The greatest mass extinction in Earths history happened some 251 million years ago. In this cataclysm at least 90 per cent of life was killed, both on land and in the sea, almost bringing evolution to a halt. What caused destruction on such an unimaginable scale? Was it the impact of a huge meteorite, or prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia?

Who are the Europeans? Where did they come from? This book brings together the evidence and combines it with archaeology and linguistics to produce a new history of Europe.

In White Innocence Gloria Wekker explores a central paradox of Dutch life—the passionate denial of racial discrimination and colonial violence coexisting alongside aggressive racism and xenophobia—to show how the narrative of Dutch racial exceptionalism elides the Netherland's colonial past and safeguards white privilege.

1974 was a year of major changes around the world. The roots of many aspects of today's societies which we take for granted lie in the 1970s and particularly in this, the pivotal year of the decade....

A gripping tale of naval warfare, dynastic rivalry, and technical innovation, by the author of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World.

A timely and unprecedented examination of how the modern Middle East unravelled, and why it started with the pivotal year of 1979. Shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize 2020

Explores the history of science, how scientists have sought to explain our incredible universe and how amazing scientific discoveries have been made. This book helps you discover how Galileo worked out his scientific theories of motion and inertia, why Copernicus' ideas were contentious and what the discovery of DNA meant.