Series: Brief Histories

The next in this series of admirably concise yet nevertheless comprehensive titles looks at the history of all Americans as well as America; its environmental history and its linkage to economic history; the political shaping of America; and America in the world, from being a colony to post-Cold War America. Black examines the environmental history of America and its linkage...

As the United Kingdom left the European Union, during a period of international and domestic turmoil, London found itself at a turning point. This critical moment presents an opportunity to look back, with a distinctive perspective, focusing on London in its national and, perhaps even more importantly, its international contexts, rather than on the city itself in isolation. It is...

This brilliantly concise history of the Pacific Ocean succeeds in examining both the indigenous presence on the ocean's islands and Western control or influence over its islands and shores. There is a particular focus on the period from the 1530s to 1890, with a greater Western coastal and oceanic presence in the Pacific, beginning with the Spanish takeover of the...

A concise history of the Caribbean's long and fascinating history, from pre-contact civilisations to the present day This is a concise history, intended for travellers, but of inestimable value to anyone looking for an overview of the Caribbean and its mainland coastal states, with a focus on the past few centuries. The history of the Caribbean does not make much...

From the Great Exhibition's showcasing of British national achievement in 1851 to the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Stratford in 2012 and on to Brexit, an insightful exploration of the transformation of modern Britain. This revised and updated fourth and final volume in the concise Brief History of Britain series begins in the specially-constructed Crystal Palace, three times the...

From the dawn of history to the decline of the Celtic Tiger, Ireland has been shaped over the centuries by many influences: geography, war, and the fight for liberty. A Brief History of Ireland is the perfect introduction to this exceptional place, its people, and its culture. Ireland has been home to successive groups of settlers — Celts, Vikings, Normans,...

The Atlantis story remains one of the most haunting and enigmatic tales from antiquity, and one that still resonates very deeply with the modern imagination. But where did Atlantis come from, what was it like, and where did it go to? Atlantis was first introduced by the Greek philosopher Plato in two dialogues, the Timaios and Kritias, written in the...

The history of Germany is intricately woven, threaded in time through its struggles and triumphs with religion, industrialisation, enlightenment, politics, unification, and war. In A Brief History of Germany, Jeremy Black questions how the Germany we know today came to be, chronicling the events that shaped its past, present and future in a fascinating new way. From the fall of...

Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade, raid and invade along the coasts of Europe. Their influence and expeditions extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad, their battles were as far-flung as Africa and the Arctic. But were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts, noble heathens or oafish pirates, the last pagans or the...

When we think of France, we tend to think of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of Paris or the chic beaches of St Tropez. Yet, as the largest country in Europe, France is home to extraordinary diversity. The idea of 'Frenchness' emerged through 2,000 years of history, and it is this riveting story, from the Roman conquest of...

Black artists in Britain have long been making major contributions to art history. While some of these artists have been embraced at times by the art world, for the most part, they have not received the recognition they deserve. Taking as its starting point the London-based Caribbean Artists Movement, this concise introduction showcases the work of over sixty Black British...

The presence of the South Asian diaspora in Britain reaches back to at least the seventeenth century, but the most significant period of migration came after the Second World War. At this time, many were invited to the UK to fill labour shortages or became refugees after the expulsion of Africans of Asian descent from Uganda. A Brief History of...

The Atlantic has borne witness to major historic events that have drastically shaped humanity with each crossing of its path. In this broad and readable book, A Brief History of the Atlantic, Jeremy Black takes the reader through its evolution to becoming one of the most important oceans in the world. Black discusses the importance of the Atlantic in relation...

In this compelling, powerful book, highly respected writer and commentator Jack Holland sets out to answer a daunting question: how do you explain the oppression and brutalization of half the world's population by the other half, throughout history? The result takes the reader on an eye-opening journey through centuries, continents and civilizations as it looks at both historical and contemporary...

In this lively and very readable history of the Roman Empire from its establishment in 27 BC to the barbarian incursions and the fall of Rome in AD 476, Stephen P. Kershaw draws on a range of evidence, from Juvenal's Satires to recent archaeological finds. He examines extraordinary personalities such as Caligula and Nero, and seismic events such as the...

Art has always declared its dissatisfaction against the status quo. Throughout history, artists have used their art to criticise and protest against a range of injustices and inequalities. Their art is an act of defiance, but more importantly, it has given a voice to the marginalised. This short but powerful book showcases the work of a range of artists from...

For centuries, the Celts held sway in Europe. Even after their conquest by the Romans, their culture remained vigorous, ensuring that much of it endured to feed an endless fascination with Celtic history and myths, artwork and treasures. An authority on the Celtic peoples and their culture, Peter Berresford Ellis presents an overview of their world in A Brief History...