An entrancing tale of piracy colored with gold, treachery and double-dealing (Portland Press Herald), Pulitzer Prize-finalist Colin Woodward's The Republic of Pirates is the historical biography of the exploits of infamous Caribbean buccaneers during the Golden Age of Piracy. In the early eighteenth century, the Pirate Republic was home to some of the great pirate captains, including Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, "Black Sam" Bellamy, and Charles Vane. Along with their fellow pirates — former sailors, indentured servants, and runaway slaves — this "Flying Gang" established a crude but distinctive democracy in the Bahamas, carving out their own zone of freedom in which servants were free, blacks could be equal citizens, and leaders were chosen or deposed by a vote. They cut off trade routes, sacked slave ships, and severed Europe from its New World empires. For a brief, glorious period this true story of pirates reveals a success story as they became heroes in the eyes of the people. Drawing on extensive research in the archives of Britain and the Americas, award-winning author Colin Woodard tells the dramatic untold story of the Pirate Republic that shook the very foundations of the British and Spanish Empires and fanned the democratic sentiments that would one day drive the American revolution. This definitive work of maritime history reveals the real story behind the legends: The Golden Age of Piracy: Go beyond the myths to discover the true, ten-year maritime revolt that brought the British Empire to its knees and disrupted transatlantic commerce. Legendary Pirate Captains: Follow the dramatic exploits of Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, “Black Sam” Bellamy, and the notorious Charles Vane as they rise from common sailors to feared commanders. A Pirate Democracy: Learn about the “Flying Gang” and the crude but distinctive republic they established in the Bahamas, a zone of freedom where leaders were chosen by vote and all men were equal. Authoritative Research: Based on extensive investigation in the archives of Britain and the Americas, this untold story shakes the foundations of our understanding of the era.

This audiobook narrated by acclaimed archaeologist and bestselling author Eric Cline offers a breathtaking account of how the collapse of an ancient civilized world ushered in the first Dark Ages In 1177 B.C., marauding groups known only as the "Sea Peoples" invaded Egypt. The pharaoh's army and navy defeated them, but the victory so weakened Egypt that it soon slid into decline, as did most of the surrounding civilizations. Eric Cline tells the gripping story of how the end was brought about by multiple interconnected failures, ranging from invasion and revolt to earthquakes, drought, famine, and the cutting of international trade routes. Bringing to life a vibrant multicultural world, he draws a sweeping panorama of the empires of the age and shows that it may have been their very interdependence that hastened their dramatic collapse. Now revised and updated, 1177 B.C. sheds light on the complex ties that gave rise to, and eventually destroyed, the flourishing civilizations of the Late Bronze Age—and set the stage for the emergence of classical Greece and, ultimately, our world today.

"The turbulent age that straddles the first millennium is brought to life in a history worthy of a modern television epic." -Financial Times Thrilling history provides a new perspective on the Viking-Anglo Saxon conflicts and brings the bloody period vividly to life, perfect for fans of Dan Jones The first major book on Vikings by a Scandinavian author to be published in English reframes the struggle for a North Sea empire and puts readers in the mindset of Vikings, providing new insight into their goals, values, and what they chose to live and die for. The Wolf Age takes readers on a thrilling journey through the bloody shared history of England and Scandinavia, and on across early medieval Europe, from the wild Norwegian fjords to the wealthy cities of Muslim Andalusia. Warfare, plotting, backstabbing and bribery abound as Tore Skeie skillfully weaves sagas and skaldic poetry with breathless dramatization as he entertainingly brings the world of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons to vivid life. In the eleventh century, the rulers of the lands surrounding the North Sea are all hungry for power. To get power they need soldiers, to get soldiers they need silver, and to get silver there is no better way than war and plunder. This vicious cycle draws all the lands of the north into a brutal struggle for supremacy and survival that will shatter kingdoms and forge an empire…

Bloomsbury presents The Franco-Prussian War by Stephen Badsey, read by Ric Jerrom. This is an introduction to the Franco-Prussian War, a war that marked the beginning of the creation of modern Europe. The Franco-Prussian War started in 1870 when Otto von Bismarck engineered a war with the French Second Empire under Napoleon III, as part of his plan to unite Prussia with the southern German states as a new Germany. Stephen Badsey examines the build-up, battles, and impact of the war, which was an overwhelming Prussian victory with massive consequences. The French Second Empire collapsed, Napoleon III became an exile in Britain, and King Wilhelm I was proclaimed Emperor of the new united Germany. In the peace settlement that followed, Germany gained the eastern French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, areas that were to provide a bone of contention for years to come. Updated for the new edition with revisions from the author, this is an accessible introduction to the largest and most important war fought in Europe between the age of Napoleon and the First World War.

The first novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION • Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future—to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save humankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire—both scientists and scholars—and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation. The Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are among the most influential in the history of science fiction, celebrated for their unique blend of breathtaking action, daring ideas, and extensive worldbuilding. In Foundation, Asimov has written a timely and timeless novel of the best—and worst—that lies in humanity, and the power of even a few courageous souls to shine a light in a universe of darkness.

The so-called Great Temple and the monumental buildings in its vicinity are the most emblematic structures in the Hittite capital Ḫattuša. It is one of the best-preserved ensembles of monumental Hittite architecture, which stands par excellence for Hittite culture in Central Anatolia and is today visited by all visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The edifices were investigated in several stages between 1907 and 1969 so that the history of research into this extensive Bronze Age settlement is reflected in an exemplary way in the changing development of the excavations and their reappraisal. The differentiated presentation of all buildings creates, for the first time, a sound basis for including these buildings in modern research questions of archaeology as well as cultural and architectural history. The work results not only in changes in the evaluation of the spatial structures and their functions but especially in the solution to the question of when this ensemble was founded. The construction of these buildings already in the formative phase of the Hittite empire can be associated with politically and socially indicated religious developments and with the urban transformation of Ḫattuša from an Anatolian city to the religious and political center of an ancient Near Eastern empire.

The so-called Great Temple and the monumental buildings in its vicinity are the most emblematic structures in the Hittite capital Ḫattuša. It is one of the best-preserved ensembles of monumental Hittite architecture, which stands par excellence for Hittite culture in Central Anatolia and is today visited by all visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The edifices were investigated in several stages between 1907 and 1969 so that the history of research into this extensive Bronze Age settlement is reflected in an exemplary way in the changing development of the excavations and their reappraisal. The differentiated presentation of all buildings creates, for the first time, a sound basis for including these buildings in modern research questions of archaeology as well as cultural and architectural history. The work results not only in changes in the evaluation of the spatial structures and their functions but especially in the solution to the question of when this ensemble was founded. The construction of these buildings already in the formative phase of the Hittite empire can be associated with politically and socially indicated religious developments and with the urban transformation of Ḫattuša from an Anatolian city to the religious and political center of an ancient Near Eastern empire.

The first novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future—to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save humankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire—both scientists and scholars—and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation. The Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are among the most influential in the history of science fiction, celebrated for their unique blend of breathtaking action, daring ideas, and extensive worldbuilding. In Foundation, Asimov has written a timely and timeless novel of the best—and worst—that lies in humanity, and the power of even a few courageous souls to shine a light in a universe of darkness.

Discover the pivotal political, military, and cultural events that have shaped British and Irish history - from the earliest Stone Age settlers to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. This edition includes over 700 photographs, maps, and artworks with accessible text. History of Britain and Ireland is a resource for families, students, and anyone seeking to learn more about the fascinating story of the UK and Ireland. In this book, you will find: Contemporary portraits and photographs, alongside important artefacts, maps, and documents that bring all of the defining episodes of British and Irish history to life Pages including information about the Celtic Tiger, Brexit, Covid, as well as the lives of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Chapters outlining the Stone Age, Medieval Britain, Tudors, and people and events that have shaped the history of Britain and Ireland. Spanning six distinct periods of British and Irish history, this book is the best way to discover how Britain was transformed under Norman rule, fought two world wars in the 20th century, and faced new economic challenges in the 21st century. Fully revised and updated, this guide places key figures - from Alfred the Great to Winston Churchill - and major events - from the Roman invasion to the Battle of Britain - in their wider context, making it easier to learn how they influenced Britain and Ireland's development through the age of empire and into the modern era.

Set against the convulsions of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Rung Ho! is an imperial adventure romance alive with intrigue, divided loyalties, and the charged atmospherics of frontier India. Mundy combines swift plotting and melodramatic suspense with a surprisingly attentive interest in codes of honor, caste, religious feeling, and political rumor. Written in the idiom of early twentieth-century popular fiction, the novel belongs to the tradition of Kiplingesque colonial romance while also revealing Mundy's own fascination with the moral ambiguities of empire. Talbot Mundy, born William Lancaster Gribbon in London in 1879, drew much of his imaginative authority from travel, imperial encounters, and a lifelong preoccupation with Asia. Before becoming a prolific adventure writer in America, he absorbed stories of British India, military discipline, occult speculation, and cross-cultural conflict. These experiences and interests helped shape Rung Ho! into more than a simple tale of rebellion: it reflects both the assumptions of its age and Mundy's emerging skepticism toward easy imperial certainties. Readers interested in historical adventure, colonial literature, or the evolution of popular fiction will find Rung Ho! rewarding. It should be read critically, but also with appreciation for its narrative energy, vivid setting, and revealing place in the literature of empire.

"The Age of Migration" ist ein umfassendes Sachbuch, das sich mit den komplexen Themen der Migration und ihrer Auswirkungen auf Gesellschaften weltweit auseinandersetzt. Verfasst von den renommierten Autoren Hein de Haas, Stephen Castles und Mark J. Miller, bietet das Buch eine tiefgehende Analyse der Migrationsströme, deren Ursachen und die Herausforderungen, die sich aus diesen Entwicklungen ergeben. Die Autoren kombinieren theoretische Perspektiven mit empirischen Daten, um ein besseres Verständnis für die Dynamiken der Migration zu schaffen. Das Werk ist sowohl für Fachleute als auch für interessierte Laien geeignet und trägt zur aktuellen Debatte über Migration und Integration bei. Es beleuchtet die sozialen, wirtschaftlichen und politischen Dimensionen der Migration und bietet wertvolle Einblicke in die globalen Trends und deren Auswirkungen auf die Gesellschaft.

Nikola Tesla was an inventor and a mechanical and electrical engineer. He is best known for his revolutionary developments in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An astonishing autobiography, this book touches on his life and career, his first inventions and discoveries. Born an ethnic Serb in the village of Smiljan, Vojna Krajina, in the territory of today's Croatia, he was a subject of the Austrian Empire by birth and later became an American citizen. After the invention of wireless communication (radio) in 1894, he was widely known as one of the greatest electrical engineers who worked in America. Tesla was later ostracized and regarded as a mad scientist. Never having put much focus on his finances, Tesla died impoverished at the age of 86.

Ivan IV the Terrible was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547, then Tsar of All the Russias until his death in 1584. He transformed Russia from a medieval state into an empire, though at immense cost to its people, and its broader, long-term economy. He was described as intelligent and devout, yet given to rages and prone to episodic outbreaks of mental instability that increased with his age. In one such outburst, he killed his son and heir Ivan Ivanovich, which left his younger son, pious but politically ineffectual, to inherit the throne. Discover the life and struggles of this influential ruler through this precise, clear and thorough presentation.

Discover the extraordinary story of the woman who brought China into the modern age, from the bestselling author of Wild Swans In this groundbreaking biography, Jung Chang vividly describes how Empress Dowager Cixi - the most important woman in Chinese history - brought a medieval empire into the modern age. Under her, the ancient country attained virtually all the attributes of a modern state and it was she who abolished gruesome punishments like 'death by a thousand cuts' and put an end to foot-binding. Jung Chang comprehensively overturns the conventional view of Cixi as a diehard conservative and cruel despot and also takes the reader into the depths of her splendid Summer Palace and the harem of Beijing's Forbidden City, where she lived surrounded by eunuchs - with one of whom she fell in love, with tragic consequences. Packed with drama, fast-paced and gripping, it is both a panoramic depiction of the birth of modern China and an intimate portrait of a woman: as the concubine to a monarch, as the absolute ruler of a third of the world's population, and as a unique stateswoman. 'Powerful' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Truly authoritative' New York Times 'Wonderful' Sunday Times **Shortlisted for the James Tait Black Biography Prize**

This book provides the first comprehensive history of Afro-Eurasia during the first millennium BCE and the beginning of the first millennium CE. The history of these 1300 plus years can be summed up in one word: connectivity. The growth in connectivity during this period was marked by increasing political, economic, and cultural interaction throughout the region, and the replacement of the numerous political and cultural entities by a handful of great empires at the end of the period. In the process, local cultural traditions were replaced by great traditions rooted in lingua francas and spread by formalized educational systems. This process began with the collapse of the Bronze Age empires in the east and west, widespread population movements, and almost chronic warfare throughout Afro-Eurasia, while the cavalry revolution transformed the nomads of the central Asian steppes into founders of tribal confederations assembled by charismatic leaders and covering huge territories. At the same time, new artistic and intellectual movements appeared, including the teachings of Socrates, Confucius, the Buddha, and Laozi. Increased literacy also allowed people from a wide range of social classes such as the Greek soldier Xenophon, the Indian Buddhist emperor Ashoka, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and elite women such as the poetess Sappho, the Christian martyr Perpetua, and the scholar Ban Zhao to create literary works. When the period ended in 300 CE, conditions had changed dramatically. Temperate Afro-Eurasia from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dominated by a handful of empires--Rome, Sassanid Persia, and Jin Empire-that ruled more than half the world's population, while an extensive network of trade routes bound them to Southeast and Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and made possible the spread of new book based religions including Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism, thereby setting the stage for the next millennium of Afro-Eurasian history.

This book provides the first comprehensive history of Afro-Eurasia during the first millennium BCE and the beginning of the first millennium CE. The history of these 1300 plus years can be summed up in one word: connectivity. The growth in connectivity during this period was marked by increasing political, economic, and cultural interaction throughout the region, and the replacement of the numerous political and cultural entities by a handful of great empires at the end of the period. In the process, local cultural traditions were replaced by great traditions rooted in lingua francas and spread by formalized educational systems. This process began with the collapse of the Bronze Age empires in the east and west, widespread population movements, and almost chronic warfare throughout Afro-Eurasia, while the cavalry revolution transformed the nomads of the central Asian steppes into founders of tribal confederations assembled by charismatic leaders and covering huge territories. At the same time, new artistic and intellectual movements appeared, including the teachings of Socrates, Confucius, the Buddha, and Laozi. Increased literacy also allowed people from a wide range of social classes such as the Greek soldier Xenophon, the Indian Buddhist emperor Ashoka, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and elite women such as the poetess Sappho, the Christian martyr Perpetua, and the scholar Ban Zhao to create literary works. When the period ended in 300 CE, conditions had changed dramatically. Temperate Afro-Eurasia from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dominated by a handful of empires--Rome, Sassanid Persia, and Jin Empire-that ruled more than half the world's population, while an extensive network of trade routes bound them to Southeast and Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa and made possible the spread of new book based religions including Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism, thereby setting the stage for the next millennium of Afro-Eurasian history.

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER THE EPIC NEW EAGLES OF THE EMPIRE NOVEL FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR SIMON SCARROW The city of Rome. The most dangerous place in the Empire. The fates of military heroes Macro and Cato lie in Emperor Nero's bloody hands . . . AD 62. Under the reckless and tumultuous leadership of Emperor Nero, Rome is descending into near-anarchy and conspiracy. The brutal execution of 400 slaves has led to rioting and discontent. Only the strongest soldier could maintain control. And so Nero turns to Prefect Cato to help save his reign from collapse. Cato has been lying low after a heroic campaign to quash the Boudica uprising. Now he is called upon to serve again. As the new Prefect of the Urban Cohorts in Rome, Cato needs a loyal and proven officer by his side. Centurion Macro is willing to step up. War and rebellion hold few fears for these seasoned veterans. But the politics and intrigue of Rome make every day as perilous as the battlefield. And the fates of both men, and of the empire, lie in the hands of the most volatile emperor of the age. Death awaits anyone who dares to defy Nero. Cato and Macro will need to call on all their experience, native cunning and bottomless courage to survive in this epic new adventure of Roman military heroism. NO ONE KNOWS ROME BETTER THAN SIMON SCARROW! Praise for the Eagles of the Empire novels: 'Scarrow's novels rank with the best' INDEPENDENT 'Always a joy' THE TIMES 'Gripping' SUNDAY EXPRESS Readers love Simon Scarrow's novels 'Exciting action scenes . . . a very enjoyable read' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A wonderful read and hard to stop once you start reading' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Everything you'd come to expect and much more. Action, drama, comedy and trauma!' ¿¿¿¿¿ NO. 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER SUNDAY 16TH NOV 2025

Set against the convulsions of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Rung Ho! is an imperial adventure romance alive with intrigue, divided loyalties, and the charged atmospherics of frontier India. Mundy combines swift plotting and melodramatic suspense with a surprisingly attentive interest in codes of honor, caste, religious feeling, and political rumor. Written in the idiom of early twentieth-century popular fiction, the novel belongs to the tradition of Kiplingesque colonial romance while also revealing Mundy's own fascination with the moral ambiguities of empire. Talbot Mundy, born William Lancaster Gribbon in London in 1879, drew much of his imaginative authority from travel, imperial encounters, and a lifelong preoccupation with Asia. Before becoming a prolific adventure writer in America, he absorbed stories of British India, military discipline, occult speculation, and cross-cultural conflict. These experiences and interests helped shape Rung Ho! into more than a simple tale of rebellion: it reflects both the assumptions of its age and Mundy's emerging skepticism toward easy imperial certainties. Readers interested in historical adventure, colonial literature, or the evolution of popular fiction will find Rung Ho! rewarding. It should be read critically, but also with appreciation for its narrative energy, vivid setting, and revealing place in the literature of empire.

The Diplomatists of Europe is a panoramic study of the statesmen who shaped modern European diplomacy in the age of revolution, empire, and restoration. Combining political biography with historical analysis, Capefigue examines the arts of negotiation, secrecy, balance of power, and dynastic calculation through figures such as Talleyrand, Metternich, and their contemporaries. Its style is elegant, judgmental, and distinctly nineteenth-century, situating diplomacy as both a practical craft and a theatre of intellect, ambition, and national destiny. M. Capefigue, the pen name of Jean-Baptiste-Honoré-Raymond Capefigue, was a prolific French historian and journalist deeply engaged with the political transformations of post-Napoleonic Europe. Writing from within a culture still haunted by the Revolution and the Empire, he brought to his subject a conservative fascination with order, legitimacy, and statecraft. His experience as a commentator on public affairs helps explain the book's sensitivity to the motives, compromises, and reputations of political actors. This volume is recommended to readers interested in diplomatic history, European political culture, and the personalities behind international settlements. It rewards those who enjoy historically informed portraiture and wish to understand how nineteenth-century Europe interpreted its own masters of negotiation.

The Diplomatists of Europe is a panoramic study of the statesmen who shaped modern European diplomacy in the age of revolution, empire, and restoration. Combining political biography with historical analysis, Capefigue examines the arts of negotiation, secrecy, balance of power, and dynastic calculation through figures such as Talleyrand, Metternich, and their contemporaries. Its style is elegant, judgmental, and distinctly nineteenth-century, situating diplomacy as both a practical craft and a theatre of intellect, ambition, and national destiny. M. Capefigue, the pen name of Jean-Baptiste-Honoré-Raymond Capefigue, was a prolific French historian and journalist deeply engaged with the political transformations of post-Napoleonic Europe. Writing from within a culture still haunted by the Revolution and the Empire, he brought to his subject a conservative fascination with order, legitimacy, and statecraft. His experience as a commentator on public affairs helps explain the book's sensitivity to the motives, compromises, and reputations of political actors. This volume is recommended to readers interested in diplomatic history, European political culture, and the personalities behind international settlements. It rewards those who enjoy historically informed portraiture and wish to understand how nineteenth-century Europe interpreted its own masters of negotiation.