The book offers a breathtaking visual journey through Earth's diverse environments, showcasing everything from polar tundras to tropical rainforests. It delves into the planet's geological features, including its molten core and plate tectonics, while highlighting various landscapes such as the Amazon basin, Siberian taiga forests, and expansive deserts. This comprehensive guide invites readers to discover the intricate systems and stunning beauty of our planet.
A History of the Great Trading Routes Between East and West
Exploring the ancient trade routes of the Silk Roads, this reference book highlights their significance beyond commerce, emphasizing cultural exchange, diplomacy, and conflict that shaped Eurasia's history. It examines the ongoing influence of these routes on global geopolitics, particularly through China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to revive this network. The updated edition includes expanded insights into infrastructure developments and the rise of a digital Silk Road, complemented by timelines and informative boxes to aid understanding of this pivotal region's legacy.
Take an intrepid journey through the history of the Silk Roads with this visually stunning reference book. Traversing snowy mountain passes, vast, forbidding deserts and stormy seas, these ancient trade routes were about much more than the movement of goods, they paved the way for an unprecedented period of cultural exchange, diplomacy and conflict creating a legacy that continues to affect global geopolitics in the 21st century. Geordie Torr guides us through the history and politics of these fabled routes while also celebrating the incredible feats of those who traversed them and the beauty of the routes themselves. Packed with timelines, maps and profiles on key figures and important cities, the book also features beautiful photography that faithfully conveys the diversity of nations as well as the enduring magic of travel. Forged over millennia through a desire for enterprise, the Silk Roads have had an profound influence on Eurasia and beyond, connecting cultures, languages, customs and religions. And with China now working to reopen this ancient trade network, the time is right to shine a new light on its history and impact
Shrouded in myth and conspiracy, the history of the Knights Templar is little understood. Geordie Torr pulls fact from fiction, revealing the astonishing tale of this military-religious order that dominated the politics of the medieval Middle East. Initially created to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land in the wake of the First Crusade, the Templars soon became an institution of incredible power, possessing wealth and influence throughout the courts of Europe. Yet just two centuries later they dramatically fell as its members were accused of heresy and burned at the stake. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the wars between Christians and Muslims, this illustrated book brings to life the legacy of this secretive order and the characters who defined the era.
An Illustrated History of the Waterways That Shaped Civilizations
Featuring stunning full-color photographs and maps, this hardback delves into the world's most remarkable rivers, including the Nile, Amazon, and Mississippi. Geordie Torr examines the natural forces behind these waterways, their environmental impacts, and their profound influence on human societies and cultures throughout history. This captivating guide offers a blend of visual beauty and informative insights, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the intersection of nature and civilization.