"A narrative account of how water has shaped human society from the ancient past to the present"--Provided by publisher.

"From the end of the Baroque era and the death of Bach to the rise of Hitler, Germany was transformed from a poor relation among Western nations into a dominant intellectual and cultural force. By 1933, Germans had won more Nobel Prizes than the British and Americans combined. Yet this remarkable genius was cut down in its prime by Adolf Hitler and his disastrous Third Reich--a brutal legacy that has overshadowed the nation's achievements ever since....

Descendiente de una familia de origen hispánico, Marco Aurelio nació en Roma el año 121 de nuestra era y, tras ser adoptado por Antonio Pío, lo sucedió como emperador, ocupando el cargo desde el año 161 hasta su muerte en 180. Su reinado estuvo marcado por las numerosas y dilatadas guerras que mantuvo contra los pueblos que habitaban en los límites del Imperio. Sin embargo, su devoción por las letras fue notoria y Marco Aurelio dedicó muchas...

Crete was inhabited by Neolithic cave dwellers around 7000 BC. Aside from their wood, stone, and bone tools, they also wore simple cloth, and their clothing was made from wood, stone, and bone. There is a good chance they came from Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, or North Africa. Bull cults may have provided a clue to their origins in Neolithic Anatolia.Development was almost imperceptibly slow through migrations, influences, or internal dynamics over...

How did marriage, considered a religious duty in medieval Europe, become a venue for personal fulfillment in contemporary America? How did the notion of romantic love, a novelty in the Middle Ages, become a prerequisite for marriage today? And, if the original purpose of marriage was procreation, what exactly is the purpose of marriage for women now? Combining "a scholar's rigor and a storyteller's craft"(San Jose Mercury News), distinguished cultural...

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Greek mythology as we unravel the essence of these mythical creatures. Humanoid Monsters, Serpentine Creatures, Partially Human, Monstrous Animals, Ghosts and Daemons, and Other Creatures are the several categories used to describe the creatures that enrich Greek mythology and traditions from the other side of beauty and perfection. From the enchanting seductive charm of the Medusa to the formidable strength...

In this hugely ambitious and stimulating book, Peter Watson describes the history of ideas, from deep antiquity to the present day, leading to a new way of understanding our world and ourselves. The narrative begins nearly two million years ago with the invention of hand-axes and explores how some of our most cherished notions might have originated before humans had language. Then, in a broad sweep, the book moves forward to consider not the battles...

Readers will discover the rich history of the written language, printing, books, the alphabet, and the library. The written word is essential to modern civilization. The invention of the printing press was a major advance in the history of language, making possible the mass production of books and dissemination of knowledge.

Ever since men first hunted for honeycomb in rocks and daubed pictures of it on cave walls, the honeybee has been seen as one of the wonders of nature: social, industrious, beautiful, terrifying. No other creature has inspired in humans an identification so passionate, persistent, or fantastical. The Hive recounts the astonishing tale of all the weird and wonderful things that humans believed about bees and their "society" over the ages. It ranges...

Five Cities that Ruled the World examines how and why a handful of cities--Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York--emerged in their respective times of influence to dominate the world stage, directing wealth and power, influencing faith and belief, commanding fear and allegiance, provoking wars and conquests, and shaping the world we live in today. --from publisher description.