A concise history of France from prehistory to the present, recounting the great events and personalities and exploring France's cultural and political influence today.

Artists, martyrs, kings, revolutionaries: France's sense of national identity is inextricably linked to its dramatic history, which fascinates the world and attracts millions each year to visit its chateaux and cathedrals, boulevards and vineyards. Ancient roots allied to a social, political and military history that has witnessed revolution, conflict and occupation mean that France holds a unique position in the modern world. In this short, easy-to-digest history of a vast subject, Jeremy Black succinctly narrates how France's past has created its distinct character.

Country and destination, nation and idea, France has an incomparable cultural legacy, and exerts a powerful artistic, intellectual and political influence across the globe. Black's vivid take on history emphasizes the unexpected nature of events and unpredictable outcomes on a fragmented country, from the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux to the origins of Gothic architecture, from Monet and Degas to the Lumiere brothers, and from the cataclysm of the 1789 Revolution through the countercultural student protests of 1968 to today's gilets jaunes. Black's concise, insightful tour of the key historical moments and vibrant personalities that shaped France provides an indispensable guide to understanding the country today. Lire la suite Fermer

Une histoire concise et en anglais de Paris, de ses grands événements et personnalités, de la préhistoire à nos jours, qui ont façonné son héritage culturel unique.

An accessible historical exploration of the methods and motivations behind using magic in ancient Greece and Rome.

In the ancient world, magic was everywhere. The supernatural abounded, turning flowers into fruit and caterpillars into butterflies. In a time before scientists studied weather patterns and figured out what caused the Earth's most mysterious phenomena, it was magic that packed a cloud full of energy until it exploded with thunderbolts. It was everyday magic, but it was still magical.

In Ancient Magic, author Philip Matyszak ushers readers into that world, showing how ancient Greeks and Romans concocted love potions and cast curses, how they talked to the dead and protected themselves from evil spirits. He takes readers to a world where gods interacted with humans and where people could not only talk to spirits and deities, but could themselves become divine.

Ancient Magic presents us with a new understanding of the role of magic, combining a classical historiography with a practical how-to guide. Using a wide array of sources and lavish illustrations, this book offers an engaging and accessible way into the supernatural for all. Lire la suite Fermer

A compelling and vivid narrative history of one of the founding civilizations of the modern world, the Byzantine empire, evocatively told through the lives of its 92 emperors.

The Byzantine empire was one of the most successful states of the Middle Ages, ruling over a huge terrain straddling Europe and western Asia for an unrivalled eleven hundred years. Yet its history remains largely unfamiliar. This chronicle brings this majestic yet turbulent period to life through the lives of its emperors: supreme military commander, Head of State and God's representative on earth, no less.

These were the men and women that presided over many of the foundations of the modern world, from the establishment of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith, to the magnificent artistic heritage of Hagia Sophia and Mount Athos, and the creation of a visual template for Christian art.

Each illustrated biographical entry contributes to the story of how Byzantium shaped our art, culture, religious beliefs and justice systems, and the role this extraordinary empire played in halting repeated invasions, allowing the idea of 'Europe' to flourish. Through stories of nobility and petty revenge, of religious devotion and brutal genocide, and of sexual intrigue and artistic brilliance; from soaring intellectuals to illiterate peasants, eunuchs and despots, this is a humanizing portrayal of individuals, whose role impacted the lives of millions. Lire la suite Fermer

The essential guide to the world of Aztec mythology, based on Nahuatl-language sources that challenge the colonial history passed down to us by the Spanish.

From their remote origins as migrating tribes to their rise as builders of empire, the Aztecs were among the most dynamic and feared peoples of ancient Mexico, with a belief system that was one of the most complex and vital in the ancient world. Historian Camilla Townsend returns to the original tales, told at the fireside by generations of Indigenous Nahuatl speakers. Along the way, she deals with human sacrifice, the raising of great temples, and the troubling legacy of the Spanish conquest.

Few cultures are generally understood to have been so controlled by their religion as the Aztecs, and few religions are envisioned as being as violent and celebratory of death as theirs. In this introduction to the Aztec myths, Townsend draws from sixteenth-century historical annals and songs written down by Nahuatl-speaking peoples, now known as the Aztecs, in their own language to counter this narrative, inherited from the conquering Spaniards. In doing so, she reveals a rich tapestry of mythic tradition that defies modern expectations.

Townsend retells stories ranging from the creation of the world, revealing the Aztec cosmological vision of nature and the divine, to legends of the Aztecs' own past that show how they understood the foundation of their state and the course of their wars. She considers the impact of colonial contact on the myths and demonstrates that Indigenous engagement with the new cultural customs introduced by the Europeans never entirely uprooted old ways of thinking. Lire la suite Fermer

An in-depth exploration of the myths and legends of early Rome, highlighting the enigmatic origins of the Romans and how the first seeds of this vast empire were sown.

"I sing of arms and the man" wrote Vergil at the start of the Aeneid, one of Rome's most iconic origin stories as it explores the tumultuous journey of Aeneas from Trojan prince to Roman hero. But did Aeneas actually flee from Troy? How did this story affect the Romans' perspective of themselves? And did they believe it?

An essential guide for the discerning time-traveller: take a trip to ancient Egypt at the height of its power and prosperity in the reign of Ramesses II.

More reliable than Herodotus and more upbeat than The Book of the Dead, this popular book in Thames & Hudson's successful Time Travel series takes the reader to Ancient Egypt in the time of Ramesses II (1250BC).

Egyptologist Donald Ryan guides the time-travelling tourist on a journey up the Nile, and en route he offers useful advice on everything from deciphering hieroglyphics to mummifying household pets. So leave the protective amulets at home and banish all fear of being sold as a galley slave - this imaginative guide is all you need to survive and enjoy your visit to Egypt in its golden age. Lire la suite Fermer

Entertaining and provocative, this book from an expert on Scotland's cultural heritage reveals the lost history of an ancient, proud nation.

While Scotland's history cannot be separated from its kings and queens, saints, and warriors, there is a rich story to tell about the country's lesser-known places, people, and events. This colorful history of Scotland from award-winning writer Alistair Moffat chooses episodes, half-forgotten or misunderstood, that have been submerged by the wash of history. Bringing these stories to light and to life, this entertaining book reveals the richness and complexity of this nation on the northwest edge of Europe.

Moffat takes us from the geological formation of the land that makes up Scotland to the first evidence of human habitation and then up to modern times. In the process our discoveries include: the cave of headless children; the origins of the Scottish kings and the real heroes of Scottish independence; the invention of tartan and the romance of the Highlands; Scotland's answer to Shakespeare; the many US presidents with Scottish heritage, and other fascinating tales brought to life by Joe McLaren's attractive woodcut-style illustrations. Even the most knowledgeable history buff will experience a sense of newfound knowledge and appreciation for this unique country, its history, and its people. Lire la suite Fermer

An authoritative survey of Angkor and the Khmer civilization which incorporates revelations from new discoveries in the past decade that are rewriting history.

The ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia has fascinated scholars and visitors alike since its rediscovery in the mid-nineteenth century. All are wonderstruck by the beauty and multiplicity of the sculptures that adorn its temples and structures and are overwhelmed by the sheer size of Angkor.

Drancy ou le travail d'oubli William Betsch Traduit de l'anglais par Gilles
Berton Parution : 11 mars 2010 Une enquête photographique et historique sur le
Drancy d'hier et d'aujourd'hui par celui grâce à qui la Cité de la Muette fut
classée sur la liste des monuments et des sites protégés en 2001. Il y a des
lieux qui connaissent une destinée singulière et tragique - la Cité de la
Muette à Drancy est de ceux-là. Conçu par les architectes modernistes Beaudouin
et Lods dans les années 1930 sur le modèle des cités-jardins, cet ensemble de
logements sociaux se voulait utopique. La crise économique et politique en
France devait très vite en décider autrement. En effet, la Cité de la Muette
fut transformée en caserne pour la gendarmerie et en prison dès avant la
guerre. Lorsque l'occupant nazi s'en empara, il s'agissait déjà d'un lieu
d'internement ; sous son commandement, il devint un camp de concentration
depuis lequel des dizaines de milliers de personnes, dont plus de 67 000 Juifs,
furent déportés vers les camps de la mort, principalement à Auschwitz-Birkenau,
via la gare du Bourget puis, dès la mi-1943, celle de Bobigny. Dans les caves
de la Cité qui étaient autrefois les cachots du camp, le photographe William
Betsch a retrouvé de nombreuses inscriptions datant de cette sombre époque -
noms, dates, portraits, prières : traces émouvantes d'une vie inscrite in
extremis par des hommes et des femmes dont il tente de découvrir l'histoire et
le destin, traces qui côtoient celles laissées peu après par les collaborateurs
internés dans ce même lieu. Les murs de Drancy forment un vertigineux
palimpseste. La découverte de ces inscriptions décida Betsch à enquêter sur ce
lieu. A travers un texte richement documenté, il analyse les faits qui ont
participé à plonger en partie Drancy dans l'oubli. Il nous livre ainsi les
fruits de sa recherche concernant non seulement la genèse de la Cité de la
Muette, son changement de vocation, son fonctionnement sous commandement nazi,
mais aussi l'énigmatique discordance des récits portant sur le creusement d'un
tunnel d'évasion découvert par les SS peu avant son achèvement, discordance qui
amène Betsch à s'interroger sur le rôle joué par le commandant allemand du
camp, Aloïs Brunner, dans ce projet d'évasion. Aux images des sous-sols,
l'auteur oppose celles d'un Drancy en surface. Ses photographies d'appartements
et de commerces dans la Cité ainsi que de rues voisines portent d'innombrables
signes d'une mémoire qui chercherait, avec une troublante insistance, à
s'imposer. Au travers des nombreuses interrogations qu'il soulève, William
Betsch révèle les points d'ombre qui demeurent à Drancy et nous incite à
comprendre pour ne pas oublier. William Betsch est né en 1945 aux États-Unis.
Il vit et travaille en France depuis 30 ans. Parmi ses autres ouvrages, on peut
citer The Hakima, publié par Aperture, et Le Bain : Cité du sang (avec Carole
Naggar), aux éditions Pierre Fanlac. ``Le travail du photographe américain
William Betsch, qui a retrouvé dans les caves ayant servi de cachots de
multiples inscriptions, est à l'origine de [la] procédure de classement [de la
Cité de la Muette] : ni les organisations de la communauté juive, ni celles des
survivants de la déportation ne l'avaient jamais réclamée.'' Annette Wieviorka,
L'Histoire n° 257, septembre 2001 Volume broché 22,5 x 22,5 cm - 240 pages 196
illustrations ISBN : 978-2-87811-330-3 ?

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Etat par état, allant de la Guerre de Sécession à la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, ce livre abondamment illustré dresse l'histoire de la criminalité aux Etats-Unis. En s'appuyant sur la presse et les archives de la police, il raconte les enquêtes criminelles les plus marquantes et fait le point sur les avancées de la police scientifique de l'époque.

This new survey provides the most up-to-date and authoritative account available of the ascendancy of the Incas, their politics, economics, religion, architecture, art and technology.

Richly illustrated and written by leading experts, The Incas is the ideal introduction for the tourist, armchair traveller or student.

The Incas built one of the largest empires of the ancient world. The sheer scale makes their achievement truly remarkable. At its zenith it extended northwards from the Inca capital Cusco along the Andes to embrace parts of modern Peru and Ecuador, and southwards into Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Uniquely, the authors look in detail at Cusco and at the four parts of the empire, following the vast road system to explore not just famous sites such as Machu Picchu, but all the major regional settlements.

This vivid portrait shows how the Incas ruled some peoples directly but allowed others to maintain their traditional leaders with little interference. The concluding chapter is devoted to the end of the empire: the arrival of the Spaniards, the assassination of the Inca ruler Atawallpa, and the final years of the rebellious, neo-Inca state in the tropical forest of Vilcabamba.
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La Vallée du Nil a accueilli pendant plus de 3000 ans l'une des plus grandes
civilisations de l'Antiquité, celle de l'Egypte ancienne. Cet ouvrage nous
présente dans l'ordre chronologique l'ensemble de ses souverains, de Narmer,
qui le premier unifia le pays des Deux Rives, à Cléopâtre, dernière reine
d'Egypte. Chacun des pharaons fait l'objet d'une notice biographique comportant
la synthèse des connaissances à son sujet : sa vie, les événements qui ont
marqué son règne, ses principaux faits militaires ou encore les monuments dont
il a commandé l'édification et qui constituent aujourd'hui de précieux
témoignages de cette époque fascinante. Ainsi prend forme, dans sa continuité
et sa diversité, l'une des grandes civilisation du monde antique. Cet ouvrage,
abondamment illustré par de superbes photographies, cartes et plans, constitue
une excellente approche des grandes périodes de l'histoire des pharaons et de
la civilisation égyptienne. Il s'agit d'un outil de référence indispensable
pour tous les passionnés de l'Egypte ancienne. Egyptologue, archéologue et
numismate, peter a. clayton est membre honoraire de l'Institut d'archéologie de
l'université de Londres. Il est l'auteur de nombreux articles et ouvrages sur
l'Egypte ancienne. - De Narmer à Cléopâtre, les biographies des 190 pharaons
connus - Une frise chronologique permettant d'évaluer, page après page, la
longueur des règnes et le développement des dynasties - Des fiches
signalétiques rappelant les informations clés concernant : titulature royale,
emplacement de la sépulture, relation dynastique - Des arbres généalogiques et
des encadrés sur les grands faits marquants

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A survey of, and companion to, all things connected with the Arthurian legend. The author has examined archaeological evidence and medieval texts, and provides quotes from contemporary sources, a timeline, numerous sidebars and special features on key figures and events

Présentation du livre De l'accession au pouvoir d'Auguste en 27 av. J.-C. à la chute de Rome sous Romulus Augustule en 476 après J.-C., en passant par les règnes de Caligula, Néron, Trajan, Hadrien, Marc Aurèle, Caracalla ou encore Constantin, l'Empire romain exerça sur le monde une domination sans partage.
Durant ces cinq siècles se succédèrent plus de 80 empereurs dont le présent ouvrage dresse un portrait détaillé : conditions d'accession au trône, événements principaux du règne, campagnes militaires, monuments édifiés, oeuvre culturelle mais aussi querelles dynastiques, intrigues familiales et rumeurs avérées ou fantaisistes sur ces personnalités hautes en couleurs accusées des pires turpitudes ou dotées de destins hors du commun par les historiens de l'époque.
Cette histoire de Rome à travers la vie et l'oeuvre de ses empereurs s'appuie sur une riche documentation littéraire, historique et iconographique, et constitue un outil de référence indispensable pour tous les passionnés de la Rome antique.
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