DK Short Histories – serie

Discover over 5000 years of seafaring history, packed with first-hand accounts of triumphs and disastersA fascinating journey through more than 5,000 years of seafaring history in this essential guide to the most impressive seafaring tales, explorers, and maritime environments. For more than 5,000 years, the seas have challenged, rewarded, and punished the brave sailors who set forth to explore it. This history of the seas and sailing tells the remarkable story of those individuals - whether they lived to tell the tale themselves or not. From the early Polynesian seafarers and the first full circumnavigations of the globe, to explorers picking their way through the coral reefs of the West Indies, this book tells the compelling story of life at sea that lies behind man's search for new lands, new trade, conquest, and uncharted waters. Charting the great milestones of nautical history from the discovery of America to the establishment of the Royal Navy, the naval history of the American Civil War, the Battle of Midway and modern piracy the book sets all of them in their cultural and historical context.Previously published as The Conquest of the Ocean, A Short History of Seafaring is a unique compendium of awe-inspiring tales of epic sea voyages and great feats of seamanship, navigation, endurance, and ingenuity.

Explore the fascinating history of America's bloodiest ever conflict. Combining expert historical insight with the eyewitness accounts of soldiers and civilians, A Short History of the American Civil War offers a brilliant summary of the key events and wider context of the hostilities between North and South. Profiles of influential military and political leaders, and thought-provoking features on themes and experiences, from the evils of slavery to the treatment of wounded soldiers, bring the story dramatically to life. This book also features clear timelines that give an instant overview of the developments during the tumultuous war. Richly illustrated with a wealth of original artefacts, weaponry and equipment, photography, and maps, this unique combination of image provides the most accessible, episode-by-episode account ever.

Discover the story of the world's deadliest war. Combining expert historical insight with accounts of combatants and civilians, this important book offers a brilliant summary of the most important military, strategic, and political events across all theatres. The fighting is brought to life with profiles of key military and political figures, together with features on decisive campaigns, turning points, and technological innovations. Examine how deep-seated local fears and hatreds escalated into one vast global conflict that was fought out to the bitter end - from the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party to Pearl Harbor, the D-Day landings, and Hiroshima. Richly illustrated with a wealth of original artefacts, weaponry and equipment, photography, and maps, this unique combination of image and narrative provides the most accessible, episode-by-episode account ever.

A fascinating journey through more than 5,000 years of seafaring history in this essential guide to the most impressive seafaring tales, explorers, and maritime environments. For more than 5,000 years, the seas have challenged, rewarded, and punished the brave sailors who set forth to explore it. This history of the seas and sailing tells the remarkable story of those individuals - whether they lived to tell the tale themselves or not. From the early Polynesian seafarers and the first full circumnavigations of the globe, to explorers picking their way through the coral reefs of the West Indies, this book tells the compelling story of life at sea that lies behind man's search for new lands, new trade, conquest, and uncharted waters. Charting the great milestones of nautical history from the discovery of America to the establishment of the Royal Navy, the naval history of the American Civil War, the Battle of Midway and modern piracy the book sets all of them in their cultural and historical context.The Conquest of the Ocean is a unique compendium of awe-inspiring tales of epic sea voyages and great feats of seamanship, navigation, endurance, and ingenuity.

A fascinating journey through the history of railways, includes first-hand accounts of innovation, triumph, and tragedy.From the earliest steam engine to the high-speed bullet trains of today, A Short History of the Railway reveals the hidden stories of railway history across the world - the inspired engineering; the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the construction of the tracks; the ground-breaking innovations behind the trains that travelled along them; and the triumphs and tragedies of the people who made the railway what it is. Chart the history of the Trans-Siberian railway, the Orient Express, and Maglev trains and the impact of world events on the development of trains and the railway. Explore the pioneering railway lines that crossed continents, the key trains of each era, and the locomotives that changed the world. A riveting narrative packed with photographs, diagrams, and maps to illustrate and illuminate, this is the biography of the machines that carried us into the modern era.

Immerse yourself in the history of medicine - a colourful story of skill, serendipity, trial and error, moments of genius, and dogged determination.From traditional Chinese medicine to today's sophisticated gene therapies and robotic surgery, A Short History of Medicine combines riveting storytelling and beautiful images, historical accounts and lucid explanations, to illuminate the story of medicine through time.Witness early, bloody, anaesthetic-free operations; see the first crude surgical instruments; trace the mapping of the circulatory system; follow the painstaking detective work that led to the decoding of the human genome; and understand the role that potions, cures, therapies, herbal medicines, and drugs have played in the human quest to tame and conquer disease, injury, and death.Dive deep into this magnificent medicine book to discover:- Vivid, compelling, and informative read written in an engaging and colourful style- Excerpts from documents, diaries, and notebooks offers fascinating eyewitness accounts.- Charts and contextualises the great milestones of medical history.A Short History of Medicine is an engrossing illustrated history and tale of drama and discovery that celebrates the milestones of medical history across generations and cultures. From eradicating smallpox to the early anaesthetics, the very first transplants to the genetic code, this groundbreaking guide to the history of medicine has something for everyone to explore, learn and discover. Ideal for adults and young adults alike, whether you have a keen interest in medicine, science or social history, this all-encompassing medicine book is sure to quench your thirst for knowledge!

Discover what happened during one of the most controversial conflicts in US history, and its causes and lasting consequences, episode by episode.Covering the pivotal political, military, and cultural events around the American Civil War, this engaging and accessible book offers a rich, detailed account of the events as they unfolded.Bringing the reality of the war to life with eyewitness accounts by soldiers and civilians, alongside profiles of key military and political leaders, the ebook also features clear timelines that give an instant overview of the developments during the tumultuous war. Galleries of weaponry and equipment, and a range of features on everything from the treatment of wounded soldiers to information on slavery offer essential context.A Short History of the American Civil War is an invaluable resource for schools and libraries, as well as a perfect introduction to the subject for anyone interested in military and social history.

This is the definitive story of one of the longest and most controversial conflicts in US history.Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this authoritative history of the Vietnam War examines the key figures and events of the conflict, and its lasting effects on the world. This history book for adults combines compelling text with maps and archive photography, A Short History of the Vietnam War is an all-encompassing showcase of every aspect of the fighting and the wider political landscape, from the struggle for civil rights to the treatment of prisoners.Inside the pages of this retelling of America's bloodiest conflict, you'll discover:- Vivid, moving, and informative details of the Vietnam war, including eyewitness accounts and iconic photographs - A clear and compelling account of the conflict, in short, self-contained events from the Battle of Ia Drang to the Tet Offensive and The Khmer Rouge - Biography spreads highlighting major military and political figures- Features on everyday life in the war offering additional context- Stunning image spreads displaying weapons, spy gear, and other equipment that defined the war- Maps and feature boxes provide additional information on major events during the conflictDetailed descriptions of events, from Operation Passage to Freedom to the evacuation of the US embassy in Saigon, are brought to life with eyewitness accounts and iconic photographs. Gallery pages present collections of infantry weapons, artillery, aircraft, and armoured vehicles, while diagrams and maps show exactly how battles and decisive moments unfolded, and biographical entries provide essential insight into the roles of significant individuals from Henry Kissinger to General Thieu.The perfect read for the military history enthusiast, A Short History of the Vietnam War is a stirring visual record of the suffering, sacrifice, and heroism that occurred in America's bloodiest ever conflicts.

A captivating read spanning 5,000 years of the ocean's historyConquest of the Ocean tells the 5,000 year history of the remarkable individuals who sailed seas, for trade, to conquer new lands, to explore the unknown. From the early Polynesians to the first circumnavigations by the Portuguese and the British, these are awe-inspiring tales of epic sea voyages involving great feats of seamanship, navigation, endurance, and ingenuity. Explore the lives and maritime adventures, many with first person narratives, of land seekers and globe charters such as Christopher Columbus, Captain James Cook and Vitus Bering.Brian Lavery is a well-known British naval historian, whose prestigious credits include historical consultant on the blockbuster, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. This narrative history is filled with paintings, logbooks, maps, sketches and diagrams that bring these events and locations to life. In this digital version cross-references are linked directly to relevant paragraphs for easy navigation within the book. Conquest of the Ocean beautifully intertwines informative images with fascinating stories of expedition and exploration in a way that has never been done before. Brian Lavery will have you engrossed in this extraordinary historic naval read.