Books in Through the Ages series

"While Achilles and the other heroes who fought in the Trojan War are, as far as we know, fictional, the warriors of Ancient Greece are nearly as fascinating. The volume traces the evolution of the ancient Greek warrior, from the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War, to the rise of Macedonia under Philip II and Alexander the Great. Attention is paid to infantry, including the famous hoplites, cavalry, and naval forces. Sidebars highlight key concepts and figures, while photographs of ancient sculpture, vase paintings, and artifacts offer a glimpse into this distant world"--

Albrecht Dürer was a master of many creative pursuits, including painting, engraving, and printmaking. With an artistic talent that appeared at the age of 13, Dürer began his career as an apprentice and went on to be regarded as one of the greatest Renaissance artists. This text features Dürer’s fascinating biographical details as well as his most famous works, including the engravings and woodcuts that have solidified his position in history as a masterful artist. Informative sidebars appear on every spread, offering opportunities for additional learning.

By the middle of the 18th century, the profession of medicine and its place in the sciences was entering a period of rapid change. Many of the old ideas about the human body and how to cure or prevent diseases were being questioned. But was this just by chance? This book shows how a wide range of inventions, developments, and other factors created ideal circumstances for medicine to make huge advances in the Industrial Age.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir came from humble means and started out as an apprentice. After taking free art classes, he was admitted to a well-known art school in Paris and went on to become one of the greatest Impressionist painters. Readers learn about his life in Paris, his famous painter friends, and the Impressionist movement. The text features some of Renoir’s earliest and best-known works, along with the stories behind their creation. Information-rich sidebars aid in bringing Renoir’s artistic biography to life.

"Sharpshooters are much more than skilled marksmen. They must be stealthy and patient, willing to sit hidden in uncomfortable places for hours, and much more. This instructive volume highlights the different weapons, ammunitions, and other equipment favored by various sharpshooters, their benefits and shortcomings, and their development. Readers will also enjoy learning about the favored tactics and ruses used by these eagle-eyed warriors"--Provided by publisher.

Did prehistoric people and the ancient civilizations understand health and disease? Did they make any advances in medical knowledge? This books explains that humans faced new challenges when they began to live together in large communities. It shows how some physicians realized that disease might have natural causes, not supernatural ones, and so could be treated by natural methods and prevented by improving public health.

Any list of the world’s most beautiful and unusual cities must include Venice. Built on a patchwork of more than 100 low-lying islands in the middle of a swampy lagoon, it is a modern city of waterways, bus boats and a complete absence of cars. Everyone, from children, students and professionals to workers and delivery men, travels on its canals. Indeed, Venice is a city that in many ways seems frozen in time. By 1500, the city had taken on much of its present shape and only in the 20th century did further development begin to change its elegant outline. Virtually unscarred by the aerial bombings of WWII and the demands of post-war development, Venice has changed little over the past 200 years.In this oversized, highly illustrated volume, discover the history and culture of this amazing water-bound city. Starting with its origins in the 6th century, the reader follows its evolution through the Middle Ages, the "Golden Age" of the Renaissance, right up to the present and the catastrophic problems of sinking that it faces today. Venice also invites the reader to explore the city’s canals teaming with gondolas and water taxis; its magnificent architecture and decaying facades; along with life in the Jewish Ghetto, the splendor of the annual Venice Carnival, and the diversity of the islands in the Venetian lagoon. Photographs and original illustrations capture the daily rhythms of this unforgettable city.