Why did the medieval Church bless William of Normandy's invasion of Christian England in 1066 & authorise cultural genocide in Provence? How could a Christian army sack Christian Constantinople in 1204? Why did thousands of ordinary men & women led by knights & ladies kings & queens embark on campaigns of fanatical conquest in the world of Islam? The word ' Crusade' came later but the concept of a 'war for the faith' is an ancient one Geoffrey Hindley instructively unravels the story of the Christian military expeditions that have perturbed European history troubled Christian consciences & embittered Muslim attitudes towards the West He offers a lively record of the Crusades from the Middle East to the pagan Baltic & fascinating portraits of the major personalities from Godfrey of Bouillon the first Latin ruler of Jerusalem to Etienne the visionary French peasant boy who inspired the tragic Children's Crusade Addressing questions rarely considered Hindley sheds new light on pressing issues surrounding religious division & shows how the Crusades have helped to shape the modern world & relations between Christian & Muslim countries to this day ...

For over a hundred years England repeatedly invaded France on the pretext that her kings had a right to the French throne France was a large unwieldy kingdom England was small & poor but for the most part she dominated the war sacking towns & castles & winning battles
- including such glorious victories as Crecy Poitiers & Agincourt but then the English run of success began to fail & in four short years she lost Normandy & finally her last stronghold in Guyenne The protagonists of the Hundred Year War are among the most colourful in European history for the English Edward III the Black Prince & Henry V later immortalized by Shakespeare; for the French the splendid but inept John II who died a prisoner in London Charles V who very nearly overcame England & the enigmatic Charles VII who did at last drive the English out Desmond Seward's account traces the changes that led to France's final victory & brings to life all the intrigue & colour of the last chivalric combats as they gave way to a more brutal modern warfare
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' From the Fury of the Northmen deliver us O Lord' Between the eighth & eleventh centuries the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade raid & invade along the coasts of Europe Their influence & expeditions extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad their battles were as far-flung as Africa & the Arctic But were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts noble heathens or oafish pirates the last pagans or the first of the modern Europeans? This concise study puts medieval chronicles Norse sagas & Muslim accounts alongside more recent research into ritual magic genetic profiling & climatology It

Includes:: biographical sketches of some of the most famous Vikings from Erik Bloodaxe to Saint Olaf & King Canute to Leif the Lucky It explains why the Danish king Harald Bluetooth lent his name to a twenty-first century wireless technology; which future saint laughed as she buried foreign ambassadors alive; why so many Icelandic settlers had Irish names; & how the last Viking colony was destroyed by English raiders Extending beyond the traditional ' Viking age' of most books A Brief History of the Vikings places sudden Scandinavian population movement in a wider historical context It presents a balanced appraisal of these infamous sea kings explaining both their swift expansion & its supposed halt Supposed because ultimately the Vikings didn't disappear they turned into us

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Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries? These are just some of the questions considered in an internationally acclaimed masterpiece by one of the world's greatest thinkers It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space & time from the Big Bang to black holes via spiral galaxies & strong theory To this day A Brief History of Time remains a staple of the scientific canon & its succinct & clear language continues to introduce millions to the universe & its wonders This new edition

Includes:: updates from Stephen Hawking with his latest thoughts about the No Boundary Proposal & offers new information about dark energy the information paradox eternal inflation the microwave background radiation observations & the discovery of gravitational waves It is published to accompany the launch of a new app Stephen Hawking's Pocket Universe

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This textbook offers the perfect introduction to the complex world of social work theory giving a concise yet comprehensive overview of how practice is influenced by each theoretical approach described The book begins by outlining the origins & historical context of social work which allows the reader to see show how theoretical fashions have changed & adapted to certain times & concludes with advice on the best way forward for the modern-day social worker Packed with thought-provoking discussions surrounding the topic students will be encouraged to question the theories portrayed
- a skill crucial to being a truly effective social work practitioner Written by one social work's most highly regarded commentators the book's accessible & easy-to-read writing style makes it a must-have companion for students & practitioners looking to gain an overall view of social work theory
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Engaging & accessible to students from all backgrounds A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament The Hebrew Bible in Its Context Third Edition is an updated & concise version of Michael D Coogan's best-selling The Old Testament A Historical & Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures Third Edition (OUP 2013) Coogan works primarily from a historical & critical methodology but also introduces students to literary analysis & other interpretive strategies Providing a nondenominational & nondoctrinal treatment this text offers a unique & captivating introduction to the Hebrew scriptures themselves & to how they have been-and can be-interpreted PEDAGOGICAL FEATURES Chapter introductions connecting each chapter to the preceding material & previewing the material to come Chapter summaries that highlight key points & link each chapter to the rest of the book Important terms boldfaced at their first appearance & defined in the glossary Numerous strategically placed text boxes that offer interesting & useful supplementary information Timelines photos illustrations maps & a four-color insert on Jerusalem in biblical times Review questions suggestions for further reading a general bibliography & annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter A FREE 6-month subscription to Oxford Biblical Studies Online (wwwoxfordbiblicalstudiescom)-a 180 value-with the purchase of every new copy of this text ...

Stephen Hawking's worldwide bestseller A Brief History of Time has been a landmark volume in scientific writing Its author's engaging voice is one reason & the compelling subjects he addresses is another the nature of space & time the role of God in creation the history & future of the universe But it is also true that in the years since its publication readers have repeatedly told Professor Hawking of their great difficulty in understanding some of the book's most important concepts This is the origin of & the reason for A Briefer History of Time its author's wish to make its content accessible to readers
- as well as to bring it up-to-date with the latest scientific observations & findings Although this book is literally somewhat 'briefer' it actually expands on the great subjects of the original Purely technical concepts such as the mathematics of chaotic boundary conditions are gone Conversely subjects of wide interest that were difficult to follow because they were interspersed throughout the book have now been given entire chapters of their own including relativity curved space & quantum theory This reorganization has allowed the authors to expand areas of special interest & recent progress from the latest developments in string theory to exciting developments in the search for a complete unified theory of all the forces of physics Like prior editions of the book-but even more so
- A Briefer History of Time will guide nonscientists everywhere in the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time & space Thirty-eight full-colour illustrations enhance the text & make A Briefer History of Time an exhilarating addition in its own right to the literature of science

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The first book ever to offer a proven fast inexpensive practical approach to permanently cutting greenhouse gas emissions increasing our commitment to both renewable & nuclear energy together 288 pages 120 4C photos Goldstein Joshua S ...

A young mother struggles to survive in wartime London A poignant & touching saga by Pam Evans the much-loved author of DANCE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY & WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN 288 pages Evans Pamela ...

0pt;font-family" Verdana""sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family Verdana;colorblack' Ella is mourning her dead mother & suffering the cruelty of a new step-mother But when Martha an old lady falls in the street & Ella helps her get home she feels Martha's strange magical power Soon her life begins to change for the better 0pt;font-family" Verdana""sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family Verdana;colorblack' 0pt;font-family" Verdana""sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family Verdana;colorblack'A Brightness out of the Blue is a beautiful modern-day fairytale with a twist in the tale ...