Alexander's Path

Alexander's Path PDF Author: Freya Stark
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1590209184
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description
A memoir of a woman’s trek through rural Turkey and its ancient history: “A sharp-eyed, thoughtful, and knowledgeable traveler.” —The New York Times In 1956, Freya Stark traveled through back-country Turkey by truck and horseback, often alone. She reached places little visited and never written about. The country people welcomed her with generosity despite their meager resources. She was traveling in time as well, and found significance in recalling the life of Alexander the Great as she retraced his journey in reverse. Twenty-two centuries earlier he was the first to dream of a united world—and Stark’s observations reflect not just this land’s physical connections to antiquity but the human longings that persist through millennia. “One of the finest travel writers of [the twentieth] century.” —The New Yorker “Stark’s forte is the ability to take the reader to an ancient site and, through the scanty remains that are left today, evoke the past of which they were a part.” —The New York Times “Describing a Jeep-and-mule trek she undertook in 1956 through the back country of Anatolia, Stark retraces (in reverse) the progress of Alexander the Great more than two millennia before . . . Stark has a wonderfully understated sense of humor.” —Kirkus Reviews

Alexander's Path

Alexander's Path PDF Author: Freya Stark
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1590209184
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 244

Get Book Here

Book Description
A memoir of a woman’s trek through rural Turkey and its ancient history: “A sharp-eyed, thoughtful, and knowledgeable traveler.” —The New York Times In 1956, Freya Stark traveled through back-country Turkey by truck and horseback, often alone. She reached places little visited and never written about. The country people welcomed her with generosity despite their meager resources. She was traveling in time as well, and found significance in recalling the life of Alexander the Great as she retraced his journey in reverse. Twenty-two centuries earlier he was the first to dream of a united world—and Stark’s observations reflect not just this land’s physical connections to antiquity but the human longings that persist through millennia. “One of the finest travel writers of [the twentieth] century.” —The New Yorker “Stark’s forte is the ability to take the reader to an ancient site and, through the scanty remains that are left today, evoke the past of which they were a part.” —The New York Times “Describing a Jeep-and-mule trek she undertook in 1956 through the back country of Anatolia, Stark retraces (in reverse) the progress of Alexander the Great more than two millennia before . . . Stark has a wonderfully understated sense of humor.” —Kirkus Reviews

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great PDF Author: Philip Freeman
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1416592814
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 418

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Book Description
In the first authoritative biography of Alexander the Great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian Philip Freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from Hannibal to Napoleon, with countless more in between. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly: crowned at age nineteen, dead by thirty-two. He established the greatest empire of the ancient world; Greek coins and statues are found as far east as Afghanistan. Our interest in him has never faded. Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Alexander spent nearly all his adult life away from his homeland, and he and his men helped spread the Greek language throughout western Asia, where it would become the lingua franca of the ancient world. Within a short time after Alexander’s death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture. Best known among his successors are the Ptolemies of Egypt, whose empire lasted until Cleopatra. In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander’s astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing—which he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire. Only a handful of people have influenced history as Alexander did, which is why he continues to fascinate us.

In the Path of Conquest

In the Path of Conquest PDF Author: Waldemar Heckel
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190076690
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 369

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Book Description
This book offers a fresh insight into the conquests of Alexander the Great by attempting to view the events of 336-323 BCE from the vantage point of the defeated. The extent and form of the resistance of the populations he confronted varied according to their previous relationships with either the Macedonian invaders or their own Achaemenid rulers. The internal political situations of many states--particularly the Greek cities of Asia Minor--were also a factor. In the vast Persian Empire that stretched from the Aegean to the Indus, some states surrendered voluntarily and others offered fierce resistance. Not all regions were subdued through military actions. Indeed, as the author argues, the excessive use of force on Alexander's part was often ineffective and counterproductive. In the Path of Conquest examines the reasons for these varied responses, giving more emphasis to the defeated and less to the conqueror and his Macedonian army. In the process, it debunks many long-held views concerning Alexander's motives, including the idea that his aim was to march to the eastern limits of the world. It also provides a fresh reevaluation of Darius III's successes and failures as a commander. Such a study involves rigorous analysis of the ancient sources, and their testimony is presented throughout the book in the form of newly translated passages. A unique portrait of a well-known age, In the Path of Conquest will significantly alter our understanding of Alexander's career.

Earth Elder Stories

Earth Elder Stories PDF Author: Alexander Wolfe
Publisher: Fifth House Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
These stories presented in English by a Saulteaux Indian story teller describe the events involving the family of Pinayzitt and one of his sons, Earth Elder along the Canada-United States border on the Prairies in the 1800s.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great PDF Author: Paul Cartledge
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 1400079195
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Alexander the Great is the towering hero of the classical world: a fearless general, the conqueror of the Persians, and the visionary ruler of a vast empire. In this seminal biography, Paul Cartledge, one of the world's foremost scholars of ancient Greece, gives us the most reliable and intimate portrait of the man himself. Cartledge brilliantly evokes Alexander's remarkable political and military accomplishments, cutting through the myths to show why he was such a great leader. He explores our endless obsession with Alexander and gives us insight into both his capacity for brutality and his sensitive grasp of international politics. As he brings Alexander vividly to life, Cartledge also captures his enduring impact on world history and culture.

My Past and Thoughts

My Past and Thoughts PDF Author: Aleksandr Herzen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Authors, Russian
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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Book Description


Cool Water

Cool Water PDF Author: Bill Alexander
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
ISBN: 9781570622540
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
This book provides a long-needed alternative to the reliance upon a "higher power" that is so much a part of traditional twelve-step addictions recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. In simple and practical language, Alexander, himself a recovering alcoholic, introduces a new, nonreligious approach to addiction recovery that he calls "Ordinary Recovery", which draws upon the wisdom of mindfulness practice.

The Afghan Campaign

The Afghan Campaign PDF Author: Steven Pressfield
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0385520085
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 317

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Book Description
BONUS: This eBook edition contains an excerpt from THE PROFESSION: A Thriller by Steven Pressfield. On sale June 2011. 2,300 years ago an unbeaten army of the West invaded the homeland of a fierce Eastern tribal foe. This is one soldier’s story . . . The bestselling novelist of ancient warfare returns with a riveting historical novel that re-creates Alexander the Great’s invasion of the Afghan kingdoms in 330 b.c. In a story that might have been ripped from today’s combat dispatches, Steven Pressfield brings to life the confrontation between an invading Western army and fierce Eastern warriors determined at all costs to defend their homeland. Narrated by an infantryman in Alexander’s army, The Afghan Campaign explores the challenges, both military and moral, that Alexander and his soldiers face as they embark on a new type of war and are forced to adapt to the methods of a ruthless foe that employs terror and insurgent tactics. An edge-of-your-seat adventure, The Afghan Campaign once again demonstrates Pressfield’s profound understanding of the hopes and desperation of men in battle and of the historical realities that continue to influence our world.

Beyond Wealth

Beyond Wealth PDF Author: Alexander Green
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118078349
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 320

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Book Description
It's not all about the money; the key to true riches Leo Tolstoy said, "Nobody knows where the human race is going. The highest wisdom, then, is to know where you are going." Yet many today chase the false rabbits of success: status, luxury, reputation and material possessions. In the quest to "have it all," our lives often lack real meaning and purpose. Beyond Wealth is the antidote. New York Times bestselling author Alexander Green takes things right down to brass tacks: We are here for a short time. Knowledge is limitless. Therefore, the most critical knowledge is not any particular skill but rather wisdom about "how to live." Fortunately, men and women have had several thousand years to think about what it means to live "the good life." And the answers found here, from Plato and Aristotle to Mahatma Gandhi and Stephen Hawking, will both surprise and delight you. Beyond Wealth provides insightful commentary on the most important aspects of our lives: love, work, honor, trust, freedom, death, fear, truth, beauty and other timeless issues. The book is both a thought provoking read and the ideal gift, guaranteed to ennoble, uplift and inspire.

Channels of Power

Channels of Power PDF Author: Alexander Thompson
Publisher: Cornell University Press
ISBN: 0801458137
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 275

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Book Description
When President George W. Bush launched an invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, he did so without the explicit approval of the Security Council. His father's administration, by contrast, carefully funneled statecraft through the United Nations and achieved Council authorization for the U.S.-led Gulf War in 1991. The history of American policy toward Iraq displays considerable variation in the extent to which policies were conducted through the UN and other international organizations. In Channels of Power, Alexander Thompson surveys U.S. policy toward Iraq, starting with the Gulf War, continuing through the interwar years of sanctions and coercive disarmament, and concluding with the 2003 invasion and its long aftermath. He offers a framework for understanding why powerful states often work through international organizations when conducting coercive policies-and why they sometimes choose instead to work alone or with ad hoc coalitions. The conventional wisdom holds that because having legitimacy for their actions is important for normative reasons, states seek multilateral approval. Channels of Power offers a rationalist alternative to these standard legitimation arguments, one based on the notion of strategic information transmission: When state actions are endorsed by an independent organization, this sends politically crucial information to the world community, both leaders and their publics, and results in greater international support.