Michael Rank

Melissa Rank

The idea of a powerful woman in the Middle Ages seems like an oxymoron. Females in this time are imagined to be damsels in distress, trapped in a high tower, and waiting for knights to rescue them, all while wearing traffic-cones for a hat. After rescue, their lives improved little. Their career choices were to be a docile queen, housewife, or be burned at the stake for witchcraft. But what if this image of medieval women is a complete fiction? It turns out that it is. Powerful female rulers fill the Middle Ages. Anglo-Saxon queen Aethelflaed personally led armies into direct combat with Vikings in the 900s and saved England from foreign invasion. Byzantine Empress Theodora kept the empire from falling apart during the Nika Revolts and stopped her husband Justinian from fleeing Constantinople. Catherine of Siena almost single-handedly restored the papacy to Rome in the 1300s and navigated the brutal and male-dominated world of Italian politics. Joan of Arc completely reversed the fortunes of France in the Hundred Years War and commanded assaults on English fortresses despite being an illiterate 17-year-old peasant. This book will look at the lives of the ten most powerful women in the Middle Ages. Whether it is the famed scholar Anna Komnene, who wrote the first narrative history, or Ottoman Queen Mother Kösem Sultan, who ruled the Islamic empire through three of her sons - all these women held extraordinary levels of power at a time when women were thought to not have any. It will explore how they managed to ascend the throne, what made their accomplishments so notable, and the impact they had on their respective societies after their deaths. It will also describe the historical background of these women, their cultures, and what about it helped or hindered their rise.Their stories still echo down to today. They are a testimony to the resiliency of individuals to accomplish extraordinary things, even if society puts on them enormous constraints.

Queens, Saints, and Viking Slayers, from Empress Theodora to Elizabeth of Tudor

The Most Powerful Women in the Middle Ages

Few mixtures are as toxic as absolute power and insanity. When nothing stands between a leader's delusion whims and seeing them carried them out, all sorts of bizarre outcomes are possible. Whether it is Ottoman Sultan Ibrahim I practicing archery on palace servants and sending out his advisers to find the fattest woman in the empire for his wife or Turkmenistan President Turkmenbashi renaming the days of the week after himself and constructing an 80-foot golden statue that revolves to face the sun, crazed leaders have plagued society for millenia.This book will look at the lives of the ten most mentally unbalanced figures in history. Some suffered from genetic disorders that led to schizophrenia, such as French King Charles VI, who thought he was made of glass. Others believed themselves to be God's representatives on earth and wrote religious writings that they guaranteed to the reader would get them into heaven, even if they were barely literate. Whatever their background, these rulers show that dynastic politics made sure that a rightful heir always got on the throne - despite that heir's mental condition - and that power can destroy a mind worse than any mental illness.

Lunatics, Eccentrics, and Megalomaniacs from Emper

History's Most Insane Rulers

Veteran journalist and Ottoman historian Michael Rank brings you a concise history of 2,000 years of Middle Eastern war, peace, religious upstarts, and social breakdowns in this exciting new book. To most Westerners the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict appear utterly bewildering. Palestinians want to bomb Israelis that force them at gunpoint to live in restricted parts of the country. Arab leaders are furious about this situation and want Israelis "wiped off the map" and their land given back to Palestinians, even though the real estate of the Holy Land looks something like rural Utah. And nearly all the world's leaders see fit to chime in on this dispute over the two tiny lands.To untangle the modern Middle East conflict and the 2,000 years behind it, this book is divided into 25 concise chapters. Each one is devoted to a major theme in Middle East history, such as the beginning of Islam, the Crusades, Genghis Khan, and the beginning of Israel in 1948. They can be read in a few minutes, giving you a fast overview of the issues and help you to understand Middle East current events. By the end you will know as much about Middle East history and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as you would after a year-long college course. You will also sound highly knowledgeable about world affairs to your friends and associates.If you want to understand this part of the world completely in as short a time as possible, then "From Muhammed to Burj Khalifa" is for you!

A Crash Course in 2,000 Years of Middle East History

From Muhammed to Burj Khalifa

From the #1 bestselling author of History's Greatest Generals comes an exciting new paperback book on the greatest explorers in history and how their discoveries shaped the modern world Whether it is Rabban Bar Sauma, the 13th-century Chinese monk commissioned by the Mongols to travel West form a military alliance against the Islam; Marco Polo, who opened a window to the East for Europe; or Captain James Cook, whose maritime voyages of discovery created the global economy of the 21st century, each of these explorers had an indelible impact on the modern world. This book will look at the 11 greatest explorers in history. Some travelled for religious piety, such as Ibn Battuta, who travelled from North Africa to Indonesia in the 1300s, visiting every Islamic pilgrimage site between -- and becoming counselor to over 30 heads of state. Others travelled for profit, such as Ferdinand Magellan, who wanted to consolidate Spain's holdings on the spice trade. Still others travelled for discovery, such as Ernest Shackleton, who led two dozen men to the bottom of the world in an attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. Whatever their reason for discovery, these explorers still inspire us today to push the limits of human achievement -- and discover something about ourselves in the process.

Marco Polo, Captain Cook, and 9 Other Travelers and Explorers That Pushed the Boundaries of the Known World

Off the Edge of the Map

'The Crusades and the Soldiers of the Cross' is an exciting new book by best-selling author and historian Michael Rank about the quest to retake the Holy Land. It looks at the lives and times of the 10 most important people in one of the most interesting times in history, covering 1095 to 1212.Whether it is Peter the Hermit raising an army of 100,000 peasants to fight in the Holy Land with nothing but pitchforks or Baldwin IV personally leading his forces against Saladin despite having terminal leprosy, these larger-than-life figures were all drawn to the Holy Land and compelled to forsake their vast land holdings while embarking on a dangerous adventure against a superior enemy. This book will look at the reasons for these 10 figures joining the crusade. Perhaps it was for glory in battle, as was the case for Richard the Lionheart. For others it was simple curiosity, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, who added dramatic panache to the whole affair and brought along 300 female servants donned in decorative armor and carrying lances while on the march to Jerusalem. For many it was a simple faith conviction, such as the thousands of child crusades, who legend has it marched to the Mediterranean sea and expected it to open for them as the Red Sea had done for Moses. Whatever their background, these 10 crusaders demonstrate that a person willing to brave the enormously dangerous journey -- traveling to to a different continent over land no less -- had a personality fitting for the fascinating time in which they lived.

The 10 Most Important Crusaders, from German Emperors to Charismatic Hermits, Child Armies, and Warrior Leper

The Crusades and the Soldiers of the Cross

Buchbeschreibung: Vom Autor des die Bestseller Liste anführenden Buches „Hystory's Greatest Generals“, kommt hier ein neues und aufregendes Buch über die größten Zivilisationen, die spurlos verschwanden und warum sie uns heute noch beschäftigen. Ob es nun Platons verschollene Stadt Atlantis ist, ein technologisch fortschrittliches Utopia welches im Ozean versank, „an einem einzigen Tag und einer einzigen Nacht des Unglücks“, die Kolonie Roanoke, deren frühe amerikanischen Siedler von den wilden Wäldern des unerforschten Kontinents verschluckt worden zu sein scheinen oder die ursprünglichen Entdecker Amerikas, welche 2.000 Jahre vor Kolumbus die Neue Welt erreichten – das Verschwinden all dieser Gesellschaften ist ebenso mysteriös wie fragwürdig. Dieses Buch wird sich den Kulturen der zehn größten, untergegangenen Zivilisationen der Geschichte widmen. Manche waren ihren Nachbarn um Jahrhunderte voraus, wie etwa die Indus-Kultur, welches 3000 vor Chr. eine bessere Stadtplanung vorzuweisen hatte als manche europäische Stadt im 18. Jahrhundert. Andere hinterließen verwirrende Rätsel wie etwas die Ur-Pueblo-Indianer (früher bekannt als Anasazi), deren Felswohnungen in den Klippen so unerreichbar waren, dass jedes Mitglied ihrer Gesellschaft ein erfahrener Experte im Hangklettern hätte sein müssen. Das Buch wird auch versuchen zu erklären, wie riesige Gesellschaftssysteme, die für Jahrhunderte bestanden, spurlos verschwinden können. Sind die fähigen Baumeister der Pyramiden, deren Methoden zum Transport der riesigen Steine immer noch unklar sind, einfach verschwunden oder waren sie Mitglieder einer fortschrittlichen Rasse von Außerirdischen, wie einige Verschwörungstheoretiker behaupten? War das Königreich der Aksumer wirklich der Bewahrer der Bundeslade und führte das letztendlich zu ihrem Niedergang? Was auch immer die Gründe für ihr Verschwinden war, diese vergangenen Zivilisationen haben au

Verlorene Zivilisationen: 10 Kulturen, die spurlos verschwanden

Poucos misturas são tão tóxicas quanto o poder absoluto e insanidade. Quando não há obstáculos para os caprichos delirantes de um líder serem postos em prática, todos os tipos de resultados bizarros são possíveis. Seja o sultão otomano Ibrahim I praticando arco e flecha nos servos do palácio ou enviando seus conselheiros para encontrar a mulher mais gorda do império para ser sua esposa, ou então o presidente do Turcomenistão Turkmenbashi dando seu próprio nome aos dias da semana, e construindo uma estátua dourada de 24 metros voltada para o sol. Os líderes insanos têm atormentado a sociedade por milênios Esse livro irá analisar as vidas das dez diguras mais desequilibradas da história. Alguns sofriam com desordens genéticas que levaram à esquizofrenia, como por exemplo o rei francês Charles VI, que pensou que era feito de vidro. Outros acreditavam ser eles mesmos os representantes de Deus na terra e escreveram escritos religiosos que garantiam que o leitor iria para o céu, mesmo que o mesmo fosse pouco alfabetizado. Qualquer que fosse o seu background, esses ditadores mostram que a dinastia política se certificava que um herdeiro leg'timo sempre chegasse ao trono – não obstante sua condição mental – e que o poder pode destruir uma menta pior do que qualquer doença mental.

Os governantes mais insanos: lunáticos, excêntricos e megalomaníacos. Desde Calígula até Kim Jong II

Do autor do best-seller #1 History's Greatest Generals, chega um novo e empolgante livro sobre os maiores espiões que existiram e como os seus atos de espionagem e operações secretas mudaram o curso da história. Quer seja Enéas, o Tático, que criou a ciência militar ocidental; Francis Walsingham, espião da rainha Elizabeth que frustrou inúmeras tentativas de assassinato e teceu uma rede internacional de espionagem internacional no início do colonialismo europeu; ou Richard Sorge, o espião beberrão alemão para os soviéticos cuja interceptação de inteligência militar preveniu o colapso do exército russo na Segunda Guerra Mundial, cada um desses espiões teve um grande impacto na sociedade moderna. Este livro explora as vidas e os tempos dos dez maiores espiões, ou redes de espionagem, na história. Alguns assumiram status lendário, como Mata Hari, a dançarina exótica e cortesã da Primeira Guerra Mundial que compartilhou as camas de tantos oficiais franceses e alemães que não pôde evitar tornar-se uma agente dupla. Outros espionavam por pura convicção ideológica, como George Koval, um espião americano nascido em Iowa que vazou segredos nucleares para a União Soviética, acelerando em anos o programa nuclear da Rússia e tornando possível a corrida armamentista da Guerra Fria. Outros, ainda, atingiram um nível de adoração quase religiosa - Nathan Hale, o espião da era da Revolução Americana, teve uma carreira muito curta, mas se tornou o primeiro mártir da América e um estimado símbolo nacional. Qualquer que fosse sua razão para a espionagem, estes espiões representaram a mão invisível do poder governamental. Suas vidas eram envoltas em mistério - e muitos tiveram origens tão complicadas que nós ainda desconhecemos sua verdadeira lealdade, se eles tiveram alguma. Mas apesar de suas vidas enigmáticas, eles foram a mão invisível que ajudou a dirigir o curso da história.

Espiões, Espionagem e Operações Secretas - Da Grécia Antiga à Guerra Fria

Van de # 1 bestseller auteur van History's Greatest Generals is nu een spannend nieuw boek verschenen over de invloedrijkste samenlevingen in de geschiedenis die spoorloos zijn verdwenen en waarom hun verdwijning ons vandaag nog steeds achtervolgt. Of het nu Plato's verloren stad Atlantis is, een technologisch geavanceerde utopie die in de oceaan zonk "in één onfortuinlijk etmaal", de kolonie van Roanoke, waarvan de vroege Amerikaanse kolonisten werden verzwolgen door de ruige boslanden van het onontdekte continent, of de oude Amerikaanse ontdekkingsreizigers, die 2000 jaar voor Columbus naar de Nieuwe Wereld kwamen, de verdwijning van deze samenlevingen is net zo raadselachtig als onaannemelijk. Dit boek zal culturen behandelen van de 10 grootste verloren beschavingen in de geschiedenis. Sommigen waren millennia voor op hun buren, zoals de Indus Vallei Beschaving, die in 3000 voor Christus een betere stadsplanning had dan alle Europese hoofdsteden in de 18e eeuw. Anderen lieten verbluffende mysteries achter, zoals de oude Pueblo-volken (vroeger bekend als de Anasazi), wier rotswoningen zo ontoegankelijk waren, dat elk lid van de samenleving een expert in bergbeklimmen heeft moeten zijn. Het zal ook uitleg geven over hoe enorme samenlevingen, die eeuwenlang bestonden, spoorloos konden verdwijnen. Zijn de bouwers van de piramides, bekwame ambachtslieden wier methode om massale stenen te transporteren nog steeds onverklaarbaar is, gewoon verdwenen of waren ze onderdeel van een geavanceerd buitenaards ras, zoals de samenzweringstheoretici beweren? Was het Koninkrijk Aksum echt de bewaarder van de Ark van het Verbond, en leidde dit tot hun ondergang? Wat de aard van hun verdwijning ook was, wij kunnen vandaag de dag lering trekken uit deze verloren beschavingen: zelfs de grootste samenlevingen kunnen verdwijnen, en wijzelf zijn daarbij niet uitgesloten.

Verloren Beschavingen: 10 samenlevingen die spoorloos verdwenen

Dall'autore del best-seller #1 "I dieci grandi generali della storia", arriva un nuovo appassionante libro sui più grandi esploratori della storia e sul modo in cui le loro scoperte hanno plasmato il mondo moderno. Che si tratti di Rabban Bar Sauma, il monaco cinese del tredicesimo secolo incaricato dai mongoli di viaggiare verso ovest per formare un'alleanza militare contro l'Islam, o di Marco Polo, che ha aperto una finestra sull'oriente per l'Europa, o del Capitano James Cook, i cui viaggi alla scoperta del mare crearono l'economia globale del ventunesimo secolo, ognuno di questi esploratori ha avuto un'incredibile impatto sulla società moderna. Questo libro tratterà degli undici più grandi esploratori della storia. Alcuni hanno viaggiato per devozione religiosa, come Ibn Battuta, che ha viaggiato dal Nord Africa fino all'Indonesia nel 1300, visitando, sul percorso, ogni luogo del pellegrinaggio islamico. Altri hanno viaggiato per profitto, come Ferdinando Magellano, che voleva consolidare i possedimenti spagnoli sul commercio delle spezie. Altri hanno viaggiato per il semplice brivido dell'avventura, come l'esploratore vittoriano Richard Francis Burton, che imparò 29 lingue, andò in pellegrinaggio alla Mecca sotto copertura e scrisse 50 libri su argomenti che variano dalla traduzione del Kama Sutra al manuale di esercizi con la baionetta. Anche altri hanno viaggiato per il piacere della scoperta, come Ernest Shackleton, che ha condotto ventiquattro uomini alla base del mondo nel tentativo di attraversare l'Antartide a piedi. Quali che siano state le ragioni per la scoperta, questi esploratori ci ispirano ancora oggi a superare i limiti della conquista umana e a scoprire nel frattempo qualcosa su noi stessi.

Michael Rank

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