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Vladimir Putin is the current president of Russia, serving in his third term since 2012. He started his career as an intelligence officer and politician. Raised and educated in the Soviet Union, he saw great prosperity and growth during his first term. His leadership has been fraught with accusations and scandals, particularly in his handling of human rights and justice cases, as well as his alleged involvement in the United States politics.

This biography introduces listeners to Ramesses II's many accomplishments as both a warrior-king and a god-king. When he died at age 96, Egyptians believed him to be a higher deity than any who preceded him; in some ways, he achieved eternal life by living on in memory through the end of the Egyptian Empire and beyond.

Nero Claudius Caesar holds a reputation as a tyrant, a maniacal leader. Some say he may have suffered from lead poisoning and gone mad, but most historical sources quickly dismiss this excuse for his cruelty. Various historical accounts record that Nero had his own mother killed, persecuted Christians, and ordered the setting of Rome’s Great Fire. The last ruler of the Julio-Claudian dynasty is certainly one of the most infamous leaders of the Roman Empire. This brief history explores what we know about the man behind the myth and the monster within the man.

In March 2019, Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III, submitted the first part of his lengthy report on Russian involvement in the United States presidential election in 2016. Although Mueller discovered Russia had influenced the election, he found no evidence of conspiracy between the Russian government and Trump's advisers. In60Learning's six-chapter guide will quickly get you up to speed with Mueller's conspiracy investigation, and his findings with respect to Trump's obstruction of justice.

All major historians agree that Gaius Caesar Caligula ruled as a depraved, cruel, and ruthless emperor. Yet some discrepancies in the historical accounts raise questions about what was true and what was libel intended to discredit Caligula as an utter raging, evil madman. This audiobook reexamines the evidence to reveal the exaggerations of history while still detailing the verified truth of Caligula’s monstrous ways.

With a name like Ivan the Terrible, it comes as no surprise that historians consider this Russian Tsar a psychopath. Yet Ivan’s personality consisted of many dualities. He channeled the Medieval era as he committed mass murder, but he also reformed Russia, centralizing it and bringing it into the Renaissance. He liked to torture animals, but he could also be found in church, banging his head in repentance until it bled. This introduction to his life explores the legacy he was born into and deftly contextualizes his cruelty within the era and culture of his rule.

The war gets its name from British colonists’ two primary enemies: the French settlers and the Native Americans who sided with them. The title is a bit misleading, however, as the British also had Native Americans on their side at various points of the war. The conflict goes by "The Seven Years’ War" in Europe because it took place from 1756 to 1763. Britain’s victory solidified the future of the English-speaking North America we know today. However, it also led to the massacre of countless Native peoples throughout North America.

Frank Sinatra, one of America's most iconic singers, entered the world a child of Italian immigrants living in New Jersey. After his expulsion from high school, Frank taught himself to sing and got his start in nightclubs. Sinatra's humble, rough-and-tumble youth didn't stop him from becoming one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century, however. He conquered the world of music and film both, but he struggled with mental health throughout his life. This biography examines the life of the man who, at the end of his lifelong career, looked back and said, "I did it my way."

The Roman Empire crumbled, and nothing could replace it. People groups shifted all over the continent: the Byzantines came after the Visigoths, the Saxons clashed with the Celts, and the Vikings pillaged everyone. Eventually, feudalism emerged and brought with it knights in shining armor and long lines of monarchs.

Mata Hari paints a fascinating picture: an exotic dancer turned spy, eventually executed for her devious work during World War I. Her life, however, reveals a much different story. She would make a living as a dancer and exhibitionist, as well as through lifelong habit of telling wild tales about herself that sold well to the papers. Whether or not she was a true spy or was simply framed in the fallout of the War is almost impossible to ascertain, and leaves the listener wondering - who really was this woman, and can we ever know?

Many associate Mahatma Gandhi with peace, but this should not be confused with passivity. Gandhi was an activist who helped India achieve independence from Britain, advocated for Indian rights in South Africa and at home, and improved the lives of India’s “untouchable” people. He did this all through nonviolent activism and thoughtful reflection on the nature of the injustices he saw around him. This short biography reveals the life experiences that made Gandhi an inspirational peacemaker with an international legacy.

Before he defected to the British Army, Arnold’s contemporaries praised him for his heroism. What caused this man to turn on his peers and sully his name for all time? This fascinating look into Arnold’s life unravels the bias surrounding the man, shedding light on the intent behind his infamous act.

One thirteenth-century man founded history's largest connected empire - Mongol leader Genghis Khan. He not only managed to unite many disparate tribes, but his invasions culminated in the conquest of Northern China, leaving him with a kingdom the size of Africa. His ruthless military campaigns certainly earned him the title he gave himself: "barbarian from the North". While he could be brutal, he also brought about a time of peace and prosperity for the Mongols.

Today, Brooklyn is New York's largest and arguably most vibrant borough, with a diversity of culture and sights that draw millions of people to it everywhere. How did this borough, which was a Dutch marshland in the early 1600s, come to be the place it is today? Trace from the 1600s to modern day and explore Brooklyn's role after English takeover, during the Civil War, the monumental construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and the variety of peoples who make up its demographics.

Joseph Stalin ruled Russia with an iron first. As a dictator, he was personally responsible for the deaths of roughly 10 million people. While most write Stalin off as an evil tyrant, there is more to the man than most know - a US Ambassador once said, "I must confess that for me Stalin remains the most inscrutable and contradictory character I have known."

Wealth, indulgence, and a Gatsby-like aesthetic: This is what comes to mind when one thinks of the Roaring Twenties. This revolutionary decade marked the end of the American Gilded Age, a period of sustained economic growth which led to a booming marketplace. After World War I, Americans had more money to spend, and mass production rose to meet the emerging wealth. This was the era of Broadway and bootleggers, new cars and Al Capone, mass culture and money, money, money. However, it was also the prelude to the Great Depression.

Dolley Madison (1768 to 1849) born Dolley Payne, was the fourth first lady of the United States and wife of James Madison, founding father and fourth president of the United States. Madison is now most famous for holding large Washington social functions to which members of both political parties where invited. Dolley Madison, essentially, helped create the concept of bipartisan cooperation and furthered the idea that both parties could socialize, debate, and negotiate with each other amicably and without descending into violence.

Robespierre was a poor, well-educated activist and politician who would seize power during the French Revolution...today he is not remembered for his work on universal male voting rights, price controls for basic food needs, and abolishing slavery...but for his Reign of Terror. How did an intelligent man driven by morals of freedom and justice end up executing thousands in a mad grab to maintain power? Follow his fascinating descent from the Hero of the Republic to its true enemy.

San Francisco’s history precedes its name by several thousands of years. Though Europeans had settled in other parts of California much earlier, it wasn’t until 1769 that they stumbled upon the bay area. When the Spanish first arrived, they were floored by its natural beauty, which had been carefully maintained by its longtime residents, the Ohlone Indians.

Oliver Cromwell is one of the most controversial figures in British history. He managed to dethrone the monarchy and serve Britain as its only nonroyal lord protector. His unfortunate legacy, however, lies in his cruel treatment of the Irish. This brief history dives into the many dividing realities of Cromwell's life. It does not discriminate between the good and the bad but rather lays it all out so listeners can see for themselves what they think of this man who, after his funeral, was dug up and hung like a common peasant.