Showing results by narrator "Andrea Giordani" in All Categories

"Few are considered equal to him," is how Nepos first describes Themistocles in his ancient history of the man. Cast out from his family at a young age, Themistocles suddenly found himself having to face the world on his own. Rising from nothing he became one of the most feared and respected men in Greece, the only who could claim to have driven back Xerxes.

Epaminondas was known better for his way with words than his way with a sword. He used his wits on the battlefield to lead armies and took the honor of himself and his men most seriously. Nepos here admires the Theban orator who could out-speak any Athenian.

Agricola, also known as The Life and Character of Julius Agricola, serves as the main historical source for information about this notable Roman general. His son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, authored the text. He writes not just about his father-in-law’s military career and conquest of Britain, but also about cultural and geographic forces at work during this time. The portion of the original text that survives today remains an important reference for historians and history buffs alike.

We all know the founder of Rome, but do we know much about the widely-proclaimed second founder of Rome? The monarchy, tyranny, and victorious battles of Marcus Furius Camillus, the second founder, are documented in Plutarch’s Parallel Lives. After the destruction of Veii, Camillus returned to Rome as a pompous victor and dictator, causing quite a stir when he refused to follow the wishes of the senate when it came to dealing with Veii. Sensing banishment was in his future, Camillus’s time in Rome was much less bloody than many of his predecessors.   

This book contains proven steps and strategies on how you can become healthy by following the wonderful world of the Paleo diet. It has useful information on how you can follow and begin this eating lifestyle. There have been a lot of books and diets out in the market that continue to claim they can help you lose weight or become healthy. However, not all of them are effective, helpful, or easy to follow. It's never too late to choose to be healthy. You are the only one who holds the decision to change your life for the better and you are heading in the right direction.

Phocion is one of the many Grecian politician’s lives detailed in Plutarch’s Parallel Lives stories. Phocion, also known as “The Good”, was known for being one of the most beloved and change-inspiring Greek politicians of his time. Elected a military stratego many times, his prowess within the army was highly regarded. His fierce opposition to many of the ruling classes and his willingness to fight for what he believed in was ultimately what lead to his execution. 

When it came to Athens and their leaders, few were as influential as the politician and Stratego Nicias. In Plutarch’s Parallel Lives, he documents the Peloponnesian War and other great achievements of the time through the life of Nicias. Most importantly, he helped negotiate peace after a decades-long war, which made him popular after an unsuccessful start in politics. However, after many years of political truces and actions, his life took a turn for the worse.   

Of the two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer, The Odyssey serves to some extent as a sequel to The Iliad. The poem describes the journey home of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, after the fall of Troy. In the Greek sources, the Trojan War lasted 10 years, and Odysseus spent 10 more years on the return journey due to the hostility of Poseidon, the god of earth and sea. Odysseus' fantastical adventures include a period of captivity on Calypso’s island, a visit to the lethargic lotus eaters, an encounter with a one-eyed Cyclops, and more.

In this chapter from Lynn Thorndike's The History of Medieval Europe: Within five years after Mohammed's death the Arabs had seized Syria, Mesopotamia was overrun in 641, and 10 years later the rest of the Persian Kingdom had been conquered. Egypt was conquered in the years 639-643, and then North Africa, followed by the Visigothic Kingdom of Spain. The spread of Islam brought into close commercial relations the lands stretching from India in the East to Spain and the Atlantic coast of northwestern Africa.

Cornelius Nepos was a Roman biographer. He was born at Hostilia, a village in Gaul close to Verona. Nepos wrote short popular biographies of Greek and Roman military commanders. His work is highly esteemed for its use of reliable sources.

The Life of Aratus is one of the many biographies detailed in Plutarch’s integral work, Parallel Lives. In The Life of Aratus, Plutarch details the dynamic work done by the successor of Nicocles and talks about his advocacy to turn Greece into a united country. Working as a soldier first and then a diplomat, he fought for the betterment of his fellow countrymen. Disaster hit during his later reign, as it so often did, and though many wanted him dead, the great Oracle at Delphi had other plans.   

Emily, her mama, and her papa all moved into a new house just down the street from Miss Knight. Emily did her very best in all her classes, but especially Math, Science, and English. She worked hard to learn everything that she could, because that was what the singing astronaut from Canada said that it took to be an astronaut.

Young Gina finds her life uprooted after a terrible storm sweeps through her small town. She moves to a city with her mother and sweet cat, Pebbles. They face challenges together, against themselves and the new world they're living in. The change is a struggle, but Gina is thrilled and delighted by the twists and turns that come her way. Even though she lost her old life, somewhere along the way, she finds a new one.

Grayson Grimes is an ordinary kid, despite his odd nickname, Grimy. When Grimy’s mom discovers that her favorite childhood vacation spot will be undergoing major renovations, she insists that the family go spend one last summer at Lake Lucy, the way she remembers it. Grimy is miserable that he won’t be able to attend camp with his best and only friend, Harry. He decides that, even if he must spend his summer at a boring lake with his boring parents, there’s no rule saying that he has to act happy about it.

Wesley is incredibly excited about waking up the morning he finally turns seven years old; a magic door would open for him at last! He had wondered what was on the other side of that door ever since it first appeared when he turned four. Wesley's Birthday Wish is a moving fantasy story about a small boy's rite of passage as he turns seven, and one can't help but get excited for him as he surveys the new and limitless world that awaits him. This tale illustrates most eloquently why force is never the solution, even when you really desire something.

The Mill on the Floss is a novel by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), which was first published in 1860. The book chronicles the lives of Tom and Maggie Tulliver, who are siblings growing up at Dorlcote Mill situated at the junction of the River Floss and the River Ripple. Maggie is the main character, and the story begins when she is nine years old, 13 years into her parents' marriage. The most important threads concern her relationship with her brother and her romantic relationships with Philip Wakem and Stephen Guest.

Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe (1861) is the third novel by George Eliot. Set in the early years of the 19th century, it seems at first to be only a simple story about the weaver Silas Marner. However, the complex plot and wide cast of characters soon reveal its scope and realism.

Set in the wild, stormy moorland of England. It tells the tale of the Linton and Earnshaw families: Edgar and Isabella Linton and Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw and their strange adopted brother, Heathcliff. Now considered a classic of English literature, upon publication it received mix reviews due to its Gothic undertones and savage passions. Wuthering Heights has inspired many adaptations, including film, radio, and television dramatizations and a hit song by Kate Bush.

Pope Innocent III’s pontificate asserted the absolute spiritual authority of his office. On November 15, 1215, Innocent opened the Fourth Lateran Council, considered the most important church council of the Middle Ages. By its conclusion, it had issued 70 reformatory decrees.

The term "parlement" came into use during the early 13th century, first appearing in official documents from the 1230s. In 1341, the Commons met separately from the nobility and clergy for the first time, creating what was effectively an Upper Chamber and a Lower Chamber. The Upper Chamber became known as the House of Lords from 1544, while the Lower Chamber became known as the House of Commons.