Empires, Conquests and Legends: Historical Figures and Adventures That Changed the World

A gripping adventure, a story of courage and daring, this is the definitive history of the Flying Tigers, fully revised and updated. The author made extensive reference to the historical archives of the United States and Japan, and used a large number of memoirs and interview materials of the parties involved to clear away the layers of historical fog surrounding the Flying Tigers and strive to restore the true historical scenes and the true colors of historical figures. In order to keep this work up to date, the author has made a comprehensive revision based on new research results from American, British and Japanese scholars. New material from American Volunteer Air Corps veterans, including Eric Schilling and Tex Hill, and newly discovered memoirs of Japanese and New Zealand pilots add to the historical picture presented in this book.

On Christmas Day 800, King Charles of the Franks was crowned Emperor of the Romans. This was an emperor who shaped Europe. Barbero vividly depicts Charlemagne's appearance, tastes, habits, family life, thoughts and behavior. The author also unfolds the overall history of the Frankish Kingdom and the Carolingian Empire, showing Charlemagne's method of ruling the empire, how to ensure justice, and how to organize wars; he also describes the daily life, economic activities, and religious concepts at that time. He analyzes the development of feudalism in the Carolingian Empire and the changing concepts of slavery and freedom, thereby explaining the dramatic changes that the emperor's wars brought to the political and social structure of the empire.

This book tells the story of how merchants and adventurers from Elizabethan England crossed the Atlantic and settled in the New World. In 1584, a voyage organized by Walter Raleigh arrived at Roanoke Island. In order to establish a settlement here, they made many attempts and explorations over the next 20 years and invested a lot of money, manpower and materials. Their experiences ranged from funny to tragic, and the whereabouts of some remain a mystery to this day. With the efforts of generations of adventurers, Jamestown was finally built in 1611. This was the first permanent colony established by the English on the far side of the Atlantic Ocean. Based on a large number of diaries and manuscripts, the author tells readers this ups and downs, exciting, mysterious and vivid story, and leads readers on an adventure journey to America.

Unique and unparalleled among the kings of England, Richard I played an active and leading role in many great achievements in world history. No monarch had ever faced the formidable challenges he faced in the Third Crusade. For centuries, Richard was regarded as one of the greatest kings for his crusading exploits. However, historians in modern times have begun to criticize Richard harshly, believing that he neglected to manage domestic affairs and regarded him as a reckless ruler and an unfit husband. In this authoritative work, Professor John Gillingham examines in detail the reasons for the mixed reviews of Richard and discusses Richard's governance of the country, proposing compelling new perspectives. The book also comes with an updated reference list for the reader's convenience.

This book uses "four seasons" to describe the four stages of Emperor Jiajing's long reign after he took charge. The outstanding symbol of each stage is a different and powerful first assistant: Zhang Cong, Xia Yan, Yan Song, and Xu Jie, corresponding to the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter respectively. The book reviews the entire process of Emperor Jiajing from ascending the throne to taking charge and finally assuming power. It introduces the interaction between the chief assistant and the emperor in detail in stages: revealing how the emperor cooperates with his ministers to govern the country? How does the emperor coexist with the mature administrative bureaucracy? This clearly presents the characteristics of political operation in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and provides a perspective on the relationship between the supreme ruler and his ministers.

In European history, there are few figures as great as King Friedrich the Great. When he succeeded to the Prussian throne in 1740, he ruled a weak and scattered kingdom; by the end of his reign, Prussia had become one of the great powers of continental Europe. In this book, historian Timothy Braining gives us a comprehensive portrait of the king who dominated the political, military, and cultural life of Europe half a century before Napoleon. Friedrich had a complex and multi-faceted character. He was sometimes a ruthless monarch, sometimes a strategizing battlefield commander, and sometimes an enthusiastic patron of the arts. He also maintained active contacts with other major thinkers of the era such as Voltaire. Timothy Breining's ambitious biography recounts Friedrich's remarkable life and the sweeping political and cultural transformation of Prussia under his rule. Readers can delve into the mind of this great monarch and better understand Prussia's rise to become a European power.

Frank McLean starts from the historical background of Temujin's rise, collects Chinese and Western historical materials, and describes in detail Genghis Khan's lifelong conquests and the establishment of the steppe empire. It involves the reform of the military and political system of the Great Mongol Empire, the impact of religious integration, and the continuity of Mongol expansion. The author not only attempts to create a more three-dimensional and distinct image of Genghis Khan, but also hopes to show readers the history of a "sudden rise" in Eurasia in the 13th century.

In the two to three hundred years after 1500, millions of white Europeans were kidnapped by Muslims from their homes at sea or along the coast, and then sold in the slave markets of North Africa. The British boy Thomas Pellow was one of the white slaves. In the early 18th century, he was bought by the Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail. At that time, the sultan was building a magnificent palace, which was built entirely by white slaves. Because Pelo was younger and more resourceful, he became the Sultan's personal slave. Perrault witnessed both this cruel regime and the spectacular scene of this court. After more than twenty years of servitude, Pelo finally regained his freedom and wrote his own story. This book is mainly based on Perlow's experiences and other relevant documents.

When the Jews revolted against Rome in AD 66, Josephus, a nobleman of Jerusalem, was appointed general. After being captured by the Romans, he gained favor with the emperor Vespasian and thus saved his life. He later served as an advisor to the Roman legions, believing that the only hope for Jewish survival was to surrender to Rome. As an eyewitness of the Jewish Revolt who was allowed access to Vespasian's battle notes, Josephus is an important source of information for us about the war that ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple and the amazing era in which he lived. For anyone interested in the early history of the Middle East, Josephus is a crucial figure and a deep and comprehensive understanding of him is necessary.

This book tells the legendary life of the Englishman William Adams (Japanese name: Miura Anzhen) and the story of the British opening up the Far East route in the 16th and 17th centuries. The author Giles Milton uses first-hand materials such as letters, diaries, and logbooks from his time to vividly and detailedly reproduce the British maritime adventures and the experiences of William Adams and other British people in Japan. This book shows readers a beautiful and mysterious medieval Japan, and helps readers understand a little-known aspect of the history of East-West exchanges in the Age of Discovery.