Path of Empire reveals how U.S. imperial projects in Panama were integral to developments in California and the larger process of U.S. continental expansion, offering a model for the new transnational history.

In a revision of his doctoral dissertation for the University of Southern California, Tsygankov (international relations and political science, San Francisco State U.) analyzes the foreign economic policies of successor states of the Soviet Union besides Russia. He finds that some have looked toward Russia and others away, and that the determining factor is the strength of the national identity of the new states. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"Pathways" is a collection of Quintus Curtius’s very best short essays from 2015. Speaking in an original and compelling voice, these essays cover an amazing variety of subjects in history, philosophy, current events, ethics, biography, physical health, travel, and language. "Pathways" offers a rich trove of wisdom gained from harrowing experience, a powerful impression of an expansive worldview, and a timeless inspiration in the turbulent journey of life. With notes, topical organization, and index. Quintus Curtius is a trial attorney, traveler, translator, and former Marine officer. He can be found at www.qcurtius.com.

In the wake of 9/11, policy analysts, journalists, and academics have tried to make sense of the rise of militant Islam, particularly its role as a motivating and legitimating force for violence against the United States. The general perception is that Islam is more violence-prone than other religions and that scripture and beliefs within the faith, such as the doctrines of jihad and martyrdom, demonstrate the inherently violent nature of Islam. Here, however, Heather Selma Gregg draws comparisons across religious traditions to investigate common causes of religious violence. The author sets side-by-side examples of current and historic Islamic violence with similar acts by Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu adherents. Based on her findings, Gregg challenges the assumption that religious violence stems from a faithÆs scriptures. Instead, Gregg argues that religious violence is the result of interpretations of a religionÆs beliefs and scriptures. Interpretations calling for violence in the name of a faith are the product of individuals, but it is important to understand the conditions under which these violent interpretations of a religion occur. These conditions must be considered by identifying who is interpreting the religion and by what authority; the social, political, and economic circumstances surrounding these violent interpretations; and the believability of these interpretations by members of religious communities.

This book is a history of human views and ideas and their related motives and consequences, from pre-history and early civilization through Judaic, Greek, and Christian heritages, and all the way up to humanistic and modern perspectives. It draws from many sources in the humanities, including anthropology, history of religion, theology, philosophy, history, and cultural studies. It is addressed to an audience of readers who have an interest in the history of ideas, including students or thinkers of any kind who are interested in the existential issues that have occupied hearts and minds since the beginning of humanity. For the purpose of storytelling, the present is placed in a future timeframe, when the current historical period of modernity will have reached its probable conclusion. Seen from this contrafactual perspective, a historical narrative can weave together what would otherwise have been random changes and give meaning to the unfolding of history. It is a story that leads to a possible future in which, with the benefit of hindsight, people can understand the errors of the past and chart a course towards the peaceful flourishing of humanity.

John McGuckin, a world-renowned expert on ancient Christianity, has synthesized a lifetime of work to produce the most comprehensive and accessible history of the first millennium of the Christian church. This readable account explores the history in chronological order and then examines the same period thematically, looking at issues like women, war, and the Bible.

How hard would you fight for freedom? A crumbling Empire A struggling fight for freedom A powerful new faction bent on ruling the galaxy Entire star systems laid waste by the ravages of war The Empire may be in its death throes, but it still has plenty of fight left. Danny and his free clone army remain in a desperate fight for survival against the evil Zeta Corp, and its legions of enslaved combat clones. Can they prevail against the overwhelming odds pitted against them? Or will their cause perish in infancy, a mere footnote in the long history of the Terran Empire? Find out in The Tortuous Path, Fall of the Terran Empire Book 2.

The essential guidebook to walking the 135km (84 mile) Hadrian's Wall Path. One of the UK's most visited National Trails, it runs the length of the Roman Wall from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend, Newcastle. The trail is presented here in 10 stages, with suggestions for five and eight-day itineraries. It is suitable for beginners, although a reasonable level of fitness is required if doing it as a multi-day walk. The route is described both west to east and east to west, and the guidebook also features an extension through Newcastle to South Shields on the east coast. This guidebook contains a wealth of information on the history of the Wall, and a range of practical information for walkers, from accommodation and itinerary planning, to details on public transport and refreshments. A separate map booklet of 1:25,000 scale OS maps shows the full route. Clear step-by-step route descriptions in the guide are illustrated by 1:100,000 OS map extracts. The route description links together with the map booklet at each stage along the way, and the compact format is conveniently sized for slipping into a jacket pocket or the top of a rucksack.

The Scarab Path is the fifth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Ancient powers are waking . . . The war with the Wasp Empire has ended in a bitter stalemate, and Collegium has nothing to show for it but wounded veterans. Cheerwell Maker finds herself broken in ways no doctor can mend, haunted by ghosts of the past. Meanwhile, the powerful Wasp Empress is regaining control over those imperial cities that refused to bow to her. But she draws her power from something more sinister than armies and war machines. Only her consort, the former spymaster Thalric, knows the truth. As assassins seek to end him, he finds his life and his loyalties under threat once again. And in an ancient city beyond the desert, a terrible secret stirs beneath its stones. The Scarab Path is followed by the sixth book in the Shadows of the Apt series, The Sea Watch.