape? In this truly global study of war and civilization, Azar Gat sets out to find definitive answers to these questions in an attempt to unravel the ''riddle of war'' throughout human history, from the early hunter-gatherers right through to the unconventional terrorism of the twenty-first century. In the process, the book generates an astonishing wealth of original and fascinating insights on all major aspects of humankind''s remarkable journey through the ages, engaging a wide range of disciplines, from anthropology and evolutionary psychology to sociology and political science. Written with remarkable verve and clarity and wholly free from jargon, it will be of interest to anyone who has ever pondered the puzzle of war.Trade ReviewAn immensely ambitious work covering not only history but archaeology, anthropology, ethnography, demography and economics, to name but a few... its weight of learning is borne aloft by the author's enthusiasm for his subject and takes his readers with it. If only there were more scholars like this! * Michael Howard, TLS Books of the Year *There's any amount of fascinating insight to be found in this big and enormously ambitious interdisciplinary study. * The Scotsman *A book of extraordinary ambition, erudition and range... Every student of war will be obliged to engage with this remarkable piece of scholarship. * Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, King's College, London *A work of extraordinary scope and formidable erudition... Gat definitively unravels the riddle of civilization and war. * Professor Robert J. Lieber, Georgetown University *A towering and triumphant achievement... acute, scholarly, and wide-ranging: it is certainly one of the most important works on the subject written since 1945. Gat is at the top of his brilliant form, linking a variety of disciplines in a rich and comprehensive study of this most pertinent of issues. * Professor Richard Holmes *Table of ContentsPART 1: WARFARE IN THE FIRST TWO MILLION YEARS: ENVIRONMENT, GENES, AND CULTURE ; 1. Introduction: The Human 'State of Nature' ; 2. Peaceful or War-like: Did Hunter-Gatherers Fight? ; 3. Why Fighting? The Evolutionary Perspective ; 4. Motivation: Food and Sex ; 5. Motivation: the Web of Desire ; 6. 'Primitive Warfare': How Was It Done? ; 7. Conclusion: Fighting in the Evolutionary State of Nature ; PART 2: AGRICULTURE, CIVILIZATION, AND WAR ; 8. Introduction: Evolving Cultural Complexity ; 9. Tribal Warfare in Agraria and Pastoralia ; 10. Armed Force in the Emergence of the State ; 11. The Eurasian Spearhead: East, West, and the Steppe ; 12. Conclusion: War, the Leviathan, and the Pleasures and Miseries of Civilization ; PART 3: MODERNITY: THE DUAL FACE OF JANUS ; 13. Introduction: the Explosion of Wealth and Power ; 14. Guns and Markets: the New European States and a Global World ; 15. Unbound and Bound Prometheus: Machine Age War ; 16. Affluent Liberal Democracies, Ultimate Weapons, and the World ; 17. Conclusion: Unravelling the Riddle of War ; Endnotes ; Index

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Book SynopsisOffers a portrait of life along the great pre-modern trade routes of Eurasia. This edition tells about the history about this road to reconstruct the route through the personal experiences of travelers.Trade Review"A more completely reconstructed Silk Road and more colorfully depicted stories." -- H. Zhang CHOICE "Whitfield's biographical summaries neatly contextualize a range of social, religious, and geo-political perspectives." Bulletin of the Asia InstituteTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface to the Second Edition Note on Transliteration and Names Map Introduction Prologue: The Shipmaster's Tale 1. The Merchant's Tale 2. The Soldier's Tale 3. The Horseman's Tale 4. The Princess's Tale 5. The Courtesan's Tale 6. The Pilgrim's Tale 7. The Writer's Tale 8. The Official's Tale 9. The Nun's Tale 10. The Widow's Tale 11. The Artist's Tale Epilogue Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisExamines various aspects of ancient warfare from philosophy to the technical skills needed to fight. This work looks at war in a wider context and explores the ways in which ancient society thought about conflict: can a war be just? Why was siege warfare particularly bloody? What role did divine intervention play in the outcome of a battle?Trade ReviewThis is a little book which is jam-packed with ideas and insights. This book offers an interesting and invigorating read. * TLS *I am addicted to this series of pocket-portable introductory lectures - they provoke active and reactive thought. * The Guardian *Small but impressive * Soldier Magazine *Table of Contents1. 'On my command unleash hell!' The Western Way of War? ; 2. Thinking with war ; 3. War and Society ; 4. Thinking about war ; 5. Strategy, Campaigns, and Logistics ; 6. Fighting ; 7. 'Some people don't know when they are beaten.' Imagining war.

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Book SynopsisIn this major new book, Wolfgang Behringer surveys the phenomenon of witchcraft past and present. Drawing on the latest historical and anthropological findings, Behringer sheds new light on the history of European witchcraft, while demonstrating that witch-hunts are not simply part of the European past. Although witch-hunts have long since been outlawed in Europe, other societies have struggled with the idea that witchcraft does not exist. As Behringer shows, witch-hunts continue to pose a major problem in Africa and among tribal people in America, Asia and Australia. The belief that certain people are able to cause harm by supernatural powers endures throughout the world today.Wolfgang Behringer explores the idea of witchcraft as an anthropological phenomenon with a historical dimension, aiming to outline and to understand the meaning of large-scale witchcraft persecutions in early modern Europe and in present-day Africa. He deals systematically with the belief in witchcraTrade Review"An eye-opening accomplishment ... [Behringer's] careful and nuanced volume attests to the erstwhile human tendency, still tragically prominent, to succumb to paranoid fantasies about one's neighbours, colleagues and constituents: to accuse them of being in league with dark forces; to work to isolate, hound and even expunge them from the body politic." Journal of Genocide Research "Wolfgang Behringer establishes the importance of a truly global history of witchcraft. Setting aside familiar Western notions, he deploys a more comprehensive definition of witchcraft as the malicious use of evil magic. He brilliantly sketches the history of European witch-hunting and uses this to illuminate the twentieth-century struggle against witches in many parts of the post-colonial world such as South America, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. This book marks a real advance in our understanding of witchcraft, and a remarkable and astute blending of anthropology with history." H. C. Erik Midelfort, University of Virginia "Witchcraft has recently been the subject of an enormous amount of research and yet some of its main issues still need reappraisal. This book makes a compelling case for re-examining witchcraft in a fundamental way by reconnecting the new historical scholarship with the discipline of anthropology and treating the subject in a world perspective and as a universal phenomenon. Already Europe's leading expert on the early modern witchcraft trials, Wolfgang Behringer not only gives us a superb overview of where our knowledge of them currently stands but takes us on a global tour of witchcraft in modern societies. Unexpectedly, we discover how much the European and non-European experience have had in common." Stuart Clark, University of Wales SwanseaTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. List of Tables. Preface. Chronology. List of Abbreviations.. 1. Introduction.. 2. The Belief in Witchcraft.. 3. The Persecution of Witches.. 4. The European Age of Witch-Hunting.. 5. Outlawing Witchcraft Persecution in Europe.. 6. Witch-Hunting in the 19th and 20th Centuries.. 7. Old and "New Witches".. 8. Epilogue. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisFrom the costly velvets and furs worn by kings to the undyed wools and rough linens of the peasantry, the clothing worn by the various classes in the Middle Ages played an integral role in medieval society. In addition to providing clues to status, profession, and/or geographic origin, textiles were a crucial element in the economies of many countries and cities. Much of what is known about medieval fashion is gleaned from the pages of manuscripts, which serve as a rich source of imagery. This volume provides a detailed look at both the actual fabrics and composition of medieval clothing as well as the period's attitude toward fashion through an exploration of illuminated manuscripts in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The last portion of the book is dedicated to the depiction of clothing in biblical times and the ancient world as seen through a medieval lens. Throughout, excerpts from literary sources of the period help shed light on the perceived role and function of fashion in daily life.

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Book SynopsisPresents a thematic history of the world from 1780 to the onset of the First World War which reveals that the world was far more 'globalised' at this time than is commonly thought. This book considers various themes of the nineteenth-century world, including the rise of the modern state, industrialization and liberalism.Trade Review"With its dazzling erudition and its vast scope, The Birth of the Modern World is a masterpiece of distance-annihilating synthesis…At a stroke, all other general histories of the nineteenth century have become parochial…I cannot think of any living historian who could match this feat. The rest of us must simply applaud." Niall Ferguson, University of Oxford "Bayly's work is awe-inspiring in its breadth and authority. To write a history of this kind, the author must possess a command of his sources... outstanding lucidity and a capacity to organise immensely complex and disparate material; above all, perhaps, a sense of proportion and the ability to balance striking detail against swooping vision. All these Bayly enjoys in abundance. Readers will enjoy an invigorating and enriching experience." The Telegraph "A truly global history, a work of great richness and jaw-dropping erudition that ranges effortlessly across the continents, laying out a complex, multifaceted picture of modernity. A brilliantly told global story." The Sunday Times "A remarkable achievement. As an accomplished and innovative historian, Bayly has the rare ability not just to indicate the need for a 'global approach to historical change' but also to deliver, with scrupulous regard for the complexity of his subject. Empire and genocide, nationalism and modernity - these are grand themes enough for many a work of history, but they do not exhaust the range of Bayly's ambition and erudition. It is a tribute to Bayly's skill that his discussion can be read with as much profit by those who are familiar with the historical debates he engages with as by those previously innocent of them." Times Literary Supplement "Chris Bayly's erudite and engrossing account of the global birthpangs of modernity is not only a landmark contribution to historical literature but, indirectly and without a hint of overt engagement, a pertinent addition to contemporary debates about globalisation and the world order. This is a book that historians, foreign policy elites and protagonists on both sides of the debate need to read.... Bayly has produced the most compelling and significant historical synthesis to appear for many years." London Review of Books "An enormously important book in its approach to global history, it is also a riveting account of modern warfare, empire, nationalism and religion. Bayly holds the reader's attention across a history of kingdoms ... In turn, what he delivers is a fascinating challenge to contemporary understandings of globalisation, religious belief and the threads of Empire." The Times "Christopher Bayly’s book will be essential reading for anyone seeking an historical angle on globalisation, and in particular on its impact on the world before 1914…No book I have ever read combines Bayly’s level of knowledge, clarity and insight on this vast and hugely important theme." Dominic Lieven, London School of Economics and Political Science "The impact of this book will be as broad as its originality, currency, and force." Linda Colley, Princeton University "This brilliant history of the 19th century offers remarkably lucid, supple analyses of the concepts around which this story revolves: modernity, nationalism, imperialism, the state, industrialisation. Bayly not only deftly summarises a startling range of complex previous literature, as well as integrating it effectively into his bigger picture, but also pushes many of those theoretical debates forward." Stephen Howe "This book, by one of the foremost scholars of modern Indian history, is a sprawling smorgasbord ... a challenging and thought-provoking piece of world history." Journal of World History Winner of the Wolfson History Prize 2004 Winner of the H-Soz-u-Kult Book Prize (World and International History) "[A] magisterial synthesis" Journal of Modern History "This is a brilliant book. Bayly's analytical approach merits high praise and the wealth of information he presents is admirable." IberoamericanaTable of ContentsList Of Illustrations. List Of Tables And Maps. Series Editor’s Preface. Acknowledgements. Introduction. The Organization Of The Book. Problem One: ‘Prime Movers’ And The Economic Factor. Problem Two: Global History And Post-Modernism. Problem Three: The Continuing ‘Riddle Of The Modern’. Conforming To Standards In Bodily Practice. Building Out From The Body: Communications And Complexity. Afterword. Part I: The End of The Old Regime:. 1. Old Regimes And ‘Archaic Globalisation’:. Peasants And Lords. The Politics Of Difference. Powers On The Fringes Of States. Harbingers Of New Political Formations. The Pre-History Of ‘Globalisation’. ‘Archaic’ And Early Modern Globalisation. Prospect. 2. Passages From The Old Regimes To Modernity:. The ‘Last Great Domestication’ And ‘Industrious Revolutions’. New Patterns Of Afro-Asian Material Culture, Production And Trade. The Internal And External Limits Of Afro-Asian ‘Industrious Revolutions.’. Trade, Finance And Innovation: European Competitive Advantages. The Activist, Patriotic State Evolves. Critical Publics. The Development Of Asian And African Ecumenes. Conclusion: ‘Backwardness’, Lags And Conjunctures. 3. Convergent Revolutions, 1780–1820:. Contemporaries Ponder The World Crisis. A Summary Anatomy Of The World Crisis, C. 1720–1820. Sapping The Legitimacy Of The State: From France To China. The Ideological Origins Of The Modern State. Nationalities Versus States And Empires. The Third Revolution: Polite And Commercial Peoples Worldwide. Prospect. Part II: The Modern World In Genesis:. 4. Between World Revolutions, C. 1815–1860. Assessing The ‘Wreck Of Nations’. British Maritime Supremacy, World Trade And Agrarian Recovery. Emigration: A Safety Valve. The Losers In The ‘New World Order’, C. 1815–65. Problems Of Hybrid Legitimacy – Whose State Was It?. The State Gains Strength – But Not Enough. Wars Of Legitimacy In Asia: A Summary Account. Economic And Ideological Roots Of The Asian Revolutions. The Years Of Hunger And Rebellion In Europe, 1848–51. The American Civil War As A Global Event. Convergence Or Difference?. Reviewing The Argument. 5. Industrialisation And The New City:. Historians, Industrialisation And Cities. The Progress Of Industrialisation. Cities As Centres Of Production And Consumption. The Urban Impact Of The Global Crisis, 1780–1820. Race And Class In The New City. Working Class Politics. World-Wide Urban Cultures And Their Critics. Conclusion. 6. Nation, Empire And Ethnicity: C. 1860–1900:. ‘Theories’ Of Nationalism. When Was Nationalism?. Whose Nationalism?. Perpetuating Nationalisms: Memories, National Associations And Print. From Community To Nation: The Eurasian Empires. Where We Stand With Nationalism. Peoples Without States; Persecution Or Assimilation?. Imperialism And Its History In The Late Nineteenth Century. Dimension Of The ‘New Imperialism’. A World Of Nation States?. The Persistence Of Old Patterns Of Globalisation. From Globalisation To Inter-Nationalim. Inter-Nationalism In Action. Conclusion. Part III: State And Society In The Age of Imperialism:. 7. Myths And Technologies Of The Modern State. Dimensions Of The Modern State. The State And The Historians. Problems Of Defining The State. The Modern State Takes Root; Geographical Dimensions. Claims To Justice And Symbols Of Power. The State’s Resources. The State’s Obligations To Society. Tools Of The State. State, Economy And Nation. A Balance Sheet: What Had The State Achieved?. 8. The Theory And Practice Of Liberalism, Rationalism, Socialism And Science. Contextualising ‘Intellectual’ History. The Corruption Of The Righteous Republic: A Classic Theme. Righteous Republics World-Wide. The Advent Of Liberalism And The Market: Western Exceptionalism?. Liberalism And Land Reform: Radical Theory And Conservative Practice. Free Trade Or National Political Economy. Representing The Peoples. Secularism And Positivism: Trans-National Affinities. The Reception Of Socialism And Its Local Resonances. Science In Global Context. Professionalisation At World Level. Conclusion. 9. Empires Of Religion:. Religion In The Eyes Of Contemporaries. The View Of Recent Historians. The Rise Of New-Style Religion. Modes Of Religious Domination, Their Agents And Their Limitations. Formalising Religious Authority, Creating ‘Imperial Religions’. Formalising Doctrines And Rites. The Expansion Of ‘Imperial Religions’ On Their Inner And Outer Frontiers. Pilrimage And Globalisation. Printing And The Propagation Of Religion. Religious Building. Religion And The Nation. Conclusion: The Spirits Of The Age. 10. The World Of The Arts And The Imagination:. Arts And Politics. Hybridity And Uniformity In Art Across The Globe. Levelling Forces: The Market, The Everyday And The Museum. The Arts Of The Emerging Nation And Empire 1760–1850. Arts And The People 1850–1914. Outside The West: Adaptation And Dependency. Architecture: A Mirror Of The City. Towards World Literature. Conclusion: Arts And Societies. Prospect. Part IV: Change, Decay And Crisis:. 11. The Reconstitution Of Social Hierarchies:. Change And The Historians. Gender And Subordination In The ‘Liberal Age’. Slavery’s Indian Summer. The Peasant And Rural Labourer As Bond Serf. The Peasant That ‘Got Away’. Why Rural Subordination Survived. The Transformation Of ‘Gentries’. Challenges To The Gentry. Routes To Survival: State Service And Commerce. Men Of ‘Fewer Board Acres’ In Europe. Surviving Supremacies. Continuity Or Change?. 12. The Destruction Of ‘Native Peoples’ And Ecological Depredation:. What Is Meant By Native Peoples?. Europeans And Native Peoples Before C. 1820. Native Peoples In The Age Of Hiatus?. The White Deluge 1840–1890. The Deluge In Practice: New Zealand, South Africa And The U.S.A. Ruling Savage Natures: Recovery And Marginalisation. 13. Conclusion: The Great Acceleration: C.1890–1914:. Predicting ‘Things To Come’. The Agricultural Depression, Inter-Nationalism And The New Imperialism. The Strange Death Of Inter-National Liberalism. Summing Up: Globalisation And Crisis 1780–1914. Global Interconnections 1780–1914. What Were The Motors Of Change?. Power In Global And Inter-National Networks. Contested Uniformity And Universal Complexity Revisited. August 1914. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisEn Garde! is a small-scale skirmish game based on the successful Ronin rules, in which small groups of warriors fight each other for honour or riches. Rather than just rolling a few dice, the rules allow players to make tactical decisions about how the models that they control will fight - offensively, defensively, or by applying special skills and abilities. En Garde! covers the conflicts of the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries, when black-powder weapons started to become common in battle but martial prowess still determined the outcome.Play as Border Reivers, Conquistadors, Landsknechts, Aztecs, French Musketeers, Caribbean Pirates and many more, in scenarios that evoke classic engagements of the genre. Sub-plots (secondary objectives for each side) have also been introduced, making gameplay even more varied and exciting. Simple campaign rules allow multiple scenarios to be played in sequence and permit warbands to develop over time. An appendix is also included to provTable of ContentsIntroduction/ Background/ Gameplay/ Special Rules/ Warbands/ Scenarios/ Campaigns/ Tournaments/ Appendix – The Supernatural

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Book SynopsisSpanning Galileo's career, this title presents an annotated translation of Galileo's important writings as judged by their historical impact from the 17th century to the present. It provides those writings that bear closely on key developments in physics, astronomy, epistemology, and scientific methodology, and those relevant to general culture.Trade ReviewEdited and translated by Maurice A. Finocchiaro, an international authority on Galileo, this collection makes available to scholars and students an excellent and extensive selection of Galileo's key works from his early career to the end of his life--some in toto and some represented by key selections. It presents not only Galileo's most famous works but also a range of less-known texts as well as an excellent selection of the documents from the trial of 1633 and from the 1616 condemnation of Copernicus. In addition to the breadth and quality of the selections, this volume is particularly attractive to students and instructors thanks to Finocchiaro's expert and up-to-date introductions, biographical sketch, chronology, annotated bibliography, and glossary. This is a must for anyone teaching or studying Galileo, the scientific revolution, and the relationship between science and religion. --Mario Biagioli, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard UniversityThis skillful selection from Galileo's writings has something of the adventure story about it, as Galileo explores the skies in a way no one had done before and propounds a radical reorganization of the cosmos in consequence, defends himself from the accusation by the Church that his view contravenes Scripture but is condemned and forced to abjure, and returns finally in old age to publish a work that will not only set mechanics on a new path but will transform the very way in which the deeper knowledge of nature is to be found. Strongly recommended. --Ernan McMullin, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame"This book works very well for an undergraduate audience. I also appreciated the fact that Finocchiaro kept his comments on Galileo's texts to a minimum to allow students to interact with the primary documents on their own terms. The introduction to the text also worked well; providing important information without being overbearing for the students. I will definitely continue to use this work in the future." --Nahyan Fancy, Depauw University

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