In this fast-paced, enlightening guide, Sharon M. Kaye takes us on a whistle-stop tour of medieval philosophy, revealing the debt it owes to Aristotle and Plato, and its legacy to philosophy today. Wi
When the Bolsheviks seized power in 1917, the world held its breath. Here suddenly was the first modern socialist state, ?a kingdom more bright that any heaven had to offer.” But the dream was short-l
Munch’s The Scream. Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Rodin’s The Thinker. Monet’s Water Lilies. Constable’s landscapes. The 19th century gave us a wealth of artistic riches so memorable in their genius that w
A king beheaded. A monarchy abolished. And a commoner leading a republic by military rule set in their place. The wars that tore through the country in the mid-seventeenth century - splitting governme
An updated edition of this best-selling introduction to the conflict. With coverage of all the recent events, the new edition of this best-selling book gives a thorough and accessible account of the
With over two billion adherents worldwide, Christianity is the world’s largest religion. However, with a multitude of denominations, and a huge variety of opinions on many of its central tenets, it ca
Should we aim to maximize happiness? Are there characteristics that we should foster within ourselves? Why is it important to act morally? From the ancient Greeks to Sartre, from utilitarianism to the
Why do birds have regional accents? Can horses learn math? What do animals without eyes see? Questions such as these have fascinated scientists and animal lovers alike long before ethology ? the study
Ever since the ancient Greeks conceived of the atom, humans have sought the smallest ingredients of our existence. In the past century, the use of reductionism to understand behavior has gained steam
In this illuminating tour of humanity, Joy Hendry and Simon Underdown reveal the origins of our species, and the fabric of human society, through the discipline of anthropology. Via fascinating case s
No other political entity has shaped the modern world like the Roman Empire. Encompassing close to a quarter of the world's population and 3 million km2 of land, it represented a diverse and dynamic c
This definitive guide includes a unique chapter-by-chapter playlist for the reader. Jazz: A Beginner's Guide is a lively and highly accessible introduction to a global musical phenomenon. Award-winnin
Highlighting the influence of Homer, the father of Western literature, throughout history, this introduction for new readers of the great poet celebrates the complexity of his two epic poems—The Iliad
This unrivalled resource for understanding the current situation in the Middle East reveals the true face of this troubled country, discussing major political events and key figures and shedding new l
The New Testament writings are the foundational documents of early Christianity. But to fully understand them we need a broad historical awareness of the wider social, economic, political and religiou
Markets, models, mechanisms and monopolies... most of us understand that economics is important, but what exactly is it - and what do economists do?In this fresh and engaging introduction, Oxford Univ
In the wake of the phenomenal success of crime shows like CSI, forensic science has never been so popular. The obsessive attention that Grissom and his crew afford seemingly insignificant details, suc
The Victorian period is crucial to any understanding of modern Britain, yet it is frequently understood only through the crude stereotypes of emotional repression, factories, child labour and the purs
From infallible Imams to Ayatollahs in Iran, Shi'ism has long been a prominent, if misunderstood, branch of Islam. It regards Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law, as the Prophet's legitimate successor. But the
