Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (Silverstein Adam J.)(Paperback)

Islamic History: A Very Short Introduction (Silverstein Adam J.)(Paperback)

Opening with a lucid overview of the rise and spread of Islam, from the seventh to the twenty-first century, this Very Short Introduction introduces the story of Islamic history, charting the evolution of what was originally a small, localized community of believers into an international religion

Islamic Law: A Very Short Introduction (Baderin Mashood A.)(Paperback)

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Islamic law is one of the major legal systems in the world today, yet it is often misunderstood, particularly in the West. It is applicable in different forms as part of state law in countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and also

History: A Very Short Introduction (Arnold John H.)(Paperback)

Magnetism: A Very Short Introduction (Blundell Stephen J.)(Paperback)

In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen J. Blundell illuminates the mysterious force of magnetism. For centuries, magnetism has been used for various purposes--through compasses it gave us the ability to navigate, and through motors, generators, and turbines, it has given us power. Blundell

Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction (Adamson Peter)(Paperback)

In the history of philosophy, few topics are so relevant to today's cultural and political landscape as philosophy in the Islamic world. Yet, this remains one of the lesser-known philosophical traditions. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Adamson explores the history of philosophy among

The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction (Carrasco David)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction employs the disciplines of history, religious studies, and anthropology as it illuminates the complexities of Aztec life. Readers meet a people highly skilled in sculpture, astronomy, city planning, poetry, and philosophy, who were also profoundly committed to cosmic

Adam Smith: A Very Short Introduction (Berry Christopher J.)(Paperback)

In 1776 Adam Smith (1723-90) wrote The Wealth of Nations, a book so foundational that it has led to him being called the 'father of economics.' Today he is associated with the promotion of self-interest, a defense of greed and a criticism of any governmental 'interference' in market transactions

Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction (Wood Bernard)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction traces the history of paleoanthropology from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to the latest fossil finds. Although concentrating on the fossil evidence for human evolution, it also covers the latest genetic evidence about regional variations in the modern human

The History of Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction (Stedall Jacqueline)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction explores the rich historical and cultural diversity of mathematical practice, ranging from the distant past to the present. Historian Jacqueline Stedall shows that mathematical ideas are far from being fixed, but are adapted and changed by their passage across periods

Food: A Very Short Introduction (Krebs John)(Paperback)

In this Very Short Introduction, Prof Lord John Krebs provides a brief history of human food, from our remote ancestors 3 million years ago to the present day. By looking at the four great transitions in human food - cooking, agriculture, processing, and preservation - he considers a variety of

African History: A Very Short Introduction (Parker John)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction looks at Africa's past and reflects on the changing ways it has been imagined and represented, both in Africa and beyond. The author illustrates important aspects of Africa's history with a range of fascinating historical examples, drawn from over 5 millennia across

Napoleon: A Very Short Introduction: A Very Short Introduction (Bell David A.)(Paperback)

This Very Short Introduction might prove disappointing to those expecting an introduction to a very short man. Dispelling the myth of Napoleon Bonaparte's short stature, as well as the other rumors and legends, David A. Bell provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's

The History of Life: A Very Short Introduction (Benton Michael J.)(Paperback)

Here is the extraordinary story of the unfolding of life on Earth, told by Michael J. Benton, a world-renowned authority on biodiversity. Ranging over four billion years, Benton weaves together the latest findings on fossils, earth history, evolutionary biology, and many other fields to highlight

The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction (Heilbron J. L.)(Paperback)

How does the physics we know today - a highly professionalized enterprise, inextricably linked to government and industry - link back to its origins as a liberal art in Ancient Greece? What is the path that leads from the old philosophy of nature and its concern with humankind's place in the

Military Strategy: A Very Short Introduction (Echevarria Antulio J.)(Paperback)

Distilling the ideas of the greatest military theoreticians of history, including Sun Tzu, Niccol� Machiavelli, and Carl von Clausewitz, Antulio J. Echevarria II presents a fascinating account of the art of the general. Drawing on historical examples, from Hannibal's war against Rome to

Plague: A Very Short Introduction (Slack Paul)(Paperback)

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Throughout history plague has been the cause of many major catastrophes. It was responsible for the 'Plague of Justinian' in 542, the Black Death of 1348, and the Great Plague of London in 1665, as well as for devastating epidemics in China and

The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction (McMahon Robert J.)(Paperback)

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The Cold War dominated international life from the end of World War II to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. But how did the conflict begin? Why did it move from its initial origins in Postwar Europe to encompass virtually every corner of

The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction (Bynum William)(Paperback)

Against the backdrop of unprecedented concern for the future of health care, this Very Short Introduction surveys the history of medicine from classical times, through the scholastic medieval tradition and the Enlightenment to the present day. Taking a thematic rather than strictly chronological

An Introduction to Islamic Archaeology (Milwright Marcus)(Paperback)

This book offers an introduction to the archaeology of the Islamic world. It traces the history of the discipline from its earliest manifestations through to the present and evaluates the contribution made by archaeology to the understanding of key aspects of Islamic culture. The author argues that

Australia: A Very Short Introduction (Morgan Kenneth)(Paperback)

In this Very Short Introduction, Kenneth Morgan provides a wide-ranging thematic introduction to modern Australia, examining the main features of its history, geography and culture since the beginning of European settlement in New South Wales in 1788. It highlights the distinctive features of

Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction (Gillingham John)(Paperback)

A comprehensive and authoritative short guide, this Very Short Introduction to Medieval Britain covers the establishment of the Anglo-Norman monarchy in the early Middle Ages, through to England's failure to dominate the British Isles and France in the later Middle Ages. Out of the turbulence came

Art History: A Very Short Introduction (Arnold Dana)(Paperback)

Art history encompasses the study of the history and development of painting, sculpture and the other visual arts. In this Very Short Introduction, Dana Arnold presents an introduction to the issues, debates, and artefacts that make up art history. Beginning with a consideration of what art history

American History: A Very Short Introduction (Boyer Paul S.)(Paperback)

In a miracle of concision, Paul S. Boyer provides a wide-ranging and authoritative history of America, capturing in a compact space the full story of our nation. Ranging from the earliest Native American settlers to the presidency of Barack Obama, this Very Short Introduction offers anilluminating

Ancient Greece: A Very Short Introduction (Cartledge Paul)(Paperback)

This highly original introduction to ancient Greece uses the history of eleven major Greek cities to illuminate the most important and informative aspects of Greek culture. Cartledge highlights the role of such renowned cities as Athens (birthplace of democracy) and Sparta, but he also examines