Rise and fall : a history of the world in ten empires

Summary/Review: In ten succinct chapters, Paul Strathern sheds new light on major civilisations, from the military might af the Mongols, who ruled over the largest but most short-lived land empire in history, to the ambitious architecture of the Akkadians. We meet the ruthless leaders of Ancient Rome, discover the imperial dreams of Middle Eastern caliphates and witness the power struggles of twentieth-century America. With insight into the progress of humankind, Rise and fall shows how the story of an empire lies not only in its creation, but also in its downfall.