Le Crociate: e cioè l'avventura di quei cristiani che hanno accettato l'appello del papa, sentendone il fascino, e si sono messi in gioco, facendo cose che oggi ci sembrano assai discutibili e che invece a loro sembravano sacrosante. Il fatto è che i musulmani non sono rimasti inerti quando un'orda di barbari sanguinari venuti da chissà dove, per di più miscredenti, è entrata in terra islamica seminando distruzione."

Alessandro Barbero segue Dante nella sua adolescenza di figlio d'un usuraio che sogna di appartenere al mondo dei nobili e dei letterati; nei corridoi oscuri della politica, dove gli ideali si infrangono davanti alla realtà meschina degli odi di partito e della corruzione dilagante; nei vagabondaggi dell'esiliato che scopre l'incredibile varietà dell'Italia del Trecento, fra metropoli commerciali e corti cavalleresche.

Può sembrare incredibile ma nella Bibbia, quando Dio sceglie una persona per affidarle una missione, si tratta quasi sempre della persona più sbagliata che si possa immaginare. Ordina a una coppia anziana e sterile di generare un popolo, chiama a sé un balbuziente perché diventi oratore e profeta, mette giustizia e verità nelle mani di ladroni e prostitute. Le figure più venerabili dell'Antico Testamento, come Abramo, Mosè, Davide e Salomone, sono in realtà segnate da una moltitudine di colpe, destinate a coprirsi di ridicolo.

Il secolo appena trascorso si è chiuso nel caos e l'inizio del nuovo si annuncia drammatico. La pistola di Gaetano Bresci spezza la vita di Umberto I, colpevole di aver decorato con la gran croce quel Bava Beccaris che aveva sparato sulla folla di Milano. Potrebbe essere l'inizio di una catastrofe politica e sociale, invece è l'avvio di un nuovo corso di politica liberale. Intanto in Europa impazza la Belle Époque.

Si gioca sul filo delle settimane il destino dell'Europa, nell'estasi unanime delle folle che accompagna i soldati verso una guerra sentita come giusta e dovuta. L'Italia no, si divide e si lacera per mesi sul da farsi. Tengono banco gli interventisti; il fronte del no, anche se più numeroso, è sulla difensiva, ha perso la parola, è ridotto al silenzio. Ma chi vuole il conflitto? E perché? Di quali bisogni si fa interprete?

The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.

Christmas is the single biggest annual event on the planet, a time for merry-making, over-indulgence, peace, goodwill, and the occasional family row. It’s as comfortable and familiar as a pair of old shoes and yet still glittery and exciting. But what do you really know about it? It’s stuffed full of traditions and rituals that most of us have been observing all our lives without having the slightest idea of where they come from.

The Roman gladiator has long been a figure of fascination. Portrayed frequently in fine art and popular culture alike, the gladiator is both a real part of history and a legend of a romanticized past. We know that these men entertained Roman audiences by fighting in dangerous and often deadly games. But who were the gladiators? What were their lives like? And why do they continue to have such a strong hold on our imagination, centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire?

Toys and games have long been a part of childhood, but the 20th century saw the rise of an entire industry devoted to the business of play, one that would constantly evolve over the years. In the six lectures of The History of Toys, 1900 to the Present, consultant and toy industry expert Chris Byrne—also known as The Toy Guy®—will take you on a journey through the world of toys from the Edwardian era to our current moment. Beginning with the birth of the mass-market toy industry, you’ll trace the many transformations of toys and our shifting theories of play and childhood development.

The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.

Experience a bold take on this classic autobiography as it’s performed by Oscar-nominated Laurence Fishburne. In this searing classic autobiography, originally published in 1965, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and Black empowerment activist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Human Rights movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-White citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.

Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....

Across six revealing lectures, Professor Jessica Hooten Wilson will introduce you to one of the 20th century’s most fascinating and divisive writers in Flannery O’Connor and the Scandal of Faith. Beginning with an overview of her brief but remarkable life, Professor Wilson will then take you through an exploration of themes in O’Connor’s work and the hallmarks of her literary style. You’ll get a clearer picture of O’Connor’s historical and geographical context while digging into how her stories can transcend time and place.

In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.

The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome traces the breathtaking history from the empire’s foundation by Augustus to its Golden Age in the 2nd century CE through a series of ever-worsening crises until its ultimate disintegration. Taught by acclaimed Professor Gregory S. Aldrete of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, these 24 captivating lectures offer you the chance to experience this story like never before, incorporating the latest historical insights that challenge our previous notions of Rome’s decline.