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When scholars study the history of the ancient Near East, several wars that had extremely brutal consequences (at least by modern standards) often stand out. Forced removal of entire populations, sieges that decimated entire cities, and wanton destruction of property were all tactics used by the various peoples of the ancient Near East against each other, but the Assyrians were the first people to make war a science. When the Assyrians are mentioned, images of war and brutality are among the first that come to mind, despite the fact that their culture prospered for nearly 2,000 years.

King Philip VI was the first French King of the famous House Valois, and he inherited France at the height of its power. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t remain that way for long. His fierce rivalry with King Edward of England destabilized the region, threw France into turmoil, and launched one of Europe's most infamous wars: The Hundred Years’ War. Originally born into minor nobility, Philip was never considered to one day be king. The life journey of Philip VI, the first king of House Valois, is a truly fascinating story filled with unsuspecting inheritance.

When England’s King Edward IV fell ill at Easter 1483 after coming back from a fishing trip and died shortly after on April 9, it threw a country that had already suffered a series of wars into a state of chaos. What exactly killed him is unclear, and though some people would later speculate that he had been poisoned, there is every reason to believe that he died of natural causes. Disease was common in medieval England, and doctors lacked much of the medical knowledge now taken for granted. 

Throughout the history of warfare, the practice of placing blame on innocent parties in order to justify attacking them has been a constant feature. In the 20th century, this practice began to be commonly referred to as a “false flag” operation. The essence of a false flag scenario is that it is conducted by one party or government and “made to appear as though another party sponsored it". 

On January 25, 1787, in Springfield, Massachusetts, militia Major General William Shepard ordered his cannon to fire grapeshot at a peaceful demonstration of 1,200 farmers approaching the federal arsenal. The shots killed four and wounded 20, marking the climax of five months of civil disobedience in Massachusetts, where farmers challenged the state’s authority to seize their farms for flagrantly unjust taxes. But this widely accepted narrative is just a legend: the “rebellion” was almost entirely nonviolent, and retired war hero Daniel Shays was only one of many leaders.

One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic struggle forms the core of his work, Herodotus' natural curiosity frequently gives rise to colorful digressions - a description of the natural wonders of Egypt; an account of European lake-dwellers; and far-fetched accounts of dog-headed men and gold-digging ants.

One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic struggle forms the core of his work, Herodotus' natural curiosity frequently gives rise to colorful digressions - a description of the natural wonders of Egypt; an account of European lake-dwellers; and far-fetched accounts of dog-headed men and gold-digging ants.

This true story tells of the author's childhood in an idyllic mountain village in Western Honduras. Despite the civil war in El Salvador, young José felt safe in his hometown of Tambla. Even if the fighting spilled into his homeland, surely the US-backed Honduran army would protect them. But when José's papa vanished at the hands of a notorious rogue military unit, his world was shattered. For decades, José lived with gnawing questions about his papa's fate. His quest continued even as he journeyed north in search of a better life in the United States, cheating death along the way.

In Search of the Dark Ages is an unrivalled exploration of the origins of English identity, and the best-selling book that established Michael Wood as one of Britain's leading historians. Now, on the book's 40th anniversary, this fully revised and expanded edition illuminates further the fascinating and mysterious centuries between the Romans and the Norman Conquest.

Woman of Valor is a remarkable and true story of bravery, compassion, and rescue during the Holocaust. Eta Chait, a young Jewish woman, lived with her parents and siblings in Lukow, Poland. Woman of Valor follows her journey, from the horrors of the ghetto into the hardships of survival in the woods under the most extreme conditions. And then through her eyes as a fighter, we witness the struggles and fears of those who were trapped by the Holocaust. This is the moving story of a young woman who refused to give up.

Fighting a superior foe is a momentous task. In war, there are no rules, there are no laws; there are only strategies and tactics. A divided people can be isolated and devoured. Survival depends upon the masses forming one mind. There is no time to weigh the importance of morality as the devil approaches. To even question any tactics that lead to victory is foolish. There is no need to ponder what the enemy deems acceptable; they occupy the opposite end of the spectrum for a reason. At war with a superior force, one has no choice but to assume the role of the guerrilla.

Among the most beautiful and deadly mountains in the world, Mount Washington has challenged adventurers for centuries with its severe weather. From the days when gentlefolk ascended the heights in hoop skirts and wool suits to today’s high-tech assaults on wintry summits, this audiobook offers extensive and intimate profiles of people who found trouble on New Hampshire’s Presidential Range, from the 19th century through the present day.

After multiple heroic operations, returning electricity to 400,000 civilians, and helping thousands of girls return to school, ISIS did everything it could to thwart the offensive. Turnbull is injured in a suicide bombing and given no chance of surviving. When Samantha met the lead trauma surgeon overseas, she found out her husband had lost his right eye, had no skin or tissue on the right side of his face, had multiple skull fractures, and numerous other injuries. They told her he’d likely be paralyzed on one side and may not remember much of anything, including her and their son.

Even through many wars, migrations, and disasters, the Irish folk have stubbornly clung to their oldest traditions and beliefs. In those dire times of need and hardship, all men and women will look to their traditional heroes for inspiration. One such folk hero is certainly Finn McCool—the brave and powerful leader of the Fíana, the roving bands of hunter-warriors. A poet, a seer, a skilled warrior, and a charming man, Finn McCool is subject to many adventures and heroic deeds.

The '70s was a time when movies and music changed in ways that had never before seemed possible. Special effects and rock and roll excess only added to the explosive nature of one of history's most important decades. Among the chaos came monumental breakthroughs in technology, freedom, and science. But just underneath all this wonder, the Yorkshire Ripper was striking fear into the public’s hearts. In this book, we will take a stroll through the period of time that gave us punk, disco, Star Wars, Jaws, and the VHS tape.

The history of the Scottish nation is full to the brim with glorious heroes and epic struggles. Throughout the centuries of its fight for independence, Scotland gave birth to some truly exceptional men and women who went above and beyond the call of duty for the freedom of their home country. This fight for independence has ever since inspired every Scottish person--and even bolstered people all across the world.

A strong emotional attachment to the memory of empire runs deep in British culture. In recent years, that memory has become a battleground in a long-drawn ideological war, inflecting debates on race, class, gender, culture, the UK’s future and its place in the world. This provocative and passionate book surveys the scene of the imperial memory wars in contemporary Britain, exploring how the myths that structure our views of empire came to be, and how they inform the present.  

Samuel Sutton Jr. grew up poor in Kinston, North Carolina. His childhood home had no central heat or hot water. He and his family walked seven miles roundtrip to church every Sunday. But Sam was to rise far in life from these humble beginnings. Joining the Navy in 1979, he embarked on a 30-year military career, serving first as a sailor, then as an aide to the nation's top admirals and generals, and finally as a personal valet to presidents Bill Clinton, G. W. Bush, and Barack Obama, making him a virtual member of the First Family, an eyewitness to their public and private lives.

Originally published in 1915 in the middle of World War I, Carpenter explores the effects that the war was having on society and humankind as a whole from firsthand experience. In particular, papers focus on the differences between Germany and England, the causes of the war, and suggestions for restoration and recovery when the war has ended. Carpenter details all of this in a realistic way, drawing on matters such as class to put forward his anti-war stance as well as philosophical approaches to coping with tragedy. 

In 1994, more than 300 Republicans under the command of obstructionist and rabble-rouser Congressman Newt Gingrich stood outside the U.S. Capitol to sign the Contract with America and put bipartisanship on notice. Twenty-five years later, on January 6, 2021, a bloodthirsty mob incited by President Trump invaded the Capitol. Dana Milbank sees a clear line from the Contract with America to the coup attempt.