The Story Of The World In 100 Moments

'Oliver is an evocative storyteller, vividly bringing his tales to life' BBC History From Genghis Khan's domination on earth to Armstrong's first steps on the moon, discover the 100 moments that defined humanity and shaped our world forever. Neil Oliver takes us on a whistle-stop tour around the world and through a million years to give us this unique and invaluable grasp of how human history pieces together. From the east to the west, north to south, these 100 moments act like stepping stones allowing us to make sense of how these pivotal events have shaped the world we know today. Including many moments readers will expect - from the advent of the printing press to the birth of the internet - there are also surprises, and with them, some remarkable, unforgettable stories that give a whole new insight on our past. From the bestselling author of The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places, this is outstanding new history of how our world was made from 5000 BC to the present. ********************* Praise for Neil Oliver 'Neil Oliver writes beautifully - bringing the past to life and letting us see ourselves in a new light.' - Professor Alice Roberts 'Brilliantly demonstrates Neil's mastery of the broad sweep of British history and landscape.' - Dan Snow 'Highly-crafted...a vivid, pungent history.' - TLS 'Compelling' - Daily Mail

"Everyone should have two copies - one for the car and one for the house to plan journeys. . . a reminder to think more about the places you pass and less about your route, because every British journey is through rich history." (Edward Stourton) From much-loved historian Neil Oliver, comes this beautifully written, kaleidoscopic history of a place with a story like no other. The British Isles, this archipelago of islands, is to Neil Oliver the best place in the world. From north to south, east to west it cradles astonishing beauty. The human story here is a million years old, and counting. But the tolerant, easygoing peace we enjoy has been hard won. We have made and known the best and worst of times. We have been hero and villain and all else in between, and we have learned some lessons. The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places is Neil’s very personal account of what makes these islands so special, told through the places that have witnessed the unfolding of our history. Beginning with footprints made in the sand by humankind’s earliest ancestors, he takes us via Romans and Vikings, the flowering of religion, through civil war, industrial revolution and two world wars. From windswept headlands to battlefields, ancient trees to magnificent cathedrals, each of his destinations is a place where, somehow, the spirit of the past seems to linger.

This book takes a dramatically original approach to the history of humanity, using objects which previous civilisations have left behind them, often accidentally, as prisms through which we can explore past worlds and the lives of the men and women who lived in them. The book's range is enormous. It begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with an object from the 21st century which represents the world we live in today. Neil MacGregor's aim is not simply to describe these remarkable things, but to show us their significance - how a stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people, how Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency or how an early Victorian tea-set tells us about the impact of empire. Each chapter immerses the reader in a past civilisation accompanied by an exceptionally well-informed guide. Seen through this lens, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. An intellectual and visual feast, it is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years.

Applying quirky illustrations and fun, informative text, 100 Events That Made History takes a look at the key events from the past that have helped shape our present. from bloodthirsty battles and rebellious revolutions to curious coincidences and unfortunate accidents. Full of history and history-makers, 100 Events That Made History contains all the historical accounts you'd expect to find, and plenty that you wouldn't! Divided into five chapters: Momentous Moments, Battling It Out, Weird or What?, Nasty Nature, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, major moments that have changed the course of history are showcased together with minor incidents to give full context to each event. From the Gold Rush to the moon landing, and the Great Fire of London to the sinking of the Titanic, 100 Events That Made History is perfect for book reports, school projects, or anytime reading to satisfy and educate curious minds.

One of the twentieth century’s enduring works, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a widely beloved and acclaimed novel known throughout the world and the ultimate achievement in a Nobel Prize–winning career. The novel tells the story of the rise and fall of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendía family. Rich and brilliant, it is a chronicle of life, death, and the tragicomedy of humankind. In the beautiful, ridiculous, and tawdry story of the Buendía family, one sees all of humanity, just as in the history, myths, growth, and decay of Macondo, one sees all of Latin America. Love and lust, war and revolution, riches and poverty, youth and senility, the variety of life, the endlessness of death, the search for peace and truth—these universal themes dominate the novel. Alternately reverential and comical, One Hundred Years of Solitude weaves the political, personal, and spiritual to bring a new consciousness to storytelling. Translated into dozens of languages, this stunning work is no less than an account of the history of the human race.

A compilation of photographs that capture the most important events of the past century in a study of the key milestones and personalities of the modern world, ranging from two World Wars to the horrific events of September 11th.

DC Comics has created some of the most twisted and complex villainous characters in the world of comics. The third installment in the popular 100 Greatest Moments of DC Comics series, DC Comics Super-Villains features the pivotal acts that shaped the characters of 74 of these bad guys in over 200 pages of art. Every hero needs a villain. In fighting them, the extreme superiority of our heroes is revealed. The methods and morals of villains are usually the key difference between them and the heroes. Batman, for instance, is a vigilante who cleans up the streets while never stooping so low as to kill the deplorable criminals he battles. What makes him truly good is that he upholds these standards even when he's faced with a villain like the Joker, an entity that would arguably be better off dead. Many bad guys cause mayhem for mayhem's sake, with sometimes no apparent reason other than simply being bad. What makes a villain great, however, is the complexity of their character. The truly terrible villains of DC Comics have depths of cruelty that grow with them, and specific motivations driving them. In these pages, you will see these super-villains at the peak of their achievements; committing heinous acts of death and destruction, all to achieve a specific goal. They challenge the heroes and their ideals, seeing the caped and cowled figures as obstacles to be overcome. Compiled by several groups of hardcore fans, these 100 moments are the greatest (worst?) villainous acts in DC Comic book history. A summary of each super-villain brings new fans up to speed, from their origins to their most dastardly revivals. It's a great starting point for new readers or a nostalgic look for hardcore fans through the villains old and new.