"A collection of short pieces by historian of myth and science, Adrienne Mayor, on a wide array of fascinating and fun classical myths and the reality which often lies behind them"-- "A treasury of astonishing mythic marvels-and the surprising truths behind them. Adrienne Mayor is renowned for exploring the borders of history, science, archaeology, anthropology, and popular knowledge to find historical realities and scientific insights-glimmering,...

Combines retellings of classic Greek tales with detailed illustrations in an introduction to mythology that is complemented by informative sidebars containing character profiles, historical insights, and cultural facts.

"In 1177 B.C., marauding groups known only as the "Sea Peoples" invaded Egypt. The pharaoh's army and navy managed to defeat them, but the victory so weakened Egypt that it soon slid into decline, as did most of the surrounding civilizations. After centuries of brilliance, the civilized world of the Bronze Age came to an abrupt and cataclysmic end. Kingdoms fell like dominoes over the course of just a few decades. No more Minoans or Mycenaeans. No...

Eric H. Cline is professor of classics and anthropology and director of the Capitol Archaeological Institute at George Washington University. An active archaeologist, he has excavated and surveyed in Greece, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. His many books include From Eden to Exile: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Bible and The Trojan War: A Very Short Introduction. Twitter @digkabri A bold reassessment of what caused the Late Bronze Age...

"Donald Ryan is a rare bird-a field archaeologist who can write with verve and immediacy. I heartily recommend his book to all Egyptology buffs." -Barbara Mertz ( a.k.a. Elizabeth Peters), author of Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs A real-life "Indiana Jones," Donald P. Ryan, Ph.D., offers a breathtaking personal account of his adventures in archaeology in Beneath the Sands of Egypt. Fans of The Lost City of Z will thrill to the exploits of this...

This fascinating book reveals how various civilizations, Greek gods, and Greek wars influenced Greek culture. The beautiful images, stunning facts, and supportive text work together to teach readers about Greek philosophy, the city-states of Greece, Athens, Sparta, Acropolis, Minoan civilization, and Plato. Readers will be captivated by the vibrant photos and engaging facts about such incredible Greek creations that are still in our world today, like...

Chinese culture has changed greatly over the years, but the Chinese people still celebrate the great changes in their culture and nation. This appealing book will teach readers about the incredible history of China, the Great Wall, and the various dynasties that ruled, including the Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, and Ming. Readers will also discover Chinese philosophies that are still practiced today, such as Confucianism and Taoism. The stunning photos,...

The ancient city of Mesopotamia was located in the Middle East and was made up of empires such as the Babylonian Empire, Assyrian Empire, Persian Empire, and Phoenician Empire. Readers will explore these incredible empires and discover how each made contributions and influenced the world as it exists today. The fascinating sidebars filled with captivating facts work in conjunction with the vibrant, alluring images to engage and excite readers as they...

The Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs were three groups of people found living in the ancient Americas, including the Andes Mountains and a city named Tenochtitlán. This intriguing book features details about these three incredible civilizations and explores how each of them fell when Spanish explorers found their settlements. Through detailed images and maps, captivating sidebars and facts, and an accessible glossary and index, readers will learn about leaders...

"The Greek myths are the founding narratives of Western civilization: to understand them is to know the origins of philosophy, literature, art, science, law, and more. Indeed, as Luc Ferry shows in this masterful book, they remain a great store of wisdom, as relevant to our lives today as ever before. No mere legends or clichés ("Herculean task," "Pandora's box," "Achilles heel," etc.), these classic stories offer profound and manifold lessons, providing...