Books with author Michael Hessel-Mial

At the dawn of Europe's Scientific Revolution, China was a major world power. With million-person cities, vast navies, and a robust trade in luxury goods, China was a country of marvels. The "Central Kingdom" was also a country of invention. This fascinating resource explores the science and technology behind China's rise to power: the incredible scope, the unique traditions that supported it, and the reasons for the eventual decline of the dynastic era. Readers will learn of agricultural innovations, massive building projects, elaborate machines, and countless inventions that changed the way the world ate, drank, read, waged war, and traveled.

Black magic is a disease. Shadow Company is the cure.Thorn was lucky or so he was told. Most witches caught outside the internment camps end up doing hard time. Some just disappear. When the Office of State Security offered Thorn a choice between a trial for black magic or parole to America's counter-sorcery force, he jumped at the chance. Ten years in a Shadow Company uniform sounded like a better gig than life behind bars. But things aren't always as simple as they appear.For seventy years, America has fought a magical cold war against the Thule sorcerers of the European Reich. But things are heating up again...Everything changes when Thorn's unit is sent to Mosul to eliminate Alarwi; a terrorist who throws spells like roadside bombs. In the bones of the ancient city, Thorn uncovers a Thule plot to release the Quarternary of the Attitude. If these demon princes break free, they'll bring more than beer and pretzels to the party. They'll bring Hell itself to earth.While in pursuit of the architects behind the plot, clues surface indicating that Thorn's tangled past is somehow involved. In order to clear his name and stop the Thule, Thorn will be forced to betray his unit and confront his past. But how can anyone hope to stop a prince of Hell?

As one of the world's oldest still practiced religions, Judaism has an illustrious history of fascinating, yet often misunderstood, beliefs and practices. Though it has only fourteen million followers today, Judaism is the basis of the Abrahamic religions, and as such influenced the core teachings of Christianity and Islam. The beautiful, colorful spreads in this elementary-level text offer readers a clear, yet thorough survey of Judaism's history, practices, and teachings. The significance of Rosh Hashana, Passover, and other Jewish festivals is covered, as well as cultural movements such as Zionism. Readers will also learn of atrocities carried out against the Jewish people, including the Holocaust, and learn about episodes of Anti-Semitism.

In size and sophistication, the most impressive empire in the Americas was the Incas. Established in Peru in the twelfth century, the Incan empire united millions of people and dozens of distinct cultures under a single governing system. The Incas lacked what many assume are essential to empire-building: writing, the wheel, a favorable climate. Still, the Incas overcame these challenges with incredible science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM innovations. These included terrace agriculture, elaborate road systems, earthquake-proof buildings, a planned economy without money, and an elaborate mathematics communicated with textiles. Incan accomplishments show that technological developments take many unexpected forms and will inspire your readers to think outside of the box.

At the dawn of Europe's Scientific Revolution, China was a major world power. With million-person cities, vast navies, and a robust trade in luxury goods, China was a country of marvels. The "Central Kingdom" was also a country of invention. This fascinating resource explores the science and technology behind China's rise to power: the incredible scope, the unique traditions that supported it, and the reasons for the eventual decline of the dynastic era. Readers will learn of agricultural innovations, massive building projects, elaborate machines, and countless inventions that changed the way the world ate, drank, read, waged war, and traveled.

In size and sophistication, the most impressive empire in the Americas was the Incas. Established in Peru in the twelfth century, the Incan empire united millions of people and dozens of distinct cultures under a single governing system. The Incas lacked what many assume are essential to empire-building: writing, the wheel, a favorable climate. Still, the Incas overcame these challenges with incredible science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM innovations. These included terrace agriculture, elaborate road systems, earthquake-proof buildings, a planned economy without money, and an elaborate mathematics communicated with textiles. Incan accomplishments show that technological developments take many unexpected forms and will inspire your readers to think outside of the box.

Black magic is a disease. Shadow Company is the cure.Thorn was lucky or so he was told. Most witches caught outside the internment camps end up doing hard time. Some just disappear. When the Office of State Security offered Thorn a choice between a trial for black magic or parole to America's counter-sorcery force, he jumped at the chance. Ten years in a Shadow Company uniform sounded like a better gig than life behind bars. But things aren't always as simple as they appear.For seventy years, America has fought a magical cold war against the Thule sorcerers of the European Reich. But things are heating up again...Everything changes when Thorn's unit is sent to Mosul to eliminate Alarwi; a terrorist who throws spells like roadside bombs. In the bones of the ancient city, Thorn uncovers a Thule plot to release the Quarternary of the Attitude. If these demon princes break free, they'll bring more than beer and pretzels to the party. They'll bring Hell itself to earth.While in pursuit of the architects behind the plot, clues surface indicating that Thorn's tangled past is somehow involved. In order to clear his name and stop the Thule, Thorn will be forced to betray his unit and confront his past. But how can anyone hope to stop a prince of Hell?

As one of the world's oldest still practiced religions, Judaism has an illustrious history of fascinating, yet often misunderstood, beliefs and practices. Though it has only fourteen million followers today, Judaism is the basis of the Abrahamic religions, and as such influenced the core teachings of Christianity and Islam. The beautiful, colorful spreads in this elementary-level text offer readers a clear, yet thorough survey of Judaism's history, practices, and teachings. The significance of Rosh Hashana, Passover, and other Jewish festivals is covered, as well as cultural movements such as Zionism. Readers will also learn of atrocities carried out against the Jewish people, including the Holocaust, and learn about episodes of Anti-Semitism.