Early History

The Anglo-Saxons were people from Northern Germany who came to Britain in waves and quickly established their own kingdoms between the time of the Romans and the Normans. At first glance, it may seem like the Anglo-Saxons did not contribute much to British history. They didn’t even have a writing system until Christian missionaries arrived!

Patented in 1917, Piggly Wiggly was by far the most influential self-service store of the early twentieth century. Before 1940 it was the only self-service chain with a national distribution network, but it was neither the first nor the only version. Beyond Piggly Wiggly reveals the importance of Piggly Wiggly in the invention of self-service and goes beyond the history of a single firm to explore the role of small business entrepreneurs who invented the first self-service stores in a grassroots social process.

Danger lurks everywhere as he travels alone across the continent. Strange mannerisms, frightening movements, sudden screaming—all involuntary—set him apart. Out of step with everyone, Pieter experiences a crisis of faith and eventually leaves his family, church and community to set off on his own. The French Indian conflict with the British is beginning to gather momentum. At nineteen, Pieter is swept up into the maelstorm of war. By 1757, the British and the French are in a race to claim the Great Sea of the West for their respective countries. The British capture Pieter, now a young ...

In Faithful Witness, Phil Baker explains the theology of martyrdom that developed over the first 300 years of Christianity, and why that theology proved so powerful in the early years of the faith. Why did they choose faithfulness over fear? Why did they choose dying over killing? Why did they choose self-sacrifice over revenge? Why did they have such peace and joy in the midst of unimaginable torture? By AD 313, why had roughly 10 percent of the Roman Empire’s population embraced Christianity, when it was both illegal and incredibly dangerous to do so?

While many know of St Augustine and the Confessions, few know of the women whose hopes and dreams shaped his early life: his mother, Monnica of Thagaste; his lover; his fiancée; and Justina, the troubled empress of ancient Rome. Drawing upon their depictions in the Confessions, Historian Kate Cooper skilfully reconstructs their lives against the backdrop of the late Roman Empire to paint a vivid portrait of the turbulent society they and Augustine moved through.

The bubonic plague was the worst affliction ever visited upon Europe and the Mediterranean world. Within a few short years, a quarter of the population was taken after a short but torturous illness. Those who escaped faced famine and economic hardship. Crops were left unsown; the harvests spoiled for lack of harvesters; villages, towns, and great cities were depopulated. Markets were destroyed; and trade ground to a halt. It must have seemed like the end of the world to the terrified populace.

Near the start of the 19th century, as the newly established United States looked outward toward the wider world, a group of eminent Protestant ministers formed a grand scheme for gathering the rest of mankind into the redemptive fold of Christianity and "civilization". Its core element was a special school for "heathen youth" drawn from all parts of the Earth, including the Pacific Islands, China, India, and increasingly, the native nations of North America. If all went well, graduates would return to join similar projects in their respective homelands.

"Great Wall to Global Power: A History of China" offers readers an expansive and engrossing journey through the rich tapestry of Chinese history, from the ancient foundations of its first dynastic rule to its contemporary status as a burgeoning global powerhouse. This meticulously researched book serves as a profound exploration of the multifaceted developments that have shaped China over millennia, presenting a narrative that is as detailed as it is captivating. As you turn the pages of this comprehensive volume, you will be transported through time, beginning with the construction of the ...

Having survived deadly forces of nature and the folly of men, Tali Nohkati and his people find a haven of peace with the tribe of Coruba the elder. Through the telling of legends and to the rhythm of hunts and great fishing, their lives pass by serenely until the day when the long dormant volcano wakes up. Tali Nohkati and his companions helplessly watch the disaster unfold in front of their eyes. However, as their so precious land is nothing but an ash field, the miracle happens. The name of the miracle is Chepi. With her, the only child who survived, so small and so frail, they flee in a ...

The Sino-Japanese Wars: The History and Legacy of the Early 20th Century Conflicts That Made Japan the Dominant Power in Asia examines what brought about the wars, the most notorious events, and the important aftermath.

The recent Hollywood film Hidden Figures presents a portrait of how African American women shaped the US effort in aerospace during the height of Jim Crow. In Storming the Heavens, Gerald Horne presents the necessary back story to this account and goes further to detail the earlier struggle of African Americans to gain the right to fly.

When Betty Robinson assumed the starting position at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, she was participating in what was only her fourth-ever organized track meet. She crossed the finish line as a gold medalist and the fastest woman in the world. This improbable athletic phenom was an ordinary high school student, discovered running for a train in rural Illinois mere months before her Olympic debut. Amsterdam made her a star.

A must-listen new audio book about filmmakers Ted and Leo Wharton, whose serials become popular in the 1910s.

The early years of English settlement in America were characterized by catastrophe: starvation, disease, extreme violence, and ruinous ignorance. Seasons of Misery offers a provocative reexamination of the British colonies' chaotic and profoundly unstable beginnings, placing crisis at the center of the story. At the outposts of a fledgling empire and disconnected from the social order of their home society, English settlers were both physically and psychologically estranged from their European identities.

Unlock the mysteries of the Trinity with "Subordinationism : A Beginner's Guide," a captivating exploration into one of Christianity's most debated doctrines. Dive into the heart of theological inquiry and uncover the profound dynamics that have shaped centuries of belief and practice. Engage your curiosity as you journey through the historical origins of Subordinationism. This guide meticulously traces its development from early church teachings to contemporary theological discussions. Meet the pivotal figures, understand the key councils, and grasp the controversies that have defined and ...

The Early Tudors A Level History series takes you through the OCR specification step by step, ensuring that you have the necessary knowledge to perform throughout the period of your course and to help prepare you for your A Level. The series is produced by Nick Fellows, a lead examiner for OCR who has written many textbooks on The Tudors, Katie Fellows, who is currently studying for her D.Phil in History at St Peter's College, Oxford, and Oxford historian, Dr Glyn Redworth, who is a specialist in Early Modern British & European history.

Cyprus is known for its beautiful beaches, spectacular sunsets, and wonderful climate. Vacationers by the thousands come here each year to enjoy this island of adventure and frolic. Cyprus has always been recognized for its beauty and mild climate, as well as its strategic location. Through the centuries each competing culture has left its mark on the culture we have come to know as "Cypriot." Each invading ethnic group left archaeological monuments and a rich history, and an identity that has been linked together into a mosaic of sight, sound, language, religion, and culinary delights. In ...

The story of the New Testament’s transmission is one of dedication, resilience, and faithfulness. In The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origins, Transmission, and Reliability, Edward D. Andrews recounts how imperfect yet committed individuals worked tirelessly to translate and preserve the sacred texts, ensuring that the message of the apostles could be shared with people across the world. This book provides an in-depth exploration of the major early versions, including the Diatessaron of Tatian, the Syriac translations (Old Syriac, Peshitta, Philoxenian, and Harklean), the ...

The revolutionary Ohio Valley is often depicted as a chaotic Hobbesian dystopia, in which Indians and colonists slaughtered each other at every turn. In Unsettling the West, Rob Harper overturns this familiar story. Rather than flailing in a morass, the peoples of the revolutionary Ohio Valley actively and persistently sought to establish a new political order that would affirm their land claims, protect them against attack, and promote trade.

From the founding of Britain to the crowning of Alfred the Great, in this updated volume, Geoffrey Ashe investigates legendary British monarchs of old. From Brutus the Trojan in 1100 BC, and the early famed rulers Bran the Blessed and King Lear to the leaders of Roman Britain, Boudicca, and Alfred. Drawing on archaeological and documentary evidence, Ashe identifies real and imagined rulers from Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain and Gildas, including King Arthur and other powerful figures in the histories of England, Scotland, and Wales.