The author of Sparta: Rise of a Warrior Nation continues his revealing history of the Ancient Greek city-state in this chronicle of its decline and defeat. Universally admired in 479 BC, the Spartans became masters of the Greek world by 402 BC, only for their state to collapse in the next generation. What went wrong? Was the fall of Sparta inevitable? In Sparta: Fall of a Warrior Nation, Philip Matyszak examines the political blunders and failures of leadership which combined with unresolved social issues to bring down the nation—even as its warriors remained invincible on the battlefield. The Spartans believed their society was above the changes sweeping their world. And by resisting change, they were doomed to be overwhelmed by it. But the Spartans refused to accept total defeat, and for many years their city exercised influence far beyond its size and population. This is a chronicle of political failure—one rich in heroes, villains, epic battles and political skullduggery. But it is also a lesson in how to go down fighting. Even with the Roman legions set to overwhelm their city, the Spartans never gave up

Covering Sparta's full classical history, The Bronze Lie examines the myth of Spartan warrior supremacy. The last stand at Thermopylae made the Spartans legends in their own time, famous for their toughness, stoicism and martial prowess – but was this reputation earned? This book paints a very different picture of Spartan warfare – punctuated by frequent and heavy losses. We also discover a society dedicated to militarism not in service to Greek unity or to the Spartan state itself, but as a desperate measure intended to keep its massive population of helots (a near-slave underclass) in line. What successes there were, such as in the Peloponnesian Wars, gave Sparta only a brief period of hegemony over Greece. Today, there is no greater testament to this than the relative position of modern Sparta and its famous rival Athens. The Bronze Lie explores the Spartans' arms and armor, tactics and strategy, the personalities of commanders and the common soldiery alike. It looks at the major battles, with a special focus on previously under-publicized Spartan reverses that have been left largely unexamined. The result is a refreshingly honest and accurate account of Spartan warfare.

During the course of a day we meet 24 ancient Athenians from all levels of society - from the slave-girl to the councilman, the fish-seller to the naval commander, the housewife to the hoplite - and get to know what the real Athens was like by spending an hour in their company.

A fictional character is created as an example, and he is meant to demonstrate a man that runs away from his calling only to find that his chief purpose in life was to fulfill his calling, serving the Maker and trusting Him always. An immortal from 480 BC is resurrected by the Creator after an arrow pierces his heart. His job is to fight against the Prince of the Air and the principalities disguised as the mythological gods, the shadow forces, portrayers of light, and criminals. This historical fiction travels through 480 BC to 800 AD. His powers are not his own, for they are gifted from the Creator, and they will be dulled if he refuses or turns away, yet the Creator knows that he is going to make the right decision all along. Sparticus meets many, including Leonidas, Alcibiades, heroes, Alexander the Great, Spartacus, and Julius Caesar. During this compelling story, he loses his wife, his children are scattered, and his nation is torn apart. Afterward, he runs from his mission for so long that he finally decides that there is no running from a deity that created him, the world, and the entire universe. Escaping an omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent being proves to be impossible! Hence, a turning point was the capture in Rome where he witnessed much and had seen one event that illuminated his mind; thus, he submits to the grand authority to take up the cost and faces off with his predetermined path around 800 AD taking on his first villain. At the end of the day, this is a Christian hero dealing with adult issues. An imperfect man is saved by that same omnipotent deity undergoing a process where he struggles with his own selfishness before fully accepting the cost of the "Great Commission."

Xerxes, the Great King of Persia invades Greece in 480 B.C. at the head of a massive army. Three hundred Spartans and King Leonidas die heroically blocking the Persian advance at the pass of Thermopylae. The Persians are poised to conquer all of Greece. The only one standing in their way is a woman – Gorgo, Queen of Sparta. Though history has relegated her role to that of a bystander, what if she played a central role in the Greek resistance to the Persian invasion. What if she kept her true role a secret in order to play it more effectively? What if she was hiding other secrets too – dark secrets of murder and vengeance? What if the only person who truly appreciated her genius was an enemy prisoner whom she has vowed to kill? What if after their victory, the Greeks started to turn on each other? What if, eventually, Gorgo had to choose between the security of Sparta and safety of her son? And what if the only one who could find a way out is the same prisoner who had once fought against the Spartans?

“One of the best books about the ancient world I’ve ever read. . . . lively and informative.” —Toy Solder & Model Figure For a period of some 200 years, Sparta was acknowledged throughout the Greek world as the home of the finest soldiers—Xenophon called them “the only true craftsmen in matters of war.” In this book, Nic Fields explains the reasons for this superiority, how their reputation for invincibility was earned (and deliberately manipulated), and how it was ultimately shattered. The Spartan Way examines how Spartan society, through its rigid laws and brutal educational system, was thoroughly militarized and devoted to producing warriors suited to the intense demands of hoplite warfare—professional killers inculcated with the values of unwavering obedience and a willingness to fight and die for their city. The role of Spartan women, as mothers and wives, in shaping the warrior ethic is considered, as are the role of uniform and rigorous training in enhancing the small-unit cohesion within the phalanx and the psychological intimidation of the enemy. The final chapters chart the course of Sparta’s successes through the period of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, through the Corinthian and Theban wars of the fourth century BC, which culminated with the shattering military defeats at Leuctra and 2nd Mantinea, and the years of her decline with the Spartans as a source of mercenaries for the wars of other states. Includes maps

Europe is in turmoil, barbarians march freely across Rome's once protected borders. In retaliation, the mighty Empire uses the one weapon that has worked effectively for centuries, raw brutality. A lone mercenary named Luchief and a handful of loyal allies try to unlock the shackles of oppression by devising a plan to do the impossible, sack the impenetrable city of Rome itself. Under constant threat of being crushed by advancing Legions of Emperor Arcadius's best Roman soldiers. They rush to assemble an army of mercenaries and militia to defend two newly seceded cities in an attempt to start a world wide rebellion agaisnt the Republic. In such a dangerous time and willing to sacrifice everything for freedom, they turn to the formidable enemies of the Roman Empire for aid; the Goths and the Saxons.

The rise of China will profoundly change the world, and the rest of us now have a chance to understand how and why this is happening, or continue to moralise about this “disaster”, thought to harm our way of life. What is especially galling is that the Chinese appear better able to create wealth and value than the West. Even in the midst of political denunciations, more and more businesses are profitably engaging China. We have to face the fact that China excels at what we are supposed to admire, the peaceful creation of wealth. It even withstands the current pandemic several hundred times more successfully than we have. The answers to China’s success lie not in “communism” but in Chinese civilization and culture which is 22 centuries old and extends to most of East Asia, and has traded peacefully since Roman times. This is a book about measured business cultures, East and West, and explains, using largely Western scholarship, why China is winning and will continue to do so unless and until we wake up.

This one-of-a-kind history book for children shows where, when, why and how history happened through stunning 3D graphics and maps, perfect for visual learners. Learn history in a new and captivating way! This atlas for children gives a completely unique view to history. Children can visualize the history of the world with a brand-new geographical perspective not easily learned in school. Sail the seas with the first Vikings and live among the first farmers, learning about how they worked and evolved from the earliest recorded times on Earth to present day. Beautiful illustrations, 3D graphics, clear annotations, and fun facts bring history to life and display in glorious detail how it fits into the world at large. Each of these specially commissioned 3D maps charts a key global event. Follow the migration of the earliest humans, the spread of the Black Death, or lose yourself in the European, African, and Pacific theaters of World War II. Whether your child is a visual learner or history buff, this educational book is perfect for any student of history, serving as an epic quest through our shared past and a birds-eye view of the history of life on Earth. Travel Through Time - Discover Our Shared History! This incredible fact book is filled to the brim with fun facts about the world greatly complimented by more than 60 highly detailed maps exploring how our world has changed throughout time. It's easy to spend hours poring over every detail, with beautiful illustrations and informative content making history fun and easy (well, easier) to understand in the context of different events, different places and different dates. It dives into the history of continents across the globe in impressive detail and can be read for short or longer bursts. While it follows a logical order of civilization, you can easily skip around with no loss of interest or comprehension. Dive into this kid's atlas to learn about the medieval and modern world, the 20th and 21st centuries including: -The Vikings, China's golden age and Castles -The age of exploration, the French Revolution and Slavery -World War I and II, Moon landings, and the Internet It is the perfect kid's educational book for school projects or simply getting to know why the world is the way it is and how it got to be that way. When on Earth? forms part of the Where on Earth? series including Where on Earth? Atlas - The World As You've Never Seen It Before and Where on Earth? - The Ultimate Atlas of What's Where in the World.

A journey through over 2000 years of culinary history and the final repasts of famous figures—with recipes included. Part historical narrative and part grilling guide and cookbook, Andrew Caldwell’s Their Last Suppers guides history buffs and gourmands alike through gastronomically inspired biographical accounts of more than twenty legendary personalities. Recipes are included (though the author has decided to skip the pork blood beverages drunk by the Spartans). Unearthing recipes as far back as 323 B.C., Caldwell, aka the History Chef, provides insight into two thousand years of culinary lore. Each historical figure’s profile includes a brief description of pursuits and accomplishments as well as little-known anecdotes, popular foods of his or her time period, recipes for the figure’s actual last meal, and cooking tips. Because the kitchens of Montezuma, Caesar, and other notables profiled within the book were often very basic, Caldwell brings their fare into modern kitchens, although he strongly believes that, whenever possible, grills and open fires should be used for most dishes and therefore provides specific preparation tips throughout. From the Titanic’s twelve-course tasting menu to personal recipes for Princess Diana’s Favorite Watercress Soup, Elvis Presley’s Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich, Julius Caesar’s Ambrosia, Cleopatra’s Hummus, and Stone Crab a la Kennedy, historians and foodies alike will relish the trivia and tastings paired within this unique and entertaining book.