World History Series

A fresh (and timely) look at what one diplomat dubbed ""a splendid little war,"" a triumph of yellow journalism and US imperialism. Writing in his usual lurid style (""Chunks of steel buzz-sawed through the air, slicing through anything that stood in their way""), Martin ably describes the harsh Spanish regimes in Cuba and the Philippines; the incidents, culminating in the (probably accidental) explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, which caused McKinley to dispatch his strong new navy and a hastily assembled army to war; and the course of both campaigns, The author misses none of war's ironies (in Cuba alone, 345 US soldiers died in combat, 5,462 of disease), but he also describes many instances of heroism, especially in the black units. He concludes with a detailed account of the Philippine Insurrection, ""the least-known of all our wars""--a bitter conflict he sees as having much in common with Vietnam. B&w photos not seen. Excellent notes; lengthy bibliography; index.

Describes the events surrounding the Maoist revolution in China.

Focuses on the often chaotic events and larger-than-life personalities of the fateful last republican century and discusses the power struggles which gave way to a dictatorship.

Discusses the role of sports in the ancient Greek and Roman world, covering the Olympics, the glories of physical achievement, spectacle sports, horse and chariot racing, and leisure sports.

This text presents a full history of the inquisition, beginning with St Dominic crossing the Pyrenees into Spain and the persecution of the villagers of South-West France that followed, right through to the holy index of forbidden books in the 20th century.

Discusses Japan's participation in World War II, including militaristic advances and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, its alliances, the use of the atomic bomb against it, and its defeat and surrender.

Discusses feudalism, the system of government based on ownership of land, as it was practiced in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Examines the efforts of Greeks and Romans to study and understand the underlying principles of nature and discusses their development of a more systematic approach to science.

An account of the rise and fall of the Persian Empire, based in part on archaeological findings of the twentieth century.

A historical overview of the Vikings, whose force and military strength combined with a strong interest in trade and commercial activity to bring them success through much of Europe during the Middle Ages.

Describes the politics, culture, religion, and society of Rome during the reign of the Emperor Augustus.

Discusses the history of the Assyrian Empire, including its early people, the rise of the Assyrian nation, its rebirth, the empire at its height, and the nation's collapse.

Examines the historical development of Greco-Roman mythology, its heroes, and its influence on the history of Western civilization.