Nardo, Don

Documents the rise and fall of colonial empires in North and South America, Africa, the Far East, and the Pacific region examining the political and cultural influences created by the imperial and colonial practices of the past.

Describes war tactics and weapons from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century, discussing their effectiveness and their impact on warfare as a whole, and includes photos and illustrations, sidebars, and an annotated further reading list.

A historical overview of the rise of the Assyrians and Babylonians and the culture they developed in ancient Mesopotamia, plus a glimpse of the region in later centuries.

Chronicles scientists' efforts to unlock the secret of cloning and discusses how its discovery changed the course of human history.

Presents an investigation of asteroids and comets, discussing ancient beliefs about the appearance of comets, their demystification with the emergence of modern astronomy, how they formed, and their different types and composition, and looking at the possibilities for mining asteroids, as well as what happens when they hit Earth.

Discusses the history and current state of scientific understanding of black holes, exploring what they are, how they are formed, potential uses, and what they tell us about the fate of the universe.

Investigates the roots of philosophy, when it was still blended with science, and profiles five philosophers from the distant past, considering how their thinking contributed to society and civilizations.

Discusses the Minoans, their economy, government, social structure, art, and architecture.

Contains thirty-two essays in which various authors examine aspects of the world's earliest civilizations, discussing humanity before cities and writing, the great river civilizations, Mesopotamia, Egypt, early Mediterranean and European peoples, and early Greek culture.

More than thirty primary and secondary documents provide an overview of classical Greece and Rome from approximately 500 B.C. to 476 A.D. Also includes a chronology, a selected bibliography, and an introduction that provides context on the era.