Showing results for "Empires" in Science & Engineering

Viruses are the world's most abundant life form, and now, when humanity is in the midst of a close encounter with their immense power, perhaps the most feared. But do we understand viruses? Possibly the most enigmatic of living things, they are sometimes not considered a life form at all...

Discover the fascinating narrative of the early Roman Empire through the eyes of William Wolfe Capes (1834-1914), an Anglican cleric, classicist, and historian. This engaging chronicle spans from the tumultuous aftermath of Julius Caesars assassination in 44 B.C.E. to the downfall of the tyrant Domitian in 96 C.E. Capes masterfully explores the reigns of infamous emperors like Caligula and Nero, while also delving into the broader aspects of Roman life, including citizenship, provincial existence, trade, religion, frontiers, and military might. (Pamela Nagami)

Interweaving a grand historical narrative with cutting-edge climate science and genetic discoveries, Kyle Harper traces how the fate of Rome was decided not just by emperors, soldiers, and barbarians but also by volcanic eruptions, solar cycles, climate instability, and devastating viruses and bacteria. He takes listeners from Rome's pinnacle in the second century, when the empire seemed an invincible superpower, to its unraveling by the seventh century, when Rome was politically fragmented and materially depleted.

Scientists, journalists, and politicians increasingly tell us that human impacts on climate constitute the single greatest threat facing our planet and may even bring about the extinction of our species. Yet behind these anxieties lies an older, much deeper fear about the power that climate exerts over us. The Empire of Climate traces the history of this idea and its pervasive influence over how we interpret world events and make sense of the human condition, from the rise and fall of ancient civilizations to the afflictions of the modern psyche.

Dive into the tumultuous world of the Athenian Empire, as British historian George W. Cox explores its brief yet impactful existence over just two generations. This confederation of Greek city-states, led by Athens, sought to present a united front against the looming threat of the Persian Empire. However, internal conflicts between democratic and oligarchic factions, along with a complex web of alliances, ultimately led to the devastating and drawn-out Peloponnesian War. In this engaging narrative, Cox vividly recounts the key battles on land and sea, and brings to life the intriguing figures...

"The Global Empire" has correctly been described as Bard & Söderqvist's philosophically most profound work. In this book, they explore what a world view is, how it is constructed, how it is defended under pressure from surrounding technological change, and how it finally implodes and must be replaced at the tipping point that is called a paradigm shift. The authors then move ahead and construct a new credible world view for the internet age.

Starting with hands, abacus, and slide rule, humans have always reached for tools to simplify math. Pocket-sized calculators ushered in modern mathematics, helped build the atomic bomb, took us to the bottom of the ocean, and accompanied us to the moon. The pocket calculator changed our world, until it was supplanted by more modern devices that, in a cruel twist of irony, it helped to create. Keith Houston transports listeners from the nascent economies of the ancient world to World War II, and into the technological arms race that led to the first affordable electronic pocket calculators.

Before there were mammals on land, there were dinosaurs. And before there were fish in the sea, there were cephalopods - the ancestors of modern squid and Earth's first truly substantial animals. Cephalopods became the first creatures to rise from the seafloor, essentially inventing the act of swimming. With dozens of tentacles and formidable shells, they presided over an undersea empire for millions of years. But when fish evolved jaws, the ocean's former top predator became its most delicious snack. Cephalopods had to step up their game.

Perpetually covered in ice and snow, the mountainous Antarctic Peninsula stretches southward toward the South Pole where it merges with the largest and coldest mass of ice anywhere on the planet. Yet far from being an otherworldly "Pole Apart", the region has the most contested political history of any part of the Antarctic Continent. In Frozen Empires, Adrian Howkins argues that there has been a fundamental continuity in the ways in which imperial powers have used the environment to support their political claims in the Antarctic Peninsula region.

When the Smithsonian’s Hall of Physical Anthropology opened in 1965 it featured 160 Andean skulls affixed to a wall to visualize how the world’s human population had exploded since the birth of Christ. Through a history of Inca mummies, a preHispanic surgery called trepanation, and Andean crania like these, Empires of the Dead explains how “ancient Peruvians” became the single largest population in the Smithsonian and many other museums in Peru, the Americas, and beyond.

Published to coincide with the centenary of the first expeditions to reach the South Pole, An Empire of Ice presents a fascinating new take on Antarctic exploration. Retold with added information, it's the first book to place the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social, and geopolitical context.

Discover how the Kingdom of Macedonia, under the visionary leadership of Philip II (382-336 BC), rose to dominate ancient Greece through a mix of shrewd diplomacy and military prowess. Philip revolutionized the classical Greek phalanx by integrating soldiers armed with the formidable 6-meter spear known as the sarissa, creating an infantry that remained unmatched until the rise of the Roman legions. After Philips tragic assassination, his son, Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), ascended to the throne and embarked on an extraordinary journey, establishing an empire that stretched from Greece to ...

Most stories of medical progress come with ready-made heroes. John Snow traced the origins of London's 1854 cholera outbreak to a water pump, leading to the birth of epidemiology. Florence Nightingale's contributions to the care of soldiers in the Crimean War transformed hospitals from crucibles of infection to sanctuaries of recuperation. Yet histories of individual innovators ignore many key sources of medical knowledge.

FOREWORD In the popular imagination, Empress Josephine wears a halo of goodness, making her biographers task particularly challenging. The disdain many hold for Napoleon is often linked to the perceived cruelty he showed towards the woman who stood by him for fourteen years. This biography seeks not to judge but to paint a vivid portrait of Josephine as she truly was, allowing readers to form their own opinions about her character. Join Walter Geer and Celine Major in exploring this complex figure of history.

Explore the fascinating history of Russia, spanning from 500 B.C. to 1855 A.D., as narrated by John Stevens Cabot Abbott, brother of the renowned Jacob Abbott. This captivating summary by Jean Bascom brings to life the rich tapestry of Russian history.

The story of the world's most audacious infrastructure project. Less than a decade ago, China did not have a single high-speed train in service. Today, it owns a network of 14,000 miles of high-speed rail, far more than the rest of the world combined. Now, China is pushing its tracks into...

Dive into the captivating world of the Roman Empire with J. B. Burys insightful writings. This engaging narrative spans from the establishment of the Empire under Augustus to the reign of Marcus Aurelius and the Antonine Emperors, bridging the gap to Gibbons monumental work. Perfect for both history enthusiasts and casual readers alike. (Summary by kmerline)

Explore the captivating history of the Roman Empire through the insightful writings of J. B. Bury. This engaging work spans from the empires foundation to the reign of Marcus Aurelius, covering significant figures like Augustus and the Antonine Emperors. Burys scholarly yet approachable style makes this essential reading for both history enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. (Summary by kmerline)

Dive into Volume V of Edward Gibbons monumental work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a cornerstone of 18th-century literature. This volume explores the intricate dynamics of the Roman Empire following the reign of Marcus Aurelius, spanning from 180 to 1453 and even extending to 1590. Gibbon meticulously examines the behaviors and decisions that precipitated the decline and ultimate fall of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. Often regarded as the first modern historian of ancient Rome, Gibbons objective narrative and rigorous use of references set a standard ...

Step into the captivating world of the Roman Empire with Edward Gibbons monumental work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. First published in 1776, this landmark achievement of 18th-century literature spans six volumes, exploring the intricate events that led to the rise and eventual fall of one of historys greatest empires. Volume I covers the period following the reign of Marcus Aurelius, delving into the significant decisions and behaviors that precipitated the decline of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, concluding with reflections that reach as far as 1590...