Books with title Firearms: An Illustrated History

Published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, Firearms: An Illustrated History charts the evolution of the gun, from the pistol and rifle, to the machine gun and revolver. Detailed catalogs profile more than 300 firearms spanning over 700 years. With virtual tours detailing the most intricate details of key weaponry and photographic features on the world's iconic gun makers, including Colt, Smith & Wesson, Maxim, and Kalashnikov, Firearms: An Illustrated History is the perfect gift for gun, weapon, and military history enthusiasts.

Texas: An Illustrated History covers a lot of history and a lot of ground. Everyone notices how different Texas is from other states. For one thing, it's bigger than all of them (except Alaska). For another, it's got so many different types of land in it that it seems like at least four states in one--mountains, gently sloping plains, three mighty rivers (and many lesser ones), prairies, wetlands, islands, not to mention miles and miles of highways passing through farm country and vast cities. And then there's the weather. It rains a lot in the eastern and central part but hardly at all in the west. Snow and sleet are unusual, but there can be blizzards on the Great Plains and in the Panhandle. There are also parts of Texas that experience droughts and other parts that are prone to flooding. Texas weather can include dust storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and even "blue northers' that blow through, breaking tree limbs, shaking the windows, and lowering the temperature as much as 24 degrees in one hour. It should come as no surprise that a state so full of variety has a history as distinct and unpredictable as its weather and geography. In 9200 B.C. the first humans migrated into the Texas Panhandle. What followed--exploration and settlement by the Spaniards, Mexican rule, the years as an independent republic, statehood, secession, and the Civil War--and what is still unfolding today are fascinating stories. Distinguished Texas historian David G. McComb has gathered anecdotes, tall tales, and little-known facts to bring to life the drama, humor, and far-reaching consequences of Texas history. He writes of the Native Americans in Texas, of the armadillo (a whimsical folk symbol but not, as most suppose, the official state animal), the Alamo, barbed wire, longhorn cattle, the Texas Rangers, and the supreme importance of football to the average Texan. He profiles such Texans as Jim Bowie, Audie Murphy, Van Cliburn, Willie Nelson, Barbara Jordan, Michael DeBakey, and many others who have left a mark not only on Texas but on the world. The long and complex history of Texas falls into place in an entertaining text, brimming with facts and filled with fascinating photographs and illustrations from the past and present.It is safe to say that the United States could not survive without Texas if it had to. But after reading Texas: An Illustrated History, you will agree that Texas, has, over the years, added much to the history of our country and that is has a special brand of humor and style that enriches us all.

All of the influential people, the historic sites, and the notable events are here. Daniel Schroeter's fascinating history includes the foundation of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, the development of the modern Zionist movement, the legacy of World War II and the Holocaust, the creation of statehood, the conquest of new Arab territory, and the growth of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. With stunning artwork and photographs, Israel: An Illustrated History provides a thorough introduction to the history of Israel in a beautiful keep-sake edition. Profusely illustrated with photographs, historical artifacts, works of art, and facsimile documents, chapters profile notable personalities such as Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Menachim Begin, Yasir Arafat, and Yitzhak Rabin. Readers will find sidebars on political figures such as Natan Sharansky, government organizations such as the Mossad, and cultural institutions such as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Primary sources such as Biblical passages, excerpts from Herzl's Der Judenstadt, a diary from the first Aliyah, and the U.N. partition resolution of 1947 bring Israel's history to life; landmark structures such as the Western (or Wailing) Wall, the Second Temple, and excavations of the City of David and the Dead Sea caves add to the visual narrative. A glossary, chronology, and a list of Israel's prime ministers and presidents make this beautiful book an invaluable reference.

1066 was a turning point in European history and this illustrated history tackles the human, political, religious and military issues that were resolved in 3 major battles. Each page has a footnote which addresses the historical issues. These sections are headed 'How do we know this' as the book is intended for young students of history with the text aimed at 10-14 reading age. The book has a glossary to deal with some of the challenging terms and there is a reference section for those who want to continue their research using the Internet. This is a grown-up book for youung people.

Sports are such an integral part of human culture that it is hard to imagine a newspaper without a sports section or a television news program without a sports commentator. Sports have become a multinational megabusiness. Professional athletes are paid enormous sums of money and fans proudly wear the jerseys of their heroes. Cities risk bankruptcy to construct stadiums and nations subsidize athletes to carry their colors in international competition. Major sporting events draw record numbers of TV viewers and electrify sports enthusiasts from every walk of life, income bracket, and ethnic identity. Athletic competition may be as old as humankind. Throughout history, sports have exerted a forceful influence on almost every facet of life, from politics and war, through culture and the arts, and on to issues that literally concern life and death. The ancient Greeks, by universal accord, ceased all wartime activities for the duration of the Olympic games, while historians believe that players of the ancient Mexican game "ollama" may have been executed at the end of each competition. Sports: An Illustrated History is an engrossing and lively account of the evolution of sports through various civilizations around the world. Historian David McComb uses sports history as a window into world history and society. This lavishly illustrated volume is not limited to the sports we know well and often play in our backyards, on school teams, or playgrounds. McComb describes the ball games of Mesoamerica, Sumo wrestling in Japan, martial arts in China, wrestling in ancient Egypt, the Olympic Games of classical Greece, and the gladiator fights in ancient Rome. He brings to life medieval tournaments and peasant ballgames, tracing the roots of modern sports. The histories of cricket, soccer, rugby, baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, tennis, bicycle racing, skiing, and other contemporary sports are covered in depth. The author introduces us to the greatest sports personalities over the centuries: legendary Greek wrestler Milo of Croton, decathlete and baseball player Jim Thorpe, mile-runner Roger Bannister, soccer magician Pele, boxing champ Muhammad Ali, tennis great Billie Jean King, and many others. Woven into the narration are stories about the role of women in athletic competition, the participation of African Americans and other minorities in sports, violence in sports, media coverage, and the sharpening distinction between professional and amateur sports. Following the thread of McComb's fascinating narrative, we visit the great stadiums of the world, become familiar with the strongest and fastest athletes, visit with championship teams, and learn how and why the international sports organizations and competitions were put together. The book concludes with a discussion of the growth of international competition and the modern Olympics.

In 9200 B.C. the first humans migrated into the Texas Panhandle. What followed--exploration and settlement by the Spaniards, Mexican rule, the years as an independent republic, statehood, secession, and the Civil War--and what is still unfolding today are fascinating stories. Distinguished Texas historian David G. McComb has gathered anecdotes, tall tales, and little-known facts to bring to life the drama, humor, and far-reaching consequences of Texas history. He writes of the Native Americans in Texas, of the armadillo (a whimsical folk symbol but not, as most suppose, the official state animal), the Alamo, barbed wire, longhorn cattle, the Texas Rangers, and the supreme importance of football to the average Texan. He profiles such Texans as Jim Bowie, Audie Murphy, Van Cliburn, Willie Nelson, Barbara Jordan, Michael DeBakey, and many others who have left a mark not only on Texas but on the world. The long and complex history of Texas falls into place in an entertaining text, brimming with facts and filled with fascinating photographs and illustrations from the past and present.