This broad-ranging work examines all edged weapons featuring more than 400 examples from around the world. From the swords & spears of ancient Egypt to the pike & thrusting polearms of medieval Europe & from the slashing sabres of the 17th century cavalry to the presentation & dress swords used for show pomp & civil ceremonies in the 1900s. Including not only all types of swords but also polearms pikes lances & spears this comprehensive volume also offers information on African Chinese Sri Lankan Indian & South-east Asian weapons. This book is an indispensable resource for the keen enthusiast & serious collector alike while the detailed close up photographs of each entry will delight anyone with an interest in the conflicts warriors & weapons that have been a part of every age in every part of the world throughout human history. ...

This is a comprehensive & magnificently illustrated encyclopedia of the Islamic faith its history philosophy & religious practice. It offers an insightful overview of Islamic beliefs teachings texts & traditions & an exploration of the Qur'an as the revealed word of God & as a sacred text. It discusses Islamic worship religious practices & Muslim life & discusses the significance of holy sites prayer fasting & pilgrimage. It is an unparalleled reference book for the general reader superbly illustrated with over 500 colour paintings photographs artworks & maps. In the contemporary world the Islamic community is represented by around 1.4 billion people or twenty five percent of the global population. To understand the religion of Islam it is essential to comprehend the prophet Muhammad his message his life & the early medieval Arabian society into which he was born. This book comprehensively explores the life & work of Muhammad the history of Islam Islamic beliefs & doctrine & religious practices & worship. Illustrated with more than 500 full-colour paintings artworks maps & photographs & including a helpful glossary at the end this book offers an introduction to & overview of a complex & often misunderstood religion. It is perfect for general readers new to Islam & a handy resource for students & scholars alike. ...

The uniforms from the 19th century are some of the most colourful & varied in the history of uniformology. In this book there are artworks of familiar Austrian hussars Prussian dragoons French chasseurs American continentals & British grenadiers but also Boer farmers Zulu Apache & Souix warriors Boxers from the Chinese rebellion & rebel Sepoys from the Great Indian mutiny. As well as illustrations of the uniforms equipment & kit the expert text examines the organization tactics & experience of the men-at-arms of these pivotal times where a century of war saw the beginning of a new era. This volume presents not only a unique visual directory of uniforms but an evocative portrait of the political military & social contexts of the soldiers of the time. ...

This title presents a comprehensive history with 1000 photographs. It offers an authoritative account of Greek military & political power architecture sculpture & art drama & philosophy & their lasting influence on Western culture. Discover how ancient Greece became one of the finest civilizations ever seen & the lives of her great writers including Plato Homer & Aristotle. It details the fabulous myths & legends of the great gods of Mount Olympus
- from Zeus Hero & Athena to Apollo Poseidon & Aphrodite. Accounts of temples palaces & archaeological sites display the influence of ancient Greece on the birth of Western civilization architecture & art. Battleplans & maps chart the military history of ancient Greece including war with Sparta the Persian Wars & the campaigns of Alexander the Great. With over 1000 magnificent colour photographs sculptures paintings & plans maps & artworks this lavishly illustrated reference guide evokes the magnificent heritage of classical Greece. The legacy of the ancient Greeks has shaped our world. Classical Greece's military prowess political sophistication & cultural innovations continue to captivate & influence our modern society. The first half of the book focuses on political & military history from Mycenae & the Golden Age of Athens to the campaigns of Alexander the Great. The second half concerns ancient Greece's magnificent buildings sculptures mythology & dramas & their influence on world art architecture & society. This is a breathtaking exploration of the world of the ancient Greeks & an indispensable resource for both the general & specialist reader.
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This is a thrilling face-to-face encounter with the intimate lives elaborate displays & extraordinary behaviour of animals in the wild. Internationally renowned zoologist & TV presenter Charlotte Uhlenbroek brings the animal kingdom to vivid life in the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animal Life". Illustrated with astonishing wildlife photography & action sequences every aspect of animal life & behaviour is explored & explained
- from courtship rituals & birth to hunting & death. Mammals birds reptiles amphibians fish & invertebrates
- thousands of all kinds are featured as well as explanations on how the animal kingdom is organised & how animals bodies function. Plus critical conservation issues are also explored. From the fleeting life of a mayfly to the ten-year courtship of the manakin the " Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animal Life" lays bare the animal kingdom in all its awe-inspiring glory & detail."

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This beautifully illustrated book explores the rich heritage of Islamic art. Starting with the original Arab-style courtyard mosques it traces the development of mosque architecture over the centuries & in different cultures. Meticulously researched with more than 500 colour photographs & artworks the book provides an essential overview of Islamic art & architecture. From architectural monuments to pottery carpet & costume it embraces the range of Islamic artistic achievement including the form revered by Muslims as the highest & purest of them all
- calligraphy the elegant decorative writing that represents the sacred words of God as revealed in the Quran.
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This is a magnificent visual account of Britains architectural & historical heritage celebrated in over 500 beautiful photographs fine-art paintings drawings & maps. It is a truly impressive reference to the historic buildings of the United Kingdom
- the castles royal palaces stately homes fortified manors & the great country houses. It has full coverage of the World Heritage Sites of Edward Is castles at Beaumaris Harlech Caernarvon & Conwy; Blenheim Palace the Tower of London & the Palace of Westminster; with in-depth features on over 120 royal palaces historic houses & gardens. The book is illustrated with over 500 photographs & paintings of landscapes exteriors & interiors. An A-Z gazetteer with contact details plus over 50 maps help you explore Britains architectural legacy. This sumptuously illustrated history is an authoritative guide to the castles royal residences & historic houses of Britain & Northern Irel&. It combines an in-depth account of the most important buildings with a wealth of stories & information about Britains glorious architectural past & heritage including Burghley House Longleat Windsor Castle & Balmoral. Special features focus on important art & architectural movements & on the great architects including Wren Adam Wyatt & Lutyens. More than 500 photographs & specially commissioned maps plans & drawings bring these national treasures vividly to life.
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This is a detailed study of the armies of Rome & their enemies including the Etruscans Samnites Carthaginians Celts Macedonians Gauls Huns Sassanids Persians & Turks. It is an incredible visual reference of the fighting men of Rome & their enemies from the earliest settlement on the River Tiber in the 8th century BC to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It offers a concise & authoritative overview of the rise of the Roman Empire its campaigns conquests & tactics with detailed information on the men at arms. It

Includes:: coverage of the Roman navy & sea battles as well as the artillery pieces siege engines defenses & military structures built by the army
- from the north-west reaches of the empire to the far east. It is illustrated with over 670 images of military dress weapons galleys ballistas & fortifications. This book details the uniforms of the Roman army & its enemies from the first decades of tribal warfare in Italy through the republican & imperial periods up to the end of the eastern Roman Empire. It

Includes:: expert insight into the armys astonishing engineering feats the discipline of the legions & the relentless expansion of the empire. Including information on the arms & clothing of the Carthaginians Persians Huns & Turks & other enemies of Rome the book is a definitive & accessible visual study of the military dress of the period. There is also a fascinating history of the Romans artillery siege engines & fortifications & a special section on the founding & expansion of its navy.




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The war of 1914-1918 was a military political & social disaster. No other war changed the map of Europe so dramatically & more than 15 million people were killed. The dramatic political & social changes of the period were mirrored in the uniforms of the armed forces & the contrast between pre-war Europe & 1919 could not be more apparent. This unique illustrated book charts the developments in military uniform in fascinating detail: how the remaining reds & blues of 1900 soldiers died out in preference to browns greys & greens. It also tracks the evolution of hardware & ammunition. Evocative photographs of the struggle & stunning illustrations of the uniforms show in detail the changes reforms & modifications of all the major powers Great Britain France Russia Germany & Austria-Hungary. This unprecedented volume is an incredible visual study of the uniforms of a pivotal period of military history & of its context. ...

This is a new paperback version of Usbornes bestselling English Dictionary. It is a comprehensive dictionary with over a thousand colour illustrations straightforward definitions with part of speech indicators example sentences & pronunciation guides for tricky words. It also contains information on parts of speech the conventions of written English & a brief history of the English language. It is an essential & great value home or school reference book perfect for children beginning their SATs. ...