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Books in Countdown Chronicles series

  • Chronicle of the Pharaohs: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt With 350 Illustrations 130 in Color

    Peter A. Clayton

    Hardcover (Thames & Hudson, Oct. 1, 1994)
    Who was the first king of ancient Egypt - and who was the last? Which Egyptian queens ruled in their own right? What do we really know about the 170 or more pharaohs whose names have come down to us?Chronicle of the Pharaohs is the first book to set down in narrative form, using timelines and other visual aids throughout, all the rulers and dynasties of Egypt in their chronological order. Now no one need be in any doubt as to who came first, Tutankhamun or Ramesses the Great, or which pharaohs built the pyramids, and when: the Chronicle provides the answers.The biographical portraits of each pharaoh build into a comprehensive and immensely readable history of ancient Egypt, brought to life through the exploits and personalities of her rulers. From Narmer, who first united the lands along the Nile, to Cleopatra some 3000 years later, we see the way in which individual pharaohs helped to shape Egyptian civilization, and were themselves shaped by it. The narrative is supplemented by specially drawn cartouches of each pharaoh and translations of their names.Chronicle of the Pharaohs is at once a book to be enjoyed as popular history, an essential work of reference, and a visual introduction to the extraordinary diversity and richness of an ancient civilization. Museum-goers, students, tourists and everyone fascinated by the world of ancient Egypt will want to make the Chronicle their inseparable companion.
  • The Viking Codex: The Saga of Leif Eriksson

    Fiona Macdonald

    Paperback (Sterling Publishing, March 4, 2014)
    Sail the wild Atlantic in a longboat with Eric the Red and his son Leif Eriksson. They risked the stormy seas to reach strange new lands, becoming the first Europeans to set foot in North America. Explore their daily lives in this richly illustrated Codex, complete with gatefolds, Viking lore, and The Saga of Erik and Leif—miniature booklets that tell their tale.
    M
  • Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial China

    Ann Paludan, Toby A Wilkinson

    Hardcover (Thames & Hudson, Nov. 1, 1998)
    Spanning over 2,000 years, from the great 'First Emperor', buried with his terracotta army in the 3rd century BC, to the last emperor, enthroned in the Forbidden City in 1911, Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors details the fascinating lives and personalities of all 157 Chinese emperors. In addition to timelines detailing the major events of every reign, this book includes each emperor's name in Chinese calligraphic script, and a datafile for each emperor listing key information, such as name at birth and imperial wives and concubines.
  • Four Fiends

    Nikki Bennett

    Paperback (Firedrake Books, LLC, Sept. 2, 2018)
    The Four Guardians of the world have gone missing. They’ve been kidnapped by some of the most diabolical fiends that ever existed. Now, four misfit kids from different parts of the world must band together to save the Guardians. Along the way, they learn to work together, as they confront and conquer their deepest fears.
  • The U.S. Naval Institute on the Marine Corps at War

    Thomas J. Cutler

    Paperback (Naval Institute Press, May 15, 2016)
    The U.S. Naval Institute Chronicles series focuses on the relevance of history by exploring topics like significant battles, personalities, and service components. Tapping into the U.S. Naval Institute's robust archives, these carefully selected volumes help readers understand nuanced subjects by providing unique perspectives and some of the best contributions that have helped shape naval thinking over the many decades since the Institute's founding in 1873.From the American Revolution to the present day, the U.S. Marine Corps has often led the fight against America's enemies. The selections in this anthology offer insights into Marine Operations in Korea in 1871 and again in the 1950s, the Spanish American War, Vietnam, the First Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and more.
  • Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial China

    Ann Paludan

    Paperback (Thames & Hudson, April 6, 2009)
    Spanning more than two thousand years, from the first emperor, buried with his terra-cotta army in the third century BC, to Puyi, the four-year-old last emperor, here is the entire history of China told through the stories of its all-powerful rulers. 126 color, 242 b&w illustrations
  • Pirates: The Notorious Lives and Unspeakable Acts of Real Life Pirates

    Nick Pierce, Mark Bergin

    Paperback (Sterling Publishing, Nov. 1, 2016)
    All ye young mateys, enter if ye dare the cutthroat, ruthless world of pirates! This fascinating guide introduces you to some of the most infamous brigands of the high seas, including the real figures behind legends such as Blackbeard. Find out why pirates did what they did, how they got away with it . . . and what happened if they were caught.
    N
  • The Mummy Maker's Handbook

    Jacqueline Morley, Mark Bergin

    Paperback (Scribo, May 3, 2016)
    How would you go about making a mummy? This beautifully illustrated and fascinating book transports young readers more than 3,000 years back in time so they can see how the ancient Egyptians created mummies—and why. Learn about Egyptian gods and legends, the embalming process that preserved the pharaohs’ bodily remains, and the way mummies were wrapped and buried. Fun “Did You Know?” questions will fascinate kids.
    U
  • Chronicles of the Middle Ages

    Fiona MacDonald

    Paperback (Book House, June 11, 2015)
    This beautifully illustrated book lets you travel back in time to the High Middle Ages, the period in European history from the end of the 10th century to the end of the 15th. This was a time of excitement and adventure, when explorers pushed back the boundaries of the known world, and knights in armour battled for supremacy.
  • Gladiator: Death and Glory in Ancient Rome

    Nick Pierce, Mark Bergin

    Paperback (Scribo, Nov. 1, 2016)
    The gladiators were among the most celebrated figures in the Roman Empire, entertaining huge audiences by fighting wild animals—and each other—to the death. Now children can discover what their life was really like by following the fate of a Celtic warrior captured in Gaul and sent to compete as a gladiator in Rome. Detailed, foldout illustrations and fascinating text teach kids about the gladiator’s brutal world.
    V
  • Four Fiends

    Nikki Bennett

    Paperback (Firedrake Books, LLC, April 23, 2016)
    The Four Guardians of the world have gone missing. They’ve been kidnapped by the most diabolical fiends that ever existed. Now, four misfit kids from different parts of the world must band together to save the Guardians. Learning to work together, they confront and conquer not only the evil fiends, but also their deepest fears.
  • Three Treasures

    Nikki Bennett

    Paperback (Firedrake Books, LLC, April 23, 2016)
    The three treasures of Japan have been stolen. And it's up to three kids to find the treasures and return them home. But these young warriors might get more than they bargained for. Because the evil spirits they're after want far more than a few precious treasures. They want to take over the world.