The New Testament writings are the foundation documents of early Christianity, and to fully understand them readers need a broad historical awareness of the wider social, economic, political and religious context that produced them. Here, Telford paints a fascinating portrait of the Roman and Hellenistic Empires and the growth of the early church, elucidating the composition and content of the Synoptic Gospels -- those of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Furnishing the reader with an appreciation of the methods contemporary scholars apply to the Gospels, he also offers an assured, in-depth guide to...

No other political entity has shaped the modern world like the Roman Empire. Encompassing close to 60 million people and 3 million square kilometers of land, it represented an incredibly diverse and dynamic collection of nations, states, and tribes, all bound to Rome and the ideal of the Roman identity.
In the lively and engaging style that he's known for, Philip Matyszak traces the history of the Roman Empire from the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the Roman republic through the ages of expansion, crisis, and eventual split. Breathing life into these extraordinary events, Matyszak...

The political upheaval of the mid-17th century has no parallel in English history. Other events have changed the occupancy and the powers of the throne, but the conflict of 1640 to 1660 was more dramatic: the monarchy and the House of Lords were abolished, to be replaced by a republic and military rule. In this wonderfully readable account, Patrick Little explores the events of this period and their origins -- the war between King and Parliament, the execution of Charles I, Cromwell's rule and the Restoration -- while aiming to reveal something more elusive: the motivations of contemporaries...

In a world burdened by chronic conditions and mutating viruses, with a health service strained to its limits, the history of medicine challenges our understanding of what it means to be healthy. By illuminating the ailments and methods of the past, our own dilemmas about medical practice and policy can be put into a new perspective. Esteemed historian Mark Jackson takes us from the dawn of medicine in the ancient world to the most recent developments pioneered in the 21st century's hospitals. On the way, Jackson explores Indian and Chinese traditions, as well as the origins of today's...

Munch's The Scream. Van Gogh's Starry Night. Rodin's The Thinker. Monet's Water Lilies. Constable's landscapes. The 19th century gave us a wealth of artistic riches so memorable in their genius that we can picture many of them in an instant. At the time, however, their avant-garde nature was the cause of much controversy. Professor Laurie Schneider Adams vividly brings to life the paintings, sculpture, photography and architecture, of the period with her infectious enthusiasm for art and detailed explorations of individual works. Offered fascinating biographical...

From Confucianism to Kant's categorical imperative, from the Ancient Greeks to Amnesty International, This essential volume presents ethics through a fascinating global historical lens and relates it to everyday life and 21st-century politics. Peter Cave traces the development of this key branch of philosophy up to the present day, introducing readers to all the main schools of thought. With his characteristic wit and clarity, Cave takes on good and evil, power and politics, and liberalism and relativism, and handily guides us around some of the most common potholes in ethical reasoning....

Almost everyone appreciates that economics is important. Promises are constantly made which relate to economic outcomes - 'no more boom and bust' was one from the last government - but rarely do things turn out as expected. Whether things go right or wrong, the consequences affect all of us. A proper understanding of the subject is essential to making our society successful.

Readers are introduced to the essential building blocks of economic thinking through the exploration of real world economic issues. Crucially, Forder goes beyond a basics presentation of what economists say, and asks...

War has been a perennial feature of human history since ancient times, yet it remains a poorly understood phenomenon. It has done much to shape our world, from developing international governance, overthrowing leaders and inspiring social change, to destroying towns, dividing nations and breeding animosity.

In this book, Dr. Aaron Edwards draws on a wide array of historical episodes to convey the complexity and human face of war. With eyewitness testimonies from different times, places and cultures, War: A Beginner's Guide offers a comprehensive overview of the political theories...

Acclaimed music journalist and jazz critic Stuart Nicholson takes us on an entertaining journey from the early origins of jazz to its evolution through the decades. Accompanied by a host of famous musicians past and present, such as Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis, Jazz: A Beginner's Guide is a lively and highly-accessible introduction to this global musical phenomenon.

With his famous equation, E=mc2, Einstein showed us that all matter can be described as energy. It is everywhere; it is everything. In this engaging introduction, renowned author and scientist Vaclav Smil covers a wide range of topics, from the inner workings of the human body to the race for more efficient and eco-friendly fuels. Shedding light on the science behind global warming and efforts to prevent it, and how our daily decisions affect energy consumption, this book highlights the importance of energy in both past and present societies. Whether you're after insight or dinner table...