Books with author Don Nardo

To this day, Francis Drake is known as one of the greatest sailors and ship captains that England ever produced. Yet in his own daythe late 1600she was also widely known as a pirate, a term he hated with a passion. Pirates were common criminals, he said, which he was not. Instead, he was a privateer, a fighter who had been directed by Queen Elizabeth I, to attack Spanish vessels and colonies in the Americas. In fact, Drake not only seriously hindered the Spanish, he also made history by becoming only the second sea captain to sail around the globe, an incredible feat in that era. That expedition, along with several of Drakes other colorful adventures, became the stuff of legend. Today, historians sometimes struggle to separate fact from fiction in retelling his exciting deeds.

What was life really like for everyday people in the Islamic Golden Age? In this detailed exploration of daily life in one of history’s greatest civilizations, readers will use primary sources and information from archeological discoveries to discover fascinating insights and debunk popular myths. Immersive timelines, maps and references to important people and events will bring children on a time-traveling journey through the ancient Islamic world.

What was life really like for everyday people in Ancient Greece? In this detailed exploration of daily life in one of history’s greatest civilizations, readers will use primary sources and information from archeological discoveries to discover fascinating insights and debunk popular myths. Immersive timelines, maps and references to important people and events will bring children on a time-traveling journey through Ancient Greece.

Mathew Brady recognized that the new art of photography could be more than just a means of capturing people's likenesses in portraits. Beginning with the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861 and continuing through the entire Civil War, Brady and his employees chronicled the long, bloody conflict, bringing images of war directly to the people. Brady knew the photos would create valuable historical records for later generations. More than any other photographer of his generation, Brady understood photography's great potential and through his influence, he taught others to understand it as well.

In the mid 19th century, a few women living in upstate New York decided it was time for women to stop accepting their status as second class citizens. Women lacked many basic civil rights that men enjoyed, including suffrage the right to vote. These women from New York held a convention in which they demanded their rights. Their battle took more than 70 years to win. Along the way they were opposed and mocked by male and female anti suffragists who tried to stifle their efforts.

In the mid 19th century, a few women living in upstate New York decided it was time for women to stop accepting their status as second class citizens. Women lacked many basic civil rights that men enjoyed, including suffrage the right to vote. These women from New York held a convention in which they demanded their rights. Their battle took more than 70 years to win. Along the way they were opposed and mocked by male and female anti suffragists who tried to stifle their efforts.

In the mid-1860s, as the Union Pacific Railroad headed westward from Nebraska, another company, the Central Pacific, pushed eastward from California. Their goal was to meet somewhere in between, forming a single railway line that would bridge the continent. That historic meeting took place in May 1869 in northern Utah, and photographer Andrew J. Russell was there to document the historic event. His work resulted in one of the most important photos of the 19th century and probably the most famous railroad image of all time. The photo, often called “East and West,” was viewed by a worldwide audience and affirmed that railroads were at the cutting edge of transportation technology. The continent was now linked.