This is the first comprehensive and up-to-date history of Byzantium to appear in almost sixty years, and the first ever to cover both the Byzantine... state and Byzantine society. It begins in A.D. 285, when the emperor Diocletian separated what became Byzantium from the western Roman Empire, and ends in 1461, when the last Byzantine outposts fell to the Ottoman Turks.Spanning twelve centuries and three continents, the Byzantine Empire linked the ancient and modern worlds, shaping and transmitting Greek, Roman, and Christian traditions—including the Greek classics, Roman law, and Christian theology—that remain vigorous today, not only in Eastern Europe and the Middle East but throughout Western civilization. Though in its politics Byzantium often resembled a third-world dictatorship, it has never yet been matched in maintaining a single state for so long, over a wide area inhabited by heterogeneous peoples.Drawing on a wealth of original sources and modern works, the author treats political and social developments as a single vivid story, told partly in detailed narrative and partly in essays that clarify long-term changes. He avoids stereotypes and rejects such old and new historical orthodoxies as the persistent weakness of the Byzantine economy and the pervasive importance of holy men in Late Antiquity.Without neglecting underlying social, cultural, and economic trends, the author shows the often crucial impact of nearly a hundred Byzantine emperors and empresses. What the emperor or empress did, or did not do, could rapidly confront ordinary Byzantines with economic ruin, new religious doctrines, or conquest by a foreign power. Much attention is paid to the complex life of the court and bureaucracy that has given us the adjective "byzantine." The major personalities include such famous names as Constantine, Justinian, Theodora, and Heraclius, along with lesser-known figures like Constans II, Irene, Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer, and Michael VIII Palaeologus.Byzantine civilization emerges as durable, creative, and realistic, overcoming repeated setbacks to remain prosperous almost to the end. With 221 illustrations and 18 maps that complement the text, A History of the Byzantine State and Society should long remain the standard history of Byzantium not just for students and scholars but for all readers.

Now in its fourth edition, A History of the Canadian Peoples continues to be a skilful condensation of the two-volume history by J.M. Bumsted. In a... single articulate volume, it covers the whole of Canadian history from pre-contact times to the present, integrating social, cultural, political, and economic history into a coherent overarching narrative. The fourth edition includes more material on multiculturalism, immigration, and racism, specifically to the post-1918 chapters, as well as material on women and work in the 21st century. Many new historical images have been added to support the already robust photo and image program engaging the reader and drawing them into each time period discussed. Engrossing, thorough, and timely, J.M. Bumsted's narrative provides a comprehensive picture of Canada then and now.

The second volume of A History of the Christian Tradition takes the reader through the momentous events of the post-Reformation Christian world to the... dawning of the ecumenical movement in the late 20th century. Beginning with an overview of Protestant Europe, this volume examines the missionary ventures in the 16th and 17th centuries, the establishment of churches in the New World, and the struggles between rationalism and faith during the Enlightenment and later. Notice is also given to developments in the Orthodox churches and the story of the Jews in Christian Europe. The history concludes with renewal movements, culminating in the Second Vatican Council and the pontificate of Pope John Paul II.

"Conceptually well organized, stylistically clear, intellectually thoughtful, and pedagogically useful." - Thomas Head, Speculum "For its humane and... learned approach to its enormous canvas, as well as for the cogency with which it penetrates at speed to the essentials of a vanished historical epoch, this History of the Church in the Middle Ages deserves a very wide audience indeed." - Barrie Dobson, English Historical Review "To have written a scholarly and very readable history of the Western Church over a millennium is a remarkable tour de force, for which Donald Logan is to be warmly congratulated." - C.H Lawrence, The Tablet "A feat of historical synthesis, most confident in its telling of the coming of Christianity. Books like Logan's are needed more than ever before." - Miri Rubin, TLS In this fascinating survey, F. Donald Logan introduces the reader to the Christian church, from the conversion of the Celtic and Germanic peoples to the discovery of the New World. He reveals how the church unified the people of Western Europe as they worshipped with the same ceremonies and used Latin as the language of civilized communication. From remote, rural parish to magnificent urban cathedral, A History of the Church in the Middle Ages explores the role of the church as a central element in determining a thousand years of history. This new edition brings the book right up to date with recent scholarship, and includes an expanded introduction exploring the interaction of other faiths - particularly Judaism and Islam - with the Christian church.

Thoroughly updated and revised, the second edition of this successful and widely praised textbook offers an account of the ‘classical’ period of... Greek history, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 BC to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.Two important new chapters have been added, covering life and culture in the classical Greek worldFeatures new pedagogical tools, including textboxes, and a comprehensive chronological table of the West, mainland Greece, and the AegeanEnlarged and additional maps and illustrative materialCovers the history of an important period, including: the flourishing of democracy in Athens; the Peloponnesian war, and the conquests of Alexander the GreatFocuses on the evidence for the period, and how the evidence is to be interpreted

Paddle from Enfield Rapids to Long Island Sound and travel down one of America's most famous waterways--the Connecticut River. Its calm waters conceal... an unruly past, where native tribes lost ground to Dutch and English colonists who vied for the river's immense economic power. The skyline of Hartford looms on the western shore, with the gold dome of the capitol as a remnant of this robust economy centered on world trade. Many have found a deep inspiration along the river, including Lady Fenwick, a local legend; David Bushnell, creator of the first American submarine; and even Albert Einstein, who contemplated the cosmos while relaxing on the riverbanks. Author Wick Griswold takes readers on a provocative journey as he traces the history of the Connecticut River.

A History of the Cuban Revolution presents a concise socio-historical account of the Cuban Revolution of 1959, an event that continues to spark debate... 50 years later.  Balances a comprehensive overview of the political and economic events of the revolution with a look at the revolution’s social impactProvides a lively, on-the-ground look at the lives of ordinary peopleFeatures both U.S. and Cuban perspectives to provide a complete and well-rounded look at the revolution and its repercussionsEncourages students to understand history through the viewpoint of individuals living itSelected as a 2011 Outstanding Academic Title by CHOICE

"[The Book of] Revelation has served as a "language arsenal" in a great many of the social, cultural, and political conflicts in Western history.... Again and again, Revelation has stirred some dangerous men and women to act out their own private apocalypses. Above all, the moral calculus of Revelation&#8212the demonization of one's enemies, the sanctification of revenge taking, and the notion that history must end in catastrophe&#8212can be detected in some of the worst atrocities and excesses of every age, including our own. For all of these reasons, the rest of us ignore the book of Revelation only at our impoverishment and, more to the point, at our own peril." The mysterious author of the Book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse, as the last book of the New Testament is also known) never considered that his sermon on the impending end times would last beyond his own life. In fact, he predicted that the destruction of the earth would be witnessed by his contemporaries. Yet Revelation not only outlived its creator; this vivid and violent revenge fantasy has played a significant role in the march of Western civilization. Ever since Revelation was first preached as the revealed word of Jesus Christ, it has haunted and inspired hearers and readers alike. The mark of the beast, the Antichrist, 666, the Whore of Babylon, Armageddon, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just a few of the images, phrases, and codes that have burned their way into the fabric of our culture. The questions raised go straight to the heart of the human fear of death and obsession with the afterlife. Will we, individually or collectively, ride off to glory, or will we drown in hellfire for all eternity? As those who best manipulate this dark vision learned, which side we fall on is often a matter of life or death. Honed into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars between states, religions, and citizenry, Revelation has significantly altered the course of history. Kirsch, whom the Washington Post calls "a fine storyteller with a flair for rendering ancient tales relevant and appealing to modern audiences," delivers a far-ranging, entertaining, and shocking history of this scandalous book, which was nearly cut from the New Testament. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Black Death, the Inquisition to the Protestant Reformation, the New World to the rise of the Religious Right, this chronicle of the use and abuse of the Book of Revelation tells the tale of the unfolding of history and the hopes, fears, dreams, and nightmares of all humanity.

A History of the English Bible as Literature (revised and condensed from the author's acclaimed History of the Bible as Literature CUP, 1993) explores... five hundred years of religious and literary ideas. At its heart is the story of how the King James Bible went from being mocked as English writing to being "unsurpassed in the entire range of literature." It studies the Bible translators, writers such as Milton and Bunyan who contributed so much to our sense of the Bible, and a fascinating range of critics and commentators.

"fix this mess" is a gorgeous book. the themes that run through it are singular while speaking to the universal. the language is precise and unique, the... content is intense and brave. you need this book. we all do.        danielle montgomery, author of "the woman you write poems about"

The history and development of English, from the earliest known writings to its status today as a dominant world language, is a subject of major... importance to linguists and historians. In this book, a team of international experts cover the entire recorded history of the English language, outlining its development over fifteen centuries. With an emphasis on more recent periods, every key stage in the history of the language is covered, with full accounts of standardisation, names, the distribution of English in Britain and North America, and its global spread. New historical surveys of the crucial aspects of the language are presented, and historical changes that have affected English are treated as a continuing process, helping to explain the shape of the language today. This complete and up-to-date history of English will be indispensable to all advanced students, scholars and teachers in this prominent field.

Praise for the fifth edition: 'The fifth edition of A History of the English Language will continue to be the standard reference work on the history of... English.' Peter Erdmann, Technische University, Berlin, Germany 'Baugh and Cable's classic is still an absolute must for everyone interested in the development of English in its socio-historical context. Revised and updated, this edition continues to provide an engagin biography of a living and dynamic language.' Ishtla Singh, Kings College, London, UK   A History of the English Language is a comprehensive exploration of the linguistic and cultural development of English, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Revised and updated, the fifth edition continues to provide students with a balanced and up-to-date overview of the subject. The new edition includes: A revised first chapter, 'English present and future' A new section on gender issues and linguistic change Updated material on African-American vernacular English. Albert C.Baugh was Schelling Memorial Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas Cable is Jane and Roland Blumberg Centennial Professor of English at the University of Texas at Austin.    

Comprehensive and balanced, this classic exploration of the history of the English language combines internal linguistic history and external... cultural history—from the Middle Ages to the present. Emphasis is on the political, social and cultural forces that affect language. Reflects the latest trends and statistics of the last ten years in a revised and updated chapter 1, English Present and Future. Provides a new section on Gender Issues and Linguistic Change in Chapter 10. Includes a thorough revision of Chapter 11, The English Language in America, including updated material on African American Vernacular English. Discusses Black English and varieties of English in Africa and Asia, as well as varieties in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Includes a map of American dialects. Provides examples of twentieth-century vocabulary. For multilingual readers or anyone who wishes to develop a well-rounded understanding of present-day English.