European Empire

Penguin presents the unabridged audiobook edition of Empire by Niall Ferguson, read by Jonathan Keeble. Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red and Britannia ruled not just the waves, but the prairies of America, the plains of Asia, the jungles of Africa and the deserts of...

Brought to you by Penguin. Once vast swathes of the globe were coloured imperial red and Britannia ruled not just the waves, but the prairies of America, the plains of Asia, the jungles of Africa and the deserts of Arabia. Just how did a small, rainy island in the North Atlantic achieve all this?...

The Holy Roman Empire lasted 1,000 years, far longer than ancient Rome. Yet this formidable dominion never inspired the awe of its predecessor. Voltaire quipped that it was neither holy, Roman, nor an empire. Yet as Peter H. Wilson shows, the Holy Roman Empire tells a millennial story of Europe better than the histories of individual nation-states.

The medieval period has to be one of the most fascinating periods of history. With it comes the images of castles, knights, conquests, and, of course, kingdoms and empires. Every European empire and kingdom during this age is filled with exciting tales, shrewd plots for revenge or power, creation of a national identity enduring to the present day, and inventions with lasting influence.

'A readable and very informative history packed with a wealth of splendid detail' Joyce Tyldesley OBE, author of Tutankhamun 'A brilliantly concise, but also entertaining, summary - in all its complexities - of an empire that spanned more than five centuries and three continents. Jacob skilfully...

What accounts for the rise of the state, the creation of the first global system, and the dominance of the West? The conventional answer asserts that superior technology, tactics, and institutions forged by Darwinian military competition gave Europeans a decisive advantage in war from 1500 onward. Empires of the Weak argues that Europeans had no general military superiority in the early modern era. Sharman shows instead that European expansion is better explained by deference to strong Asian and African polities, disease in the Americas, and maritime supremacy earned by default.

From the author of End Times In War and Peace and War, Peter Turchin uses his expertise in evolutionary biology to offer a bold new theory about the course of world history. Turchin argues that the key to the formation of an empire is a society’s capacity for collective action. He demonstrates...

Orphans of Empire tells the story of what happened to the thousands of children who were raised at the London Foundling Hospital, Coram's brainchild, which opened in 1741 and grew to become the most famous charity in Georgian England. It provides vivid insights into the lives and fortunes of London's poorest children, from the earliest days of the Foundling Hospital to the mid-Victorian era, when Charles Dickens was moved by his observations of the charity's work to campaign on behalf of orphans. 

Find out how the people of this country fought against nature to cultivate land below sea level. Discover how they survived wars, invasions, and natural disasters and developed a trading nation that would become the envy of Europe. Uncover the truth behind bloody battles fought between medieval royalty, warlords, and rebellious guilds of Dutch workers, all of which shaped the country we know today.

Europe’s past is characterized by fighting and warfare, and it is punctuated with great works of art, philosophy, science, and technology. Even its recent history is much the same - that’s why, so much of the globe was once ruled by European monarchies. Despite all the infighting and territorial exploits, Europeans have managed to create some of the most beautiful pieces of literature, architecture, political structures, and ideas the world has ever seen.

How the demise of the Habsburg Empire, postwar sovereignty, and new diplomatic frontiers shaped the nature of citizenship, identity, and belonging across Europe.

The beginning of modern Europe was a time of confusion, excitement, suspicion, hope, despair, and ideas. It was a time of a lot of change spread out over just a few hundred years, but the end result was a completely different world than the one that had come before it. This audiobook includes details of the transition from the Middle Ages to the early modern era, where Europe saw significant shifts across the continent in phases.

Witness the epic military history of a rising Asian power crushing a European giant in a gripping clash of empires. Perfect for your daily commute, this tense and immersive narrative transports you to the brutal battlefields of 1904. Experience the geopolitical earthquake that forever shattered...

Discover the Holy Roman Empire: The Empire That Shaped Modern EuropeStep into the fascinating story of the Holy Roman Empire, a powerful force that connected the old world to the new. This audiobook shows how the empire's impact is still felt today, from the battles of World War I to the ideas behind Nazi Germany. Learn about the empire's rise to power and the rulers who changed history.

The Spanish Empire stands as one of the most magnificent empires in the history of the world. It unfurled its might across multiple continents, conquered all who stood in its way, and left an indelible impact on cultures around the globe. For over four centuries, its dominance remained unchallenged, casting a vast shadow across Europe and beyond.

Journey back to the times of Genghis Khan and discover how he divided his empire into four parts, shaping the course of history. For over two centuries, the Golden Horde ruled a vast region, influencing lands from the Urals to Poland, from the taiga to the Caspian Sea.

Eastern Europe – the vast lands stretching from the eastern Baltic to the Bosporus – has never been a single world. It is a crossroads of empires, peoples and faiths: a place of collision and exchange. While great powers sought to impose order, there flourished warrior republics and despotic...

Witness a centuries-old European empire shatter in mere days under the crushing weight of nationalism and world war. Perfect for an immersive commute, this gripping historical narrative plunges you into the frantic corridors of power where the Habsburg dynasty desperately clung to control. Feel...

Trace the dramatic rise and ruin of Europe's most powerful royal dynasty in this epic historical narrative. Perfect for your morning commute, this sweeping saga transports you from the medieval Alps to the blood-soaked trenches of the First World War. Watch as minor counts use brilliant...

The text is conceived with a plural thematic structure that aims to reflect the various European `souls` and offer each specific interpretation. The Introduction sets out principles, concepts, questions, but also the philosophical/cultural paths along which the overall European culture was...