Books published by publisher Baylor University Press, 2010

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Eleanor Roosevelt.Eleanor Roosevelt was an iconic figure. Best known for being First Lady of the United States during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, she conquered shyness and marital betrayal and used her quiet power to knock down barriers of race and gender in the United States and promote human rights around the world.After her husband died, Eleanor went on to become chair of the United Nations Human Rights Commission where she formulated, presented, and worked to secure global implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – words that are now written into national constitutions around the globe. This short book tells the intensely human story of a woman who changed the world in a way that no one else could.

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Alexander Hamilton.Alexander Hamilton was an orphan from a remote island in the Caribbean. Yet he went on to become one of the elite Founding Fathers of the United States, and, as America’s first Treasury Secretary, the founder of the nation’s financial system. A man of honor, conviction, and genius, Alexander was still not immune to scandal and conflict. His extra-marital affair deeply hurt his beloved wife and brought him ridicule from his political opponents. And his dispute with Vice President Aaron Burr resulted in their famous duel – and in Hamilton’s violent and premature death.This short book tells the intensely human story of a man who changed the world in a way that no one else could.

The women's rights movement grew out of the women's suffrage movement of the mid-1800s and also addressed other women's legal rights issues. The second wave of the movement, which promoted economic, political, and social equality, gained momentum in the 1960s and '70s, when such groups as the National Organization for Women fought for equal pay and laws banning employment discrimination. Clearly written, The Women's Rights Movement is an illuminating introduction to one of the most prominent reform movements of the last 40 years. The book is published by Chelsea House Publishers, a leading publisher of educational material.

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Albert Einstein.Albert Einstein was once told by a teacher that he would never amount to anything. Yet he went on to develop the special and general theories of relativity, won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921, and become the most influential physicist of the 20th century.Einstein would later write that he was deeply affected by his first encounter with a compass at age five. He was mystified that invisible forces could deflect the needle. This would lead to a lifelong fascination with invisible forces. Along his circuitous route to fame, Einstein fell in love, enjoyed his family, escaped from Nazi Germany, experienced heartbreak, and advised the President of the United States.This short book tells the intensely human story of a man who changed the world in a way that no one else could.

Imperial Rome and Christian Constantinople were both astonishingly large cities with over-sized appetites that served as potent symbols of the Roman Empire and its rulers. Esteemed historian Raymond Van Dam draws upon a wide array of evidence to reveal a deep interdependence on imperial ideology and economy as he elucidates the parallel workaday realities and lofty images in their stories. Tracing the arc of empire from the Rome of Augustus to Justinian's Constantinople, he masterfully shows how the changing political structures, ideologies, and historical narratives of Old and New Rome always remained rooted in the bedrock of the ancient Mediterranean's economic and demographic realities. The transformations in the Late Roman Empire, brought about by the rise of the military and the church, required a rewriting of the master narrative of history and signaled changes in economic systems. Just as Old Rome had provided a stage set for the performance of Republican emperorship, New Rome was configured for the celebration of Christian rule. As it came to pass, a city with too much history was outshone by a city with no history. Provided with the urban amenities and an imagined history appropriate to its elevated status, Constantinople could thus resonate as the new imperial capital, while Rome, on the other hand, was reinvented as the papal city.

Harriet Tubman: BiographyFor decades, children have learned in school that Harriet Tubman was a conductor for the underground railroad, helping slaves reach freedom. Not much else is usually discussed, and for most of us, the complete story of her life is a mystery. Most of this courageous and multi-faceted woman’s life has largely been ignored.Myths and rumors surround her earlier years, as people try to guess where she came from and how she came to be a key player in the abolitionist movement. However, the information is available, primarily through oral history, letters, biographies written during her lifetime, and a few official documents. It takes some digging to get to the bottom of the story, but it is definitely possible.Harriet Tubman was born a slave, but found her way to freedom. Yet, she wasn’t satisfied to stop at caring for her own welfare. She went on to save others from the degradation and harsh conditions of slavery. Her contributions to the abolitionist cause didn’t end there, either. She worked with the union army, taking on dangerous assignments for the benefit of all the slaves and indeed, the betterment of the entire country.Without Harriet Tubman and others who fought from the inside out, the Civil War might have gone completely differently. Her life was and is an inspiring example of what one person can do to right wrongs and change the world for the better.One brief book, or even several full-length biographies, can’t possibly tell Harriet Tubman’s complete story, nor the great lengths she went to to fight for a noble cause. Still, even this short biography will give you a greater understanding and appreciation for this extraordinary figure.Long ago, a powerhouse of a woman brought intelligence, courage and persistence to the monumental task of overcoming slavery. Harriet Tubman inspired the people of her time, and her example continues to speak to the human need to see beyond our own struggles and affect change in our world.Harriet Tubman: The Biography

Imperial Rome and Christian Constantinople were both astonishingly large cities with over-sized appetites that served as potent symbols of the Roman Empire and its rulers. Esteemed historian Raymond Van Dam draws upon a wide array of evidence to reveal a deep interdependence on imperial ideology and economy as he elucidates the parallel workaday realities and lofty images in their stories. Tracing the arc of empire from the Rome of Augustus to Justinian's Constantinople, he masterfully shows how the changing political structures, ideologies, and historical narratives of Old and New Rome always remained rooted in the bedrock of the ancient Mediterranean's economic and demographic realities. The transformations in the Late Roman Empire, brought about by the rise of the military and the church, required a rewriting of the master narrative of history and signaled changes in economic systems. Just as Old Rome had provided a stage set for the performance of Republican emperorship, New Rome was configured for the celebration of Christian rule. As it came to pass, a city with too much history was outshone by a city with no history. Provided with the urban amenities and an imagined history appropriate to its elevated status, Constantinople could thus resonate as the new imperial capital, while Rome, on the other hand, was reinvented as the papal city.

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Hillary Clinton.Hillary Clinton is one of the most recognized figures in America. She rose from humble beginnings in Chicago to become a First Lady, senator, Secretary of State, and now, presidential candidate. Clinton is no stranger to scandal. She has made mistakes – many of them public. But she is resilient, tenacious, and smart. Public opinion is strongly divided: her supporters adore her; her detractors abhor her. One thing is certain: The world can’t ignore her.This short book tells the intensely human story of a woman who is changing the world in a way that no one else can.

Jesus: The BiographyReligion and worship in some form has probably always been part of man’s history. Whether that worship was directed at the seen, the unseen, the known or the unknown, cultures across the world have generally worshipped something or someone.When we think of the best stories of the gods of Ancient Greece and Rome, we naturally think of the human heroes and heroines and the trials they faced at the hands of the gods and goddesses who ruled from the heaven of clouds high atop Mount Olympus. Hercules, Perseus, and Jason and the Argonauts have all thrilled us with their strength and courage, their adventures and their indomitable spirits.Virtually every conceivable area of life and physicality was covered by one god or another, and some of the names of these gods and human heroes remain part of our modern vernacular. A person might be referred to as a Narcissist or might perform a Herculean feat of bravery.But when we think of the god, Jesus, we think of pain and suffering alongside kindness and tolerance. Although this may seem no different than the gods of Ancient Greece and may perhaps be seen as just another story, Jesus remains today as one of the most influential people of all time.Do the stories live on because of man’s fascination with immortality? Or is it because of man’s need to believe there is more to our existence than what we experience on Earth? Perhaps we believe that we are close to the edge of creation and all we need to do is lift the veil to witness the secrets therein.And just like the gods of Ancient Greece and Rome, who were believed to have been not much different from mortals except for their immortality, Jesus is believed to have been man and god, mortal and immortal. Classical literature relates stories of ancient gods as though it were invincible truth, much like the stories of Jesus. Both are filled with lessons, morals and values and like all stories handed down through generations, some stories conflict in the telling. But if you ask any Bible scholar, they will tell you there is no conflict in that book. Each story in the Old Testament bears out a corresponding story in the New Testament, with analogies and riddles only the most faithful can discern. These stories reflect the culture of the time of Jesus’s life and beyond and demonstrate the spirit that is the best and worst of mankind.All creation stories have a beginning, and the beginning of stories about ancient gods begins in the void, just like that of the Old Testament. The early philosophical thinker, Pherecydes, alluded to the fact that we might be given an opportunity to be reborn as souls to another human life. There is not much discrepancy among ancient writers; all creation stories seem to follow the same path; the world was created from nothing from which came the elements who bore the gods that eventually created and ruled the world of men.But the story of Jesus, which fits impeccably into the Bible, begins in the middle – the middle of the book. Thousands of years passed between the first Old Testament writings and the documentation of Jesus in the New Testament, but there is no documentation of his life that was actually written during his lifetime. Any historical information we have about him was written well after his death and it’s all contained within a guidebook, the Holy Bible, written by his followers. These accounts of his life, death and actions have been altered through dozens of generations, translations, adulterations, and even censorship by later Church authorities and kings.Add to this the documentation of local people who were not followers of this rabbi, such as the Sanhedrin council and the Roman government, and we have a somewhat conflicting picture of events as they happened then.Jesus: The Biography

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Donald Trump.Donald Trump is one of the most recognized figures in America. He is large, bold, and extravagant and has branded and promoted his name to achieve tremendous wealth and fame. Trump is no stranger to scandal. He has made mistakes – many of them public. But he is resilient, tenacious, and intuitive. Public opinion is strongly divided: his supporters adore him; his detractors abhor him. One thing is certain: The world can’t ignore him.This short book tells the intensely human story of a man who is changing the world in a way that no one else can.