"A History of Europe is a masterful narrative, bringing together the continent's common threads of history from the end of the ice ages until the present day.
Leading historian Professor Jeremy Black takes a journey through the vast sweep of European history, examining events as diverse as the rise of the Roman Empire, the brutal Viking raids, the cultural explosion of the Renaissance period, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the rise of consumer culture in the 21st century.
These varied strands are bought together in a clear and concise narrative, perfect for anyone wanting a comprehensive look at Europe's fascinating and complex past."
"In this masterful account, Jeremy Black explores the key themes that have shaped the history of the modern world since 1950. Eschewing a simple political narrative, he instead explores the roles of the environment, demographics, the economy and technology in driving change in the world.
The story begins in 1950, by which time a new world order had come into place, with Communism firmly established in Russia, Eastern Europe and China, decolonisation well underway in the old European empires, and the American monopoly on nuclear weaponry at an end, setting the stage for the Cold War.
Over the course of the next 75 years, the world changed immeasurably - the population nearly tripled; climate change became ever more pronounced; new liberal values regarding gender, sexuality and age took hold; television and then the internet became the primary drivers of culture; and a new frontier of exploration opened up in space. At the same time tensions continued in politics, with alternative models of democracy and authoritarianism coming into fierce conflict and a range of new countries emerging through decolonization.
Ranging widely across the globe, A History of the World sheds new light on this fascinating era."
"From one of the world's leading historians comes an ambitious and sweeping history of the world in the 20th century. Ranging from the world wars to the traumas of decolonization and the technological triumphs of the space race, A History of the 20th Century documents the events, the characters, the ideologies, the cultural transformations and the dramatic politics of these turbulent times.
Jeremy Black examines subjects as diverse as the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, the Cold War, the Iranian Revolution and the birth of the internet in a compelling narrative. Keen to highlight the role of demographics, the environment, culture and technology as well as the better-known tales of political rivalries, he brings a new perspective to this most important subject."
"Criss-crossing the globe from the prehistoric era to the modern day, Professor Jeremy Black takes you on a whirlwind tour of our past, leaving no stone unturned as he brings to life the fascinating story of civilisation. A History of the World includes everything you need to know about human history, from the development of empires in Mesopotamia to the first steps into space. This incredible illustrated volume forms an essential reference guide for modern-day amateur historians."
"Through the enduring eye of Sherlock Holmes, noted historian Jeremy Black traces how Holmes and his milieu evolved in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books and how Holmes continues to resonate today. Black explores the context of Doyle's ideas and stories and why they struck such a chord with readers in London, and ultimately the world. He portrays a complex man with eclectic interests, from soccer to spiritualism, from cricket to divorce law reform. Standing twice for Parliament, Doyle was a committed meritocrat whose political experiences and values were expressed through his writings. Reading the Holmes stories through the lens of Doyle's multifaceted career, Black throws fresh light on the values expressed in them and how Holmes would have been perceived at the time. He traces the imperial strand in the Holmes stories and Doyle's treatment of America and Europe.
Drawing on a masterful knowledge both of Doyle's era and his writings, this entertaining and wide-ranging book uses the Holmes stories to bring Victorian England to vibrant life, a world where crimes large and small abound and where dark corners and well-lit drawing rooms alike hide villainy. Holmes was a hero and an inspiration for many a character who redefined the idea of detection and the detective, a private man of great public importance. Here is his story."
"A global account of military strategy, which examines the practices, rather than the theories, of the most significant military figures of the past 400 years.
Strategy has existed as long as there has been organized conflict. In this new account, Jeremy Black explores the ever-changing relationship between purpose, force, implementation, and effectiveness in military strategy and its dramatic impact on the development of the global power system.
Taking a 'total' view of strategy, Black looks at leading powers—notably the United States, China, Britain, and Russia—in the wider context of their competition and their domestic and international strengths. Ranging from France's Ancien Regime and Britain's empire building to present day conflicts in the Middle East, Black devotes particular attention to the strategic practice and decisions of the Kangxi Emperor, Clausewitz, Napoleon, and Hitler."
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