England has more ancient native oak trees than the rest of Europe combined. How did that come about? The reasons are all historical, & nothing to do with climate or soil factors. This story goes back to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. They created Royal Forests, chases & deer parks, where only the nobility could hunt or keep deer & it was forbidden to cut the trees. This was, if you like, an early form of nature conservation, but for the sake of privileged hunting. Preservation of these oaks further continued through a combination of private ownership of thousands of parks, conservatism of the landowners, overseas timber availability & the absence of ruining wars on the English landscape; the majority of which had been confined to the continent. Modernisation of forestry in England only took hold after 1920, & by that stage too late to destroy all of the old & worthless hollow trees. In contrast, modern forestry was introduced on the continent at least 200 years earlier, with devastating results for ancient trees. We owe the ancient oaks to all these circumstances which created a unique `population` of ancient oaks, highly important for biodiversity & an asset unique to Engl&. In this book Aljos Farjon combines history with science & tells the story of how ancient oaks have shaped the English landscape over the past 1000 years. The two native species of oak, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) & sessile oak (Q. petraea) are among the longest living trees in Engl&. & using data made available by `citizen science` (data gathered by volunteers across the country) Aljos explains this remarkable situation by giving detailed evidence, enhanced with beautiful images of these stunning oaks as well as graphs & maps. ...

In this revised & all-colour edition of her indispensable guide to the ancient Games, Judith Swaddling traces their mythological & religious origins, & describes the events, the sacred ceremony & the celebrations that were an essential part of the Olympic festival. A large, detailed model based on modern research & excavation reconstructs the site of ancient Olympia, where alongside religious & civic buildings there grew an elaborate sports complex with a stadium for 40, 000 spectators, indoor & outdoor training facilities, hot & cold baths, a swimming pool & a race-course. Later chapters cover the diet & medical treatment of athletes, sponsorship, patronage, propaganda & revivals of the Games & a brand new chapter, based on the latest research discusses the literary sources for the Olympic Games. The expanded final chapter on the modern Games is written in collaboration with Stewart Binns, an expert in this field who has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee over many years, & has been revised to bring the story up to the preparations for the London 2012 Games. Illustrated with gorgeous, full-colour photography & covering thousands of years of Olympic history, this fascinating book is essential reading for anyone interested in the Olympic Games. ...

Burma/ Mayanmar has opened up to tourism in the last year or two & record numbers are now visiting this beautiful, mesmerising country. All visitors to Burma will visit the ancient kingdom of Pagan (now called Bagan), along with the Inle lake, it is the most visited place in Burma & captures the heart & imagination of all who see the sun set on this beguiling landscape of temples & stupas. Pagan is the largest & most resplendent centre of Buddhist art in the ancient world. Construction in the city peaked between the 11th & 13th centuries when over 2, 000 temples, monasteries & stupas were created along the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy. Local architects mastered complex brick vaulting techniques unrivalled in Asia, while mural painters & stone carvers fashioned a distinctive style of Burmese art. The pace of building slowed dramatically after the capital shifted to the Mandalay area in the mid-14th century, but the city never lost its special religious & cultural significance, furnishing a field of merit to Buddhists old & new. Burma, now known as Myanmar, was terra incognita for many decades, but the lifting of travel restrictions has made this temple city now accessible. ...

” Ancient Perspectives” encompasses a vast arc of space & time
- Western Asia to North Africa & Europe from the third millennium
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DK Eyewitness Ancient Rome is a spectacular & informative guide to one of history's greatest civilizations, the Romans, their conquests & achievements that have shaped modern society. Amazing colour photographs offer your child a unique 'eyewitness' view of these incredible civilisations. This title helps you show your child what life was like for the average Roman & discover the many ancient gods that they worshipped & the powerful senators & emperors who ruled over the empire. Then use the giant pull-out wall chart to decorate their room. Great for projects or just for fun, make sure your child learns everything they need to know about Ancient Rome. Find out more & download amazing clipart images at our associated website. ...

Packed with illustrations & special features, this book distils centuries of history into a highly readable overview of Ancient Rome, enhanced with the voices of Romans in their own words. Starting with an introduction exploring the intriguing origins of the ancient Romans, the authors then look more closely at what made this civilization so unique, choosing topics such as the city, empire & citizenship, the army, trade & engineering, religious & domestic life, spectacles & entertainment. Making full use of the rich resources & images of the British Museum, the authors show how ancient Rome was able to play such a major role in the subsequent development of Western culture, through to its legacy in the modern Western world. Each chapter has its own substantial annotated bibliography in addition to a comprehensive general list of books & web resources. Further reference tools include a list of international museum collections, chronologies & a general index. This book will appeal to a wide range of general readers, museum visitors, undergraduate students & life-long learners. ...

This book is a spectacular & engaging non-fiction eyewitness guide to one of history`s greatest civilizations, ” Ancient Rome”. How did the Roman`s shape our world? What was life like for the average Roman? Find out in eyewitness ” Ancient Rome” & discover all about Roman`s & their civilization. From powerful senators & emperors to the Roman`s ancient Gods you`ll have a spectacular view into one of history`s most fascinating civilizations. Eyewitness reference books are now more interactive & colourful, with new infographics, statistics, facts & timelines, plus a giant pull-out wall chart, you`ll be an expert on Ancient Rome in no time. This book is great for projects or just for fun, learn everything you need to know about the Roman`s with Eyewitness. ...

Here is an informative & entertaining guide to everything that any tourist needs for a journey back in time to ancient Rome in AD 200. You need only pack your imagination & a toothbrush
- this guide provides the rest, describing all the best places to stay & shop, what to do, & what to avoid. Brought to life with wonderful computer-generated reconstructions of ancient Rome, this highly original, witty book will appeal to tourists, armchair travellers & history buffs.
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This book features nearly 1000 photographs, fine art paintings, battleplans, maps, architectural cross-sections & artworks reveal the glory & the might of ancient Rome. It is an authoritative account of Roman imperial, military & political power, & of classical Rome`s far-reaching influence on Western culture, architecture & the arts. You can discover the scandals of ancient Rome
- the excesses of Caligula & Nero, & romance of Antony & Cleopatra. Soldiers & statesmen, writers & thinkers, & powerful women, all come alive in this history of Rome. Military campaigns & tactics; art & architecture; life & work, society, sport & games
- every major theme of Roman history is explored in this comprehensive book. The legacy of ancient Rome, from tiny republic to world-ruling empire, shapes the world we inhabit today. The first half of the book focuses on the political & military history of Rome. Every major campaign & battle is described, from the Punic Wars & Caesar`s Conquest of Gaul to the conquest of Britain, Dacia & the East. The second part records Rome`s influence on the development of world art, architecture, philosophy, society & daily life, with drawings of the Colosseum, the Pantheon & other World Heritage buildings. This is the perfect history of Rome for any student of history, archaeology or the classical world. It will provide inspiration for anyone planning to visit Italy or other sites in the once-great Roman Empire.

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The legacy of Ancient Rome shapes the world we inhabit today. The history of Rome
- as a tiny primitive kingdom, as an ever-growing
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