A STUDY OF THE EARLY LITERATURES ON THE SILK ROAD是同作者《早期丝绸之路文献研究》一书的英文版，是作者对早期丝绸之路考证研究的专着。 《早期丝绸之路文献研究》对东方和西方的有关丝绸之路的古代文献资料进行了细致的考证、研究，求得不同语种文献的相互印证，从而确认古代东西交流的史实。全书分上卷、下卷、附卷三部分，对于《穆天子传》、《西域图记》、《历史》、《地理志》等中外古籍均有详实的考证和独到的比较研究。

From the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 the Second World War had only fourteen months to run. This final volume of the account covers events right up to the unconditional surrender of Japan. Churchill's six-volume history of World War II - the definitive work, remarkable both for its sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, universally acknowledged as a magnificent historical reconstruction and an enduring work of literature. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

A STUDY OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN WORLD IN ANCIENT TIMES是同作者《古代地中海和中国关系史研究》一书的英文版，是作者研究希腊、罗马世界和中国关系的文献资料的辑录和成果集结。 部分辑录和诠释中国史籍所载古代地中海世界及其与中国中原王朝关系的资料。第二部分讨论古代地中海世界与中国北方游牧诸族的关系。公元六世纪之前，中国中原王朝对地中海世界的了解非常模糊，传说盛行。大部分传说竟出诸中国人自己的想象。这表明当时中国人对地中海世界是多么向往！反过来，希腊、罗马史家对中国中原王朝的了解同样十分模糊。同一时期，地中海世界与中国北方游牧诸族之间关系却比较密切。所谓草原之路至迟在公元前7世纪已经形成，商人、使者的往来，尤其是部落的迁徙，不仅加深了彼此的了解，也架起了沟通东西文明的桥梁。游牧诸族没

One of the most dramatic and shameful episodes in World War IIwas the doomed Warsaw uprising of 1944—an uprising that failedbe cause the Allies betrayed it. Now that story comes to its fullterrible life in this gripping account by the bestselling historianNorman Davies.

The drive to victory between June 1943 and July 1944, as the Allies consolidate their achievements, with enormous difficulty and great divergence of opinion. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Herodotus (c480-c425) is 'The Father of History' and his Histories are the first piece of Western historical writing. They are also the most entertaining. Why did Pheidippides run the 26 miles and 385 yards (or 42.195 kilometres) from Marathon to Athens? And what did he do when he got there? Was the Battle of Salamis fought between sausage-sellers? Which is the oldest language in the world? Why did Leonidas and his 300 Spartans spend the morning before the battle of Thermopylae combing their hair? Why did every Babylonian woman have to sit in the Temple of Aphrodite until a man threw a coin into her lap, and how long was she likely to sit there? And what is the best way to kill a crocodile? This wide-ranging history provides the answers to all these fascinating questions as well as providing many fascinating insights into the Ancient World.

In 2001, Greece saw its application for membership into theEurozone accepted, and the country sat down to the greatest freelunch in economic history. However, the coming years of globaleconomic prosperity would lead to unrestrained spending, cheapborrowing, and a failure to implement financial reform, leaving thecountry massively exposed to a financial crisis—which dulystruck. In Bust: Greece, the Euro, and the Sovereign Debt Crisis,Bloomberg columnist Matthew Lynn explores Greece's spectacular riseand fall from grace and the global repercussions of its financialdisaster. Page by page, he provides a thrilling account of theGreek financial crisis, drawing out its origins, how it escalated,and its implications for a fragile global economy. Along the way,Lynn looks at how the Greek contagion has spread like wildfirethroughout Europe and explores how government ineptitude as well asfinancial speculators compounded the problem. Blending financial history, politics, and current affairs, Lynnski

This celebration of the English countryside does not only focus on the rolling green landscapes and magnificent monuments that set England apart from the rest of the world. Many of the contributors bring their own special touch, presenting a refreshingly eclectic variety of personal icons, from pub signs to seaside piers, from cattle grids to canal boats, and from village cricket to nimbies. First published as a lavish colour coffeetable book, this new expanded paperback edition has double the original number of contributions from many celebrities including Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, Eric Clapton, Bryan Ferry, Sebastian Faulks, Kate Adie, Kevin Spacey, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Richard Mabey , Simon Jenkins, John Sergeant, Benjamin Zephaniah, Joan Bakewell, Antony Beevor, Libby Purves, Jonathan Dimbleby, and many more: and a new preface by HRH Prince Charles.

The story of Captain D. Michael Abrashoff and his command of USS Benfold has become legendary inside and outside the Navy. Now Abrashoff offers this fascinating tale of top-down change for anyone trying to navigate today's uncertain business seas. When Captain Abrashoff took over as commander of USS Benfold, a ship armed with every cutting-edge system available, it was like a business that had all the latest technology but only some of the productivity. Knowing that responsibility for improving performance rested with him, he realized he had to improve his own leadership skills before he could improve his ship. Within months he created a crew of confident and inspired problem-solvers eager to take the initiative and take responsibility for their actions. The slogan on board became "It's your ship," and Benfold was soon recognized far and wide as a model of naval efficiency. How did Abrashoff do it? Against the backdrop of today's United States Navy-Benfold was a key player in our Persian Gulf fleet-Abrashoff

Engaging and challenging, this extensively revised key text of current historiography confronts the 'histories' that exist and have existed around the world, from the Zulu kingdoms to Communist China. Marc Ferro is remarkable in writing history enjoyed both by scholars and by people curious about the world in which they live and its past. He has explored everything from high politics to popular culture. His interests have taken him across narrow national boundaries and won him enthusiastic readers in many lands.' - Natalie Zemon Davis 'Part of the necessary function of history is that, in advancing understanding of the past, it challenges and deflates myths, while at the same time explaining their origins and significance. This is conclusively demonstrated in Marc Ferro's study of the way in which history is taught around the world.' - Arthur Marwick, author of The New Nature of History 'The Use and Abuse of History has the singular effect of bringing into focus a dimension of historical awareness which

Only two guests were invited to what was arguably the most elegant, sumptuous, and important dinner party that Thomas Jefferson ever hosted. Each course was prepared and laid out in advance so that no servants would enter the dining room to disrupt conversation and overhear random remarks, which they might later repeat to others. Privacy was imperative. Jefferson believed that the very future of the United States of America depended on convincing Alexander Hamilton to agree to a compromise he and Madison were proposing on two surging issues that threatened to tear the young republic apart. Plying his guests with fine wine and exquisite cuisine that only a former ambassador to France could provide, Jefferson set the stage for a compromise that enabled the federal government to pay its debts, both domestic and foreign, and make the American dollar "as good as gold." In Dinner at Mr. Jefferson's, you'll discover the little-known story behind this pivotal evening in American history, complete with w

As first lord of the admiralty and minister for war and air, Churchill stood resolute at the center of international affairs. In this classic account, he dramatically details how the tides of despair and triumph flowed and ebbed as the political and military leaders of the time navigated the dangerous currents of world conflict. Churchill vividly recounts the major campaigns that shaped the war: the furious attacks of the Marne, the naval maneuvers off Jutland, Verdun's "soul-stirring frenzy," and the surprising victory of Chemins des Dames. Here, too, he re-creates the dawn of modern warfare: the buzz of airplanes overhead, trench combat, artillery thunder, and the threat of chemical warfare. In Churchill's inimitable voice we hear how "the war to end all wars" instead gave birth to every war that would follow, including the current war in Iraq. Written with unprecedented flair and knowledge of the events, The World Crisis remains the single greatest history of World War I, essential reading for

Harry Potter lives in a world that is both magical andhistorical. Hogwarts pupils ride an old-fashioned steam train toschool, notes are taken on parchment with quill pens, and Mugglelegends come to life in the form of werewolves, witches, andmagical spells. This book is the first to explore the real historyin which Harry's world is rooted. Did you know that bezoars and mandrakes were fashionableluxury items for centuries? Find out how Europeans first developedthe potions, spells, and charms taught at Hogwarts, from AvadaKedavra to love charms. Learn how the European prosecution ofwitches led to the Statute of Secrecy, meet the real NicholasFlamel, see how the Malfoys stack up against Muggle Englisharistocrats, and compare the history of the wizarding world toreal-life history. ?Gives you the historical backdrop to Harry Potter'sworld ?Covers topics ranging from how real British boardingschools compare to Hogwarts to how parchment, quills, and scrollsused in the wizarding world were made

From Solon to Socrates is a magisterial narrativeintroduction to what is generally regarded as the most importantperiod of Greek history. Stressing the unity of Greek history andthe centrality of Athens, Victor Ehrenberg covers a rich anddiverse range of political, economic, military and cultural issuesin the Greek world, from the early history of the Greeks, includingearly Sparta and the wars with Persia, to the ascendancy of Athensand the Peloponnesian War.

A History of Development of Tibet is a book of great academicvalue, as it traces the course of development of the TibetAutonomous Region and gives an insight into the basic conditions inTibet today. With seven chapters, this book introduces the formation of thenatural environment of Tibet, the origin of the Tibet ethnic group,the multi-ethnic development of Tibet, the close relations betweenTibet and the Central Plains in Chinese history, the powerfulinfluence of the culture of the Central Plains on Tibet's politics,economy, culture and religion, the formation of the various schoolsof Tibetan Buddhism and the unification of the government andreligion in Tibet, the merging of Tibet into China in the YuanDynasty, the administration of Tibet under the Ming and Qingdynasties, and the Republic of China, the Tibetan people's heroicstruggle against imperialism and feudalism, peaceful liberation anddemocratic reform, the realization of ethnic regional autonomy, andthe building of socialism in Tibet. With

Straddling a small corner of Spain and France in a land thatis marked on no maps except their own, the Basques are a puzzlingcontradiction-they are Europe's oldest nation without ever havingbeen a country. No one has ever been able to determine theirorigins, and even the Basques' language, Euskera-the most ancientin Europe-is related to none other on earth. For centuries, theirinfluence has been felt in nearly every realm, from religion tosports to commerce. Even today, the Basques are enjoying what maybe the most important cultural renaissance in their longexistence. Mark Kurlansky's passion for the Basque people and his exuberanteye for detail shine throughout this fascinating book. Like Cod,The Basque History of the World blends human stories with economic,political, literary, and culinary history into a rich and heroictale. Among the Basques' greatest accomplishments: ? Exploration-the first man to circumnavigate the globe, JuanSebastián de Elcano, was a Basque and the Basques we

The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 was the turning point in the struggle against Communism in Eastern Europe. The culmination of popular uprisings in Hungary, Poland, and East Germany, the Wall's fall led inexorably to revolutions in Czechoslovakia and Romania, the reunification of Germany, and, ultimately, the disintegration of the Soviet Union itself. Now, America's senior conservative pundit explains how and why the Cold War ended as it did-and what lessons we can draw from the experience. Writing with his usual perspicacity and wit, William F. Buckley, Jr. brings to life Communism's last gasp, showing how Reagan's hard-nosed foreign policy and Gorbachev's reforms undermined Warsaw Pact dictators, emboldened dissidents, and finally made the dream of freedom a reality in Eastern Europe. Sure to delight conservatives, annoy liberals, and enlighten everyone who reads it, The Fall of the Berlin Wall is William F. Buckley, Jr. at his inimitable best. William F. Buckley, Jr. (New York, NY, and Stam

From the Gracchi to Nero is an outstanding history ofthe Roman world from 133 BC to 68 AD. Fifty years since publicationit is widely hailed as the classic survey of the period, goingthrough many revised and updated editions until H.H. Scullard’sdeath. It explores the decline and fall of the Roman Republic andthe establishment of the Pax Romana under the early Principate. Insuperbly clear style, Scullard brings vividly to life Gracchi’sattempts at reform, the rise and fall of Marius and Sulla, Pompeyand Caesar, society and culture in the late Roman Republic, theAugustan Principate, Tiberius and Gaius, Claudius and Nero, andeconomic and social life in the early Empire.

Menzies makes the fascinating argument that the Chinese discovered the Americas a full 70 years before Columbus. Not only did the Chinese discover America first, but they also, according to the author, established a number of subsequently lost colonies in the Caribbean. Furthermore, he asserts that the Chinese circumnavigated the globe, desalinated water, and perfected the art of cartography. In fact, he believes that most of the renowned European explorers actually sailed with maps charted by the Chinese. Though most historical records were destroyed during centuries of turmoil in the Far East, he manages to cobble together some feasible evidence supporting his controversial conclusions. Sure to cause a stir among historians, this questionable tale of adventure on the high seas will be hotly debated in academic circles. Margaret Flanagan

The text of this edition is based on the Wessex Edition of 1912, which was revised and corrected by the author. It has been collated with the Mellstock Edition of 1920, for which Hardy submitted final corrections. "Backgrounds and Contexts" provides new and invaluable source material on Victorian Dorset and, in particular, Dorchester, Hardy’s native home and the town upon which Casterbridge is based. Included are six of Hardy’s nonfiction writings, notably excerpts from his essay "The Dorsetshire Laboure" (1883), in which he frankly comments on the social changes he has witnessed in the county. Hardy’s Wessex is further examined in an essay by Michael Millgate, by maps of Casterbridge and Wessex, and by a key to local place names. Christine Winfield discusses the novel’s manu* and its complicated history. "Criticism" collects seventeen wide-ranging assessments of the novel-six new to the Second Edition-from both contemporary and modern critics, including Virginia Woolf, Albert J. Guerard,

Bill Bryson is one of the world’s most beloved and bestselling writers. In A Short History of Nearly Everything, he takes his ultimate journey–into the most intriguing and consequential questions that science seeks to answer. It’s a dazzling quest, the intellectual odyssey of a lifetime, as this insatiably curious writer attempts to understand everything that has transpired from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. Or, as the author puts it, “…how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something, and then how a little of that something turned into us, and also what happened in between and since.” This is, in short, a tall order. To that end, Bill Bryson apprenticed himself to a host of the world’s most profound scientific minds, living and dead. His challenge is to take subjects like geology, chemisty, paleontology, astronomy, and particle physics and see if there isn’t some way to render them comprehensible to people, like himself, made bored (or scared) stiff of sc

The third planet from the sun is mankind's home - but how well do you know it? Its molten core, for instance, is hotter than the surface of the sun. Now, TIME presents an unrivaled portrait of Planet Earth: its violent history, its vast oceans, its constantly changing geology, its life-sheltering atmosphere, its fascinating life forms, and its imperiled climate. TIME joins scientists in the field, visits with indigenous people and consults with experts to report on the biggest story of this year and every year: Planet Earth. And we visit the Earth's extremes: the longest rivers, tallest mountains and driest deserts on the planet. This beautifully illustrated volume, featuring the work of award-winning photographers, presents a portrait of our wondrous planet--and of all the beings that call it home--that is revelatory, awe-inspiring and essential.

This longanticipated Norton Critical Edition represents an extensive revision of its predecessor, On Liberty, edited by the late David Spitz. Alan Ryan's provocative introduction lays out the central issues debated by John Stuart Mill's many interpreters; in addition, it assesses Mill's historical significance and provides a brief account of his life. In recent years, scholars have increasingly focused on the connection between On Liberty and Mill's other writings. This Norton Critical Edition brings together three major essays that illustrate Mill's liberal political philosophy over the course of his life: "The Spirit of the Age" (1831), On Liberty (1859), and The Subjection of Women (1869). Related excerpts from John Stuart Mill's Autobiography (1873, published posthumously) are also included. Each text is accompanied by explanatory annotations. "Commentary" collects seven major assessments of MiII's writings. The contemporary perspectives of R. H. Hutton and James Fitzjames Stephen and the more r