The history of Sparta is legendary. The author starts his journey in 1888 BC in a small settlement on the Peloponnese to continue via the route Sparta Rotterdam 1888 to the present-day hamlet of Sparta. The gods put you on the horse only to ruthlessly knock you off again. This book traces the early history of Sparta up to the foundation of the city-state of Sparta in roughly 1100 BC and then continues this historical journey through the many highs and lows of the city-state that inspired awe...

Explores the brutal, heroic and extraordinary final days of the First World War. In this study, the author examines the last days of the war and asks the question: how did it end? Beginning at the heralded turning-point on the Marne in July 1918, it traces the story of the next four months, which included some of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Empire of Corruption is Vladimir Soloviev's attempt to share his opinions on Russia's ways of dealing with corruption. With a certain irony, Soloviev calls the issue 'the Russian national pastime', explaining why in the country where everyone is supposedly fighting corruption, corruption still rules.The author's detailed research into the corruption structure in Russia, with concrete examples and historical references, is now available to the reader in the English language. Soloviev goes furt...

Russia's rich history is full of secrets: there's not another country in the world with so many skeletons in its closet. Vladimir Medinskiy's new book offers the reader the opportunity to get better acquainted with some myths about Russia in an quick, easy and entertaining way.The book covers some of the most interesting, colourful and controversial debates in Russian history and the most popular myths about Russia: vodka and its role in some incredible adventures, Russia's problems (apart fr...

Terrorism has been one of the most important threats to peace, security and stability in many parts of the world. But what does this mean? What is the nature of this threat? What can be done about it and how can we at least limit the impact of terrorism?

These are just a handful of questions that will be addressed in this book that consists of four parts. First it focuses on the essence of terrorism as an instrument to achieve certain goals and the difficulties in defining the term. The second...

In Jenevercity, Mayor Pearl-chain is in dire straits, accused of cronyism, abuse of power and creating a culture of fear. The democratically elected heavyweights of the city council fly in the integrity agency You Call and We Deliver to deal with her "independently and thoroughly". The heads of this bureau, Long Jake, Ant and Colt, will piggyback her. Ex-journalist Tick is working overtime in his anonymous and vicious internet forum, constantly spewing thousands of smears, slanders and Indian...

Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. In many parts of the world, it has been one of the most important threats to peace, security and stability. But what does this exactly mean? What is the nature of this threat? What can be done about it or how can we at least limit the impact of terrorism?

These are just a handful of questions that will be addressed in this book that consists of three parts. First it focuses on the essence of terrorism as an instrument to achi...

In almost every major war there comes a point where defeat looms for one side and its rulers cut a deal with the victors, if only in an attempt to save their own skins. This title offers an account of the final months of the Nazi war machine, from the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler in July 1944 to the German surrender in May 1945.

Existing stereophotographs of the majestic airships Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg have been made with stereocameras during the time the zeppelins were still in service, forming a finite collection.

However, new three-dimensional images have now been constructed using videos of historical motion-pictures. This technique (“stereo extractions,” as developed by the author) has resulted in a unique set of 70 stereographs of these lighter-than-air passenger liners, including one of airship pione...

Early modern heraldry was far from a nostalgic remnant from a feudal past. From the Reformation to the French Revolution, aspiring men seized on these signs to position themselves in a changing society, imbuing heraldic tradition with fresh meaning. Whereas post-medieval developments are all too often described in terms of decadence and stifling formality, recent studies rightly stress the dynamic capacity of bearing arms.

Heraldic Hierarchies aims to correct former misconceptions. Contributi...