Atlas of Empires

Atlas of Empires tells the story of how and why the great empires of history came into being, operated and ultimately declined, and discusses the future of the empire in today's globalized world. Featuring 60 beautiful and detailed maps of the empires' territories at different stages of their existence and organized thematically to reflect the different driving forces behind empires throughout history (such as faith, nomadic culture, nationhood and capitalism), each section discusses the rise and fall of the empires that existed in a region: their government and society, wealth and technology, war and military force, and religious beliefs. From the earliest empires of the Sumerians and the Pharoahs to the modern 'empires' of the USA and the European Union, this is a story that reveals how empires are created and organized, how later empires resolve the problems of governance faced by earlier empires, and how the political and cultural legacies of ancient empires are still felt today. It is the story of how humanity's drive to bring peace and prosperity to a region vied with people's itch to dominate, exploit and exterminate. Fascinating and informative, Atlas of Empires is an essential resource. It is suitable for those interested in the history of civilizations and world politics. It is also suitable for students of history looking for a clear, visually rich guide to how empires operated and interacted. See more