Russia is the largest country on the planet, a multi-ethnic empire, a great power of global significance. For much of its history it has been a `peasant state`, in which peasant society & values interacted critically with those of the ruling elites. In modern times its society has produced artists, writers, musicians, scientists & cosmonauts who have made a unique contribution to world culture. In the twentieth century, Russia has been the scene of the world`s greatest social experiment
- the most powerful challenge ever mounted to hegemonic Western values. Roger Bartlett traces the history of the country from its beginnings in Kiev Russia, through the Muscovite & Imperial, Soviet & post-Soviet periods, to the start of the twenty-first century. While offering a broad perspective on Russia`s historical development, Bartlett focuses on the origins of Russian political culture & the place of the majority peasant population in the Russian/ Soviet polity. Lucid, balanced & authoritative, it is the ideal introduction for all those with an interest in Russia`s past, & its significance for the country`s present.
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Did you ever wonder which civilisation first took to water in small craft? Who worked out how to measure distance or plot a course at sea? Or why the humble lemon rose to such prominence in the diets of sailors? Taking one hundred objects that have been pivotal in the development of sailing & sailing boats, the book provides a fascinating insight into the history of sailing. From the earliest small boats, through magnificent Viking warships, to the technology that powers some of the most sophisticated modern yachts, the book also covers key developments such as keeps & navigational aids such as the astrolabe, sextant & compass. Other more apparently esoteric objects from all around the world are also included, including the importance of citrus fruit in the prevention of scurvy, scrimshaw made from whalebone & the meaning of sailor`s tattoos. Beautifully illustrated with lively & insightful text, it`s a perfect gift for the real or armchair sailor, the book gives an alternative insight into how & why we sail the way we do today. ...

Scotland's history has been badly served over the years. Defined by its relationship to Engl&, Scotland's popular history is full of near-mythical figures & tragic events, her past littered with defeat, failure & thwarted ambition. The martyrdom of William Wallace, the tragedy of Mary Queen of Scots & the forlorn cause of Bonnie Prince Charlie all give the impression of 'poor' Scotland; a victim of misfortune, leading to the country's inevitable submission to the Auld Enemy. After the Union in 1707, Scotland's increasing reliance on England culminated in a crisis of confidence & identity that tortures the country to this day. But how accurate is this version of events? Using the very latest in historical research & by placing Scotland's story in the wider context of British, European & global history, some of the myths that pervade the past will be exploded to reveal a Scotland which forged its own destiny, often with success. ...

Scotland is one of the oldest countries in the world with a vivid & diverse past. Yet the stories & figures that dominate Scottish history
- tales of failure, submission, thwarted ambition & tragedy
- often badly serve this great nation, overshadowing the rich tapestry of her intricate past. Historian Neil Oliver presents a compelling new portrait of Scottish history, peppered with action, high drama & centuries of turbulence that have helped to shape modern Scotl&. Along the way, he takes in iconic landmarks & historic architecture; debunks myths surrounding Scotland`s famous sons; recalls forgotten battles; charts the growth of patriotism; & explores recent political developments, capturing Scotland`s sense of identity & celebrating her place in the wider world.

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As an antidote to more sober accounts of Scotland`s history, Ian Crofon offers a colourful chronology of the eccentric, the infamous, the bawdy, the horrific & the hilarious people & events that have spattered across the pages of our nation`s story. From the Royal High School riot to Marocco the Wonder Horse, from the War of the One-Eyed Woman to the MP cleared of stealing his ex-mistress`s knickers, A History of Scotland Without the Boring Bits

Includes:: a host of little-known tales that you won`t find in more conventional works of history, including the chatelaine who struck a general over the head with a leg of mutton, the cow that gave birth to fourteen puppies, the clan chief who ripped out the throat of his enemy with his teeth, the surgeon who was so fast with the saw that he inadvertently took off his patient`s testicles as well as his leg, the mathematician who calculated that the Christian religion would finally disappear in the year 3153. Ian Crofton`s alternative history of Scotland looks at the country`s seedy underbelly with a quizzical eye. It is full of the mischievous humour & lightly-worn scholarship so praised by the critics in his Dictionary of Scottish Phrase & Fable.

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A History of the 20th Century in 100 Maps is a truly fascinating book, even for all of us in Stanfords who are well used to seeing interesting maps & posters! The 100 maps, many accompanied by additional photos & reproductions of posters or letters, show how the 20th century was a golden age of map-making & maps permeated almost every aspect of daily life. It was a century overshadowed by war but also marked by tremendous social & technological change to which millions of contemporary maps bear witness. Most were created for a specific & immediate purpose, & have never been reprinted or discussed, until now. From the first British concentration camps to the only Nazi labour camp on British soil, & from a trench map used at the Battle of the Somme to an escape & evasion map from the first Gulf War, this book explores the cartographic legacy of 20th-century conflict, from top-secret documents to mass propaganda. These 100 maps tell many stories, revealing changing social attitudes towards the unfamiliar & unconventional, from Jewish London at the turn of the century to women in the workplace, & from the Edwardian opium trade to gay London in the 1980s. The maps cover the peak of imperial pageantry as well as rapid post-war decolonisation, & they explore technological change from the expansion of the London Underground system to 1980s computer games. The book tells the story of a ` British` 20th century, but one which has been interpreted in the broadest possible sense, culturally & geographically. Informative descriptions put every map in a wider context & if you want to read about Edward Stanford’s contribution to 20th century mapping, it’s on page 67. ...

Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania have been the battleground for neighbouring powers & the site of intense rivalry, but also interaction, between East & West. A History of the Baltic States masterfully traces the development of these three Baltic countries, from the northern crusades against Europe`s last pagans, & Lithuania`s rise to become one of medieval Europe`s largest states, to their incorporation into the Russian Empire & the creation of their modern national identities. Drawing upon the most recent scholarship, Andres Kasekamp pays particular attention to the tumultuous twentieth century, during which the Baltic States achieved independence, but also endured occupation by both the Soviet Union & Nazi Germany. Finally, he explores how the Baltic States recovered their statehood & transformed themselves into members of the European Union. Clearly & accessibly written, this is one of the first English-language books to provide a comparative survey of Baltic history. ...

The first volume of Steven Runciman`s classic, hugely influential trilogy on the history of the Crusades ` On a February day in the year AD 638 the Caliph Omar entered Jerusalem, riding upon a white camel` An enthralling work of grand historical narrative, Steven Runciman`s A History of the Crusades overturned the traditional view of the Crusades as a romantic Christian adventure, & instead shifted the focus of the story to the East. With verve & drama, volume one of Runciman`s trilogy tells the story of the First Crusade
- from its unlikely beginnings in pilgrimage to the horrors of the siege of Jerusalem & the carving out of new territory on the edge of the eastern Mediterranean. ` Without question one of the major feats of contemporary historical writing` The New York Times ` The historian whose magisterial works transformed our understanding of Byzantium, the medieval church & the crusades` Guardian
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The third volume of Steven Runciman`s classic, hugely influential trilogy on the history of the Crusades ` The whole tale is one of faith & folly, courage & greed, hope & disillusion` Steven Runciman`s triumphant three-volume A History of the Crusades remains an unsurpassed account of the events that changed the world & continue to resonate today. This final volume of the trilogy begins with the glamorous Third Crusade & ends with the ruinous collapse of the crusader states & the degeneration of their ideals, which reached its nadir in the tragic destruction of Byzantium. ` When historical events are written about with this sort of comm&, they take on not only the universality of a fairy tale but also a certain moral weight. Runciman writes both seductively & instructively about the dignity & beauty of different religious beliefs & about the difficulties of their co-existence` Independent ...

The second volume of Steven Runciman`s classic, hugely influential trilogy on the history of the Crusades ` There was magic about. Saladin himself was troubled by terrible dreams...` Steven Runciman`s unrivalled history of the Crusades is a classic of learning & vivid, compelling storytelling, which brilliantly brings to life the personalities, battles, massacres, triumphs & follies of these epochal events. In this second volume of his trilogy Runciman tells the story of the foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the disastrous, bloody Second Crusade & the inexorable rise of the crusaders` nemesis, Saladin. ` The pre-eminent historian of the Byzantine Empire & of the Crusades.. .a surefooted guide who could render the past visible & familiar` Daily Telegraph ` He tells his story plain.. .always pleasurable to read` Gore Vidal ...