"From one of the foremost experts on Ukraine and the former USSR, a concise, authoritative history of Ukraine. Ukraine is currently embroiled in a tense battle with Russia to preserve its economic and political independence. But today's conflict is only the latest in a long history of battles over Ukraine's existence as a sovereign nation. As award-winning historian Serhii Plokhy argues in The Gates of Europe, we must examine Ukraine's past in order...

America’s backstory is a whitewashed mythology implanted in our collective memory. It is the story of the pilgrims on the Mayflower building a new nation. It is George Washington’s cherry tree and Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin. It is the fantastic tale of slaves that spontaneously teleported themselves here with nothing but strong backs and negro spirituals. It is a sugarcoated legend based on an almost true story. It should come as no surprise...

No city on earth has preserved its past as Rome has. Visitors can cross bridges that were crossed by Cicero and Julius Caesar, explore temples visited by Roman emperors, and step into churches that have hardly changed since popes celebrated mass in them sixteen centuries ago.These architectural survivals are all the more remarkable considering the many disasters that have struck the city. Rome has been afflicted by earthquakes, floods, fires and plagues,...

"Born in Blood and Fire pioneered an integrative approach to teaching Latin American history. Combining a regional perspective with a chronological framework, it enables students to more clearly see connections and comparisons that span multiple countries across many centuries. In the Fifth Edition, John Chasteen expands the examination of Colombia's surging influence in the region and places greater emphasis on Latin America's connections to the...

With his celebrated stylistic panache and expert command of detail, Norwich writes in an inviting, intimate tone, and with a palpable affection for France. One of our greatest contemporary historians has deftly crafted a comprehensive yet concise portrait of the country's historical sweep

This book is a detailed account of the political affairs of the Mongol Empire and its immense impact on geopolitics and the shape of global power. Primarily covering the Mongol Empire wars with the empires of Persia, Islam, China, and its internal struggles and feuds. The reason and results of the slaughters that took place. The strategies that were used. The betrayals and acts of revenge. The tools used for war. Regions conquered by the Mongols had...

There is no doubt that Rome developed one of the most efficient and successful military systems of the ancient world. The famous legions conquered from the Atlantic to the Euphrates, from the Scottish Highlands to the sands of the Sahara, defeating all manner of enemies. Although their victories were many, they were never invincible and did suffer significant defeats. Ian Hughes looks at thirteen such occasions, narrating the course of the fighting...

The Face of Battle is military history from the battlefield: a look at the direct experience of individuals at 'the point of maximum danger'. It examines the physical conditions of fighting, the particular emotions and behaviour generated by battle, as well as the motives that impel soldiers to stand and fight rather than run away. And in his scrupulous reassessment of three battles, John Keegan vividly conveys their reality for the participants,...

John Keay's India: A History is a probing and provocative chronicle of five thousand years of South Asian history, from the first Harrapan settlements on the banks of the Indus River to the recent nuclear-arms race. In a tour de force of narrative history, Keay blends together insights from a variety of scholarly fields and weaves them together to chart the evolution of the rich tapestry of cultures, religions, and peoples that makes up the modern...

The Epic of America (1931) by James Truslow Adams is a sweeping and accessible narrative of the American experience-from the colonial era to the early 20th century-that introduced and popularized the concept of the "American Dream." In this landmark work, Adams explores the nation's evolution not just through political and military events, but through the lens of its ideals, hopes, and struggles. He examines how the United States grew from a group...