In 1997 and early 1998, one of the most powerful El Ninos ever recorded disrupted weather patterns all over the world. Europe suffered through a record freeze as the American West was hit with massive floods and snowstorms; in the Western Pacific, meanwhile, some island nations literally went bone dry and had to have water flown in on transport planes.  In this dazzlingly original book, archaeologist Brian Fagan shows that such effects are not new: El Nino has been disrupting weather patterns on and off for at least 5,000 years, sometimes with catastrophic effects on civilizations. El Nino-driven droughts have brought on the collapse of dynasties in Egypt; El Nino monsoon failures have caused historic famines in India; and El Nino floods have destroyed whole civilizations in Peru and changed the course of European exploration. These events were not isolated but had lasting influence on the later course of these civilizations for centuries.

Floods, Famines and Emperors: El Nino and the Fate of Civilisations

Politics & Social Sciences

FAGAN, Brian M.

Archaeology

Pimlico Publishing Ltd

If ever there was a year of destiny for the British Isles, 1066 must have a strong claim. King Harold faced invasion not just from William and the Normans across the English Channel but from the Dane, King Harald Hardrada. Before he faced the Normans at Hastings in October, he had defeated the Danes at York and Stamford Bridge in September. In this superbly researched study, Frank McLynn overturns long-accepted myths, showing how Williams victory at the Battle of Hastings was not, in fact, a certainty, and arguing that Harald Hardrada was actually the greatest warrior of the three. This is a masterly study, and reveals the truth to be more interesting than the myths surrounding this pivotal year in history.

1066: The Year of the Three Battles

History

MCLYNN, Frank

Europe

The 5th century was a glorious era for Athens. The unprecedented evacuation of the city in 480 BC as the Persians advanced was followed by Athens' first and greatest victory at sea which established her as a major naval power. During the following years Athens dominated innovation, commerce, science, philosophy, art, architecture and literature. Meier brings this tumultuous and unique period in history to life by his imaginative use of the sources and lively comment.

Athens: A Portrait of the City in its Golden Age

Meier, Christian

Ancient Civilizations

A riveting new book about Savonarola, a lowly friar of Renaissance Florence, but also a charismatic preacher and the talk of all Italy in the 1490s when he called for the renewal of a corrupt Church and the purging of vile governments.

Scourge and Fire: Savonarola in Renaissance Italy

Biographies & Memoirs

MARTINES, Lauro

Historical

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