From the origins of urbanization in Mesopotamia to the global metropolises of today, great cities have marked the development of human civilization. "The Great Cities in History" tells their stories, from Uruk and Memphis to Tokyo and Sao Paulo. A galaxy of distinguished contributors evoke the character of each place its people, its art and architecture, its government and explain the reasons for its success. Richly illustrated with photographs, paintings,...

"Anthony Pagden tells the story of the great empires of the West, from the days of Alexander the Great and Rome to the fall of Europe's colonial system after World War II." "Peoples and Empires explains how Europe's great colonial enterprises exploded across the world at the time and in the manner that they did, connects them in a mosaic of cause and effect, teases out their similarities and significant differences, and follows the waxing and waning...

"This fascinating book explores the culture and achievements of ancient China through the examination of artifacts that have survived through the centuries. Each primary-source artifact offers the reader significant clues to the civilization's technologies, cultural traditions, foods, and conflicts."--

"Egypt boasts some of the most spectacular ancient ruins in the world, scattered across the entire country. Over the past two centuries, archaeologists have unearthed the burials of some of Egypt's celebrated pharaohs, from the chambers deep within the famed pyramids at Giza to the tombs hidden away in the rocky hills of the Valley of the Kings. And yet, many of the most intriguing and notorious individuals remain unaccounted for. Where are Alexander...

The year is AD100 and Rome stands supreme and unconquerable, from the desert sands of Mesopotamia to the misty highlands of Caledonia. But the might of Rome rests entirely on the shoulders of the legionaries, who stand strong against the barbarian hordes, pushing back the frontiers of the empire. This book tells you how to get in and get on in the legions, the best places to serve, life in camp, on campaign and in battle, and such things as how to...

An illustrated comprehensive and accessible history of Ancient Greece explores the rise and fall of the Greek empire, its powerful legacy for the modern world, and new discoveries shedding light on ancient Greek civilization.

"The hints of an impending environmental crisis appeared as early as the 1570s, as winters grew colder and crops diminished. By the turn of the seventeenth century, the temperature had plummeted so drastically that Mediterranean harbors were covered with ice, birds were dropping frozen out of the sky, and enterprising Londoners erected semipermanent frost fairs on a frozen Thames--with bustling kiosks, taverns, and even brothels. Chronicling the dramatic...

"With a flair for fashion and a love of cats, the ancient Egyptians weren't so different from us except for the mummies and sarcophagi! This engaging book teaches readers about ancient Egyptian culture as they craft their way through history. Readers will love the diverse variety of activities drawing hieroglyphics in clay, designing their own jewelry, making animal mummies, and more! Easy-to-follow instructions and photographs make these fun projects...

The Earth our home is covered mostly with water: the wide, deep, salty, and very blue ocean. It regulates our climate in a way that makes life as we know it possible. This huge ocean is full of an amazing amount of life, most of which is too small to see. But life in the ocean is in trouble. The ocean is becoming hotter, more polluted, and, in places, empty of life. The right amount of warming is good for us, but too much warming is causing shifts...