History

"For anyone interested in the extraordinary journey of Rabban Sauma from 13th-century China to Latin Christian Europe, Thomas A. Carlson's The History of Mar Yabhallaha & Rabban Sawma is a godsend. Based on Pier Giorgio Borbone's and Laura E. Parodi's magisterial edition and translation, Carlson’s new text is excellent for courses in world literature, travel literature, medieval biography, church history, comparative Christianities, global pilgrimage studies, religious studies, and even hagiographic writing.  The book's lively, engaging introduction supplies important background on the history of the Mongols, Eurasia, Central Asia, the Church of the East, the peoples of the steppe, the Ilkhanate of West Asia, and key historical events of the 13th and early 14th centuries, making what might seem esoteric and strange crystal clear and easy to understand.  This book is indispensable for teaching, as well as a delight and pleasure for the general reader."
—Geraldine Heng, author of The Global Middle Ages: An Introduction, and The Invention of Race in the European Middle Ages

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“Sitting Bull is arguably one of the best-known Native American leaders, and his life has been extensively documented. In Sitting Bull Speaks, Brad Lookingbill doesn’t aim to retell these familiar stories. Instead, he allows Sitting Bull to speak for himself. Drawing from various archives and sources, the book weaves a compelling and well-researched narrative centered on Sitting Bull’s own words and thoughts. Lookingbill introduces each document with thoughtful commentary, guiding the reader through the historical context. Though the title Sitting Bull Speaks echoes that of Neihardt’s classic Black Elk Speaks, this work goes further by presenting an authentic account of Sitting Bull’s voice. It offers a deeper understanding not only of the man himself but also of the Lakota world in which he lived.”
—Rani-Henrik Andersson, University of Helsinki

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"In one hundred and twenty pages this book provides a compelling account of the shaping of the modern Middle East, and the critical part played in that process by the Ottoman Empire, even as it fell apart. It offers a mine of background information for anyone wishing to understand the current scene. Thirty-four well-chosen documents, mainly culled from the archives, buttress and illuminate the story."
—Jonathan Schneer, Georgia Institute of Technology, author of The Balfour Declaration: The Origins of Arab-Israeli Conflict

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"Domingo Sarmiento is a rhetorical and political giant whose garrulous, colorful, and troubling ideas about race, violence, politics, and literature have fascinated Spanish-language readers for over a hundred and fifty years. Thanks to William Acree's brilliant selection of writings and annotations, the sparkling translations of John Charles Chasteen, and Oscar Chamosa's excellent critical Introduction, readers of English can finally encounter this larger-than-life writer who was deeply committed to documenting his historical moment and assessing social and political ills. This book is a major—and long overdue—contribution to Latin American Studies."
—Christopher B. Conway, The University of Texas at Arlington

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From John Adams’s 1774 diary entries on debates in the Continental Congress to the first ouster of a seated Speaker of the House in U.S. history in 2023, Jordan T. Cash and Kevin J. Burns’s Congressional Deliberation offers an edited and historically contextualized selection of primary sources highlighting key turning points in the history of the U.S. Congress. Via its diverse documentary record—and often by way of showcasing the lively cut-and-thrust of historic House and Senate debates—Congressional Deliberation sheds light on such formative issues in Congressional history as war powers and foreign policy, impeachment, civil rights, representation and apportionment, filibusters, federalism, oversight and investigation, legislative leadership, and many more. It will prove a valuable resource to all students of the U.S. Congress and of representative government.

"Congressional Deliberation provides readers with valuable insights into many of the most consequential historical debates and hinge points in the American experience by offering access to crucial primary source materials. The descriptive summaries provided by the editors explain and contextualize the complex topics admirably, making this volume a valuable source for instructors in government, civics, and history. Many of the historic disputes included have a very contemporary resonance that will help prompt lively class discussions while also providing valuable primary material for research purposes."
—John A. Lawrence, PhD, Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi's Speakership 2005–2010 and The Class of '74: Congress after Watergate and the Roots of Partisanship

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"A trailblazer in the field of premodern global history, Andrea here guides readers through the medieval expansion of the 'first Europe' from the fifth to the fifteenth centuries. Ranging from Ireland to Ethiopia, from the Mongol Empire to the so-called New World, Expanding Horizons demolishes any lingering sense that European societies remained isolated from the wider world before the modern age. Complete with maps, excerpts from primary source documents, and suggestions for further reading, this book will be an ideal resource for anyone planning to build a course around themes of global travel, exploration, and colonialism."
—Brett E. Whalen, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Andrea takes the reader on a journey over 1,000 years and around the world. By weaving a masterpiece of historical narrative and inquiry he demonstrates that Medieval Europe was very much part of world history while dispelling myths and misconceptions along the way. It is the type of book that awakens the mind and demonstrates the importance of historical study."
—Timothy May, University of North Georgia

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Winner of the American Historical Association's 2025 J. Franklin Jameson Award for outstanding achievement in the editing of historical sources.

"A welcome tome for the study of slavery and freedom in the African Diaspora. An extensive, and often difficult to access repository of documents has been made available in a bilingual edition that will richly benefit scholars and students alike to better understand the complexities of the Black experience in colonial and early national Mexico. Bridging normal historical chronologies, and featuring sweeping sets of documents ranging from politics, religion, economics, and social life, there is little ground left uncovered for providing windows and glimpses of the evolution of blackness in Mexico. Expertly curated, marvelously framed, and diligently translated, this is a jewel of a book for historians."
—Ben Vinson III, Distinguished Historian of Latin America and former President of Howard University

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“Jared Ross Hardesty's new critical edition, The Suriname Writings of John Gabriel Stedman, makes an important and necessary intervention into the study of eighteenth-century Caribbean travel writing and natural history by foregrounding the previously unpublished diary entries Stedman authored in Suriname, rather than focusing solely on his writings printed in the metropoles of Europe. Hardesty's edition is especially useful because it includes both a transcription of Stedman's Suriname diary and a detailed appendix tracking key discrepancies between the diary and Stedman's heavily revised printed natural history. This focus on genre and the editorial process in the production of Anglophone transatlantic writing is an excellent resource for students and scholars of the eighteenth-century Caribbean and the Atlantic World. I can see this being a helpful resource in an early American or eighteenth-century history or literature course, as it would enable students to easily compare differing editions of Stedman's Suriname writings. What Hardesty's edition of The Suriname Writings of John Gabriel Stedman offers is a more accessible study of how eighteenth-century writing on maroonage, slavery, science, and abolition was heavily mediated in the print and production process, as this compiled edition offers critical insight into the gendered and racial politics of life in the colonial Caribbean as well as how printers in the metropole attempted to alter the writing of colonizing authors like Stedman.”

—Elizabeth Polcha, Drexel University

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“John K. Thornton’s new book is another must-read. It contains both translations of the extant letters of the most significant king of Kongo’s history, Afonso I (r. 1506–1542), and a powerful, learned, and highly readable analysis of what these letters tell us about the life and times of one of the most important rulers anywhere in the world during the sixteenth century. This book will be essential reading for scholars, teachers, and students engaged with the history of the Kingdom of Kongo.”
—Toby Green, King’s College London

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"In fast-paced, crystal-clear prose, these four veteran historians quash not just seven myths about the American Revolution but dozens. If you think that slavery was inevitable, that British commanders were lazy nincompoops, or that Indigenous warriors were nothing more than British pawns, you will savor the challenge of Seven Myths of the American Revolution just as much as I did."
—Woody Holton, University of South Carolina, author of Liberty Is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution (Simon & Schuster, 2021)

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“Gretchen Starr-LeBeau has given us a deeply researched, wide-ranging correction of the various myths attached to the Spanish Inquisition. Her ability to track and explain the development of those myths over time is remarkable. The volume is wonderfully written and consistently accessible for a student audience. I learned a great deal from it and look forward to assigning it in my classes.”
—Lu Ann Homza, William and Mary

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Peter Hainsworth’s sparkling, eminently readable new English translation of The Book of the Courtier, Baldesar Castiglione’s (1478–1529) literary and philosophical masterpiece, captures all the nuance, stylistic flair, and humor of this foundational work of Renaissance humanism.

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"This fascinating volume is a major contribution to our understanding of the Russian Revolution, from World War I to consolidation of the Bolshevik regime. The seven myths include the exaggeration of Rasputin’s influence; a purported conspiracy behind the February Revolution; the treasonous Bolshevik dependence on German support; the multiple Anastasia pretenders to the royal inheritance; the antisemitic claims about “Judeo-Bolsheviks”; distortions about America’s intervention in the civil war; and the “inevitability” of Bolshevism. In each case the authors analyze the facts, uncover the origins of the myth, and trace its later perseverance (even in contemporary Russia). To assist readers, the volume includes three reference guides (people, terms, dates), nine maps, and twenty-nine illustrations. The result is immensely valuable for undergraduate courses in Russian history."
—Gregory L. Freeze, Raymond Ginger Professor of History, Brandeis University

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"This new edition of Mason and Rizzo's anthology is a welcome addition to the study of the revolutionary and Napoleonic French Atlantic. It includes a wealth of documents related to life in metropolitan and colonial France from the middle of the eighteenth century through the Napoleonic Consulate as well as concise section overviews that detail experiences on the continent and in Saint-Domingue, France’s wealthiest Caribbean colony, during this tumultuous era. These features, along with images, maps, and a detailed timeline, provide an invaluable resource for scholars and students alike."
—Rebecca Hartkopf Schloss, Texas A&M University

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Selected as one of the best historical materials of 2023 by the Reference and User Services Association, a division of The American Library Association.

"Henderson and Buchenau have done an excellent and thoughtful job of collecting a wide range of voices for students to learn about the Mexican Revolution and its causes, both from ‘above’ and from ‘below’. I’m particularly appreciative of the authors’ inclusion of women’s voices and women’s issues of the era, including the point of view of the first woman elected to public office in Mexico. They deserve praise for including documents that complicate widely accepted, heroic revolutionary narratives of the period for students—such as the experience of soldaderas and the massacre of Chinese people in Torreón. It is also worth mentioning that the editors have done an admirable job in choosing documents from across Mexico’s many diverse and heterogenous regions. The general Introduction is excellent; it is both accurate and highly readable for students. It is no easy feat to succinctly describe both the events and the significance of this period in Mexican history as the authors have done here." —Sarah Osten, The University of Vermont

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Includes an introduction, maps, and selections from Herodotus' The Histories, Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, Xenophon's The Hellenica, Aristotle's The Constitution of Athens, The Parian Marble, Polybius' The Histories, Memnon's History of Heracleia, Plutarch's Life of Alexander. See the full Table of Contents (PDF) here.

"Burstein’s The Essential Greek Historians is an excellent collection of texts representing the development of historiography in the ancient Greek world. Each text is presented in an engaging and readable translation, with an insightful introduction exploring the purposes behind its composition, the significance of its contribution to the growth of historiography as a literary genre, and the context in which its author thought and wrote. These texts include not only familiar favorites like Herodotus and Thucydides, but also sources such as The Parian Marble and Memnon's History of Heracleia, which give a broader and richer view of the ways in which Greeks engaged with history. In one economical volume, Burstein has created an indispensable introduction to the historical thought of the ancient Greeks. No student of Greek historiography should be without it." —Erik Jensen, Salem State University

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"This book explores settler colonial genocides in a global perspective and over the long durée. It does so systematically and compellingly, as it investigates how settler colonial expansion at times created conditions for genocidal violence, and the ways in which genocide was at times perpetrated on settler colonial frontiers. This volume will prove invaluable to teachers and students of imperialism, colonialism, and human rights." —Lorenzo Veracini, Swinburne University of Technology, and author of The World Turned Inside Out: Settler Colonialism as a Political Idea

"A succinct, insightful, and highly readable text discussing an issue that deserves to be integral to any world history course. Using four finely crafted, yet widely dispersed, case studies Adhikari strikingly shows how vulnerability and resistance occur as the waves of global capitalism hit indigenous societies." —Robert Gordon, University of Vermont

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"This brief, provocative, and accessible book offers snapshots of seven pernicious myths in military history that have been perpetrated on unsuspecting students, readers, moviegoers, game players, and politicians. It promotes awareness of how myths are created by 'the spurious misuse and ignorance of history' and how
misleading ideas about a military problem, as in asymmetric warfare, can lead to misguided solutions. Both scholarly and engaging, this book is an ideal addition to military history and historical methodology courses. In fact, it could be fruitfully used in any course that teaches critical thinking skills, including courses outside the discipline of history. Military history has a broad appeal to students, and there’s something here for everyone. From the so-called 'Western Way of War' to its sister-myth, technological determinism, to the ‘academic party game’ of once-faddish ‘Military Revolutions,’ the book shows that while myths about history may be fun, myth busting is the most fun of all."
 —Reina Pennington, Norwich University

“Why does military history generate so many myths? Is it because easily digestible myths make the subject easier to teach and study? Or because such myths help to paper over the simple but depressing fact that mankind has, since its very origins, permitted the slaughter of millions, often for the most minor of reasons? While such questions are difficult if not impossible to answer, in bringing together seven of the world’s finest military historians to dispel seven of these myths, John Hosler provides a great service in laying bare the myths’ origins. Anyone interested in the subject should read this book first, before embarking on further study.”
 —Kelly Devries, Loyola University Maryland

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David Vishanoff’s thorough and original unpacking of the Sunnī jurist al-Juwaynī’s (1028–1085) Kitāb al-Waraqāt fī uṣūl al-fiqh introduces English-speaking readers to the main concepts, terms, principles, and functions of the classical Islamic discipline of legal theory. This volume offers an ideal entry to the otherwise dense and complex mainstream Sunnī views that dominated Islamic legal thought in al-Juwaynī’s day—and that are still widely accepted today. A critical edition of al-Juwaynī’s Arabic text is also included.

"In this brilliant, innovative, and engaging book, Vishanoff guides readers through some of the most fundamental questions Muslims have debated, and struggled with, for centuries. Most Muslim scholars' books on these topics are dense and difficult. But here Vishanoff takes one such book—al-Juwaynī’s classic Waraqat—and explains, with lucidity and precision, its complex and obscure arguments. Through this book, readers will reach a better understanding of why such debates mattered to Muslims in the past, why they matter now, and how they affect the ways in which the Sharia—God’s law—might be understood in the future."
 —Robert Gleave, University of Exeter

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Listen to Thomas Conlan's interview with Jingyi Li about Samurai and the Warrior Culture of Japan on The New Books Network here.

"This sourcebook provides, for the first time in English, translations of the key primary sources for the study of the history of the samurai across all eras of Japanese history. Conlan has framed these sources with compelling historical analysis, making the book required reading not only for students of the warrior class but for everyone interested in the broad sweep of Japanese history. This is an astounding resource."  —Morgan Pitelka, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Thucydides was the first ancient Greek historian to double as a social scientist. He set out to understand human events entirely in human terms, without recourse to myth. He sought to know why people go to war and how they are affected by its violence. He studied the civil war in Corcyra, which began when radicals burst into the council house and killed leaders who favored democracy. The strengths and weaknesses of democracy are a major theme of his History. Its larger story shows how the Athenians tried to expand their empire too far and came to a crushing defeat. Here are vivid stories of land and sea battles, interspersed with fascinating and disturbing debates about war and policy. All of Thucydides’s History is here, either in summary or translation, in a volume short enough for a wide readership. This Second Edition is expanded to include all the important debates and battle scenes, and the entire translation has been revised in accord with the latest scholarship. The Essential Thucydides is the second edition of Paul Woodruff's On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: Selections from The History of the Peloponnesian War (first published by Hackett 1993, paperback ISBN 978-0-87220-168-2, cloth ISBN 978-0-87220-169-9).

“At last—a good way to navigate the choppy waters of Thucydides’s account of the Great War! Woodruff has focused on themes of lasting importance—human nature, justice, and war itself. These have guided his skillful selection of passages and his deft explanatory comments, all in a fast-moving, readable style.”
—W. R. Connor, Andrew Fleming West Professor of Classics, Emeritus, Princeton University

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"Our modern fascination with the Mongol empire only increases with each passing year. One global myth even claims that Chinggis Khan’s DNA can be found among most of the races of the world today—a story of genetic seeding that surely testifies to the obsessive awe with which the rulers of the largest empire in the history of the world are still held. The Rise of the Mongols: Five Chinese Sources, is thus a timely, important, and welcome addition to the limited sources on the Mongols currently available to us in English translation. Unlike the Yuanshi—the Chinese history of the Mongol dynasty that is retroactively written—Christopher Atwood’s and Lynn Struve’s five Chinese sources recount the important early days of the Mongol ascension to power through contemporary and even eyewitness accounts situated in both southern and northern China. Whether you're teaching Marco Polo, or The Secret History of the Mongols, or courses in early globalism, you’ll find this invaluable collection of newly-translated Chinese sources indispensable.” —Geraldine Heng, author of The Invention of Race in the European Middle Ages, and Founder and Director of the Global Middle Ages Project

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"In the last century, many of the main Arabic chronicles of the crusading period have been made available in English translations and are now well-known. This volume, however, gives us a whole wide range of materials, only a few of which are accessible to non-Arabists. The collection includes not just little-known narrative historians, like the lively and original Ibn Wasil, but also letters, sermons, and inscriptions. Each section is followed by a few questions, ideal essay subjects for advanced students and thought provoking for general readers. Among the many strengths of this collection is that it gives due weight to thirteenth-century writings, often neglected but often interesting. Another strength is that the translations are, in all cases, the authors' own work, giving fresh and interesting versions of such well-known classics as the Rihla of Ibn Jubayr. This is a new and exciting collection which will open new horizons for students and teachers alike." —Hugh Kennedy, SOAS, University of London

"This is a superb collection, covering nearly every aspect of the Crusader entanglement with the Islamic Near East as expressed in Arabic sources, in clear, readable English translations. The editors are to be thanked for including texts from multiple genres--not just chronicles, but travel literature, memoirs, biographies, poetry, epistles, treaties, and orations. Nor is this collection limited to literary texts, as it also includes evidence from inscriptions--a revealing source for understanding the public propaganda of the age. The informative appendices, maps, and thoughtful discussion questions will make this anthology a breeze to use in teaching, and I can't wait to get started using it." —Paul M. Cobb, University of Pennsylvania

Table of Contents: Click here to see the full Table of Contents (PDF).

Sample Syllabus: Cick here to download a sample syllabus for author James Lindsay's HIST 201, Approaches to History: The Islamic Near East during the Crusader Period class.

 

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Volume 2 of a 2-volume set. Volume 2 covers reconstruction to the present. Volume 1 covers origins through the Civil War. Together the two-volume set offers an unparalleled selection of key texts from the history of American political and constitutional thought. North American rights only.

Note about the current 2021 printing: Selections from the following texts have been removed from the 2021 revised printing of this book (2021 edition ISBN: 978-1-64792-012-8): E. B. White, Freedom; Langston Hughes, selected poems; Hannah Arendt, Reflections on Little Rock; Whittaker Chambers, Witness; C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite; Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron; Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Family and Nation. In all other respects, this printing is identical to the original edition published in 2007 (paperback ISBN of the now out of print 2007 edition: 978-0-87220-885-8).

Download the TOC (PDF) of volume II (2021 printing).

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"This rich and engaging book looks at instances of sanctified violence, the holy wars related to religion. It covers it all, from ancient to present day, including examples of warfare among Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists, as well as Christians, Jews and Muslims. It is a comprehensive and readable overview that provides a lively introduction to the subject of holy war in its broadest sense—as ‘sanctified violence’ in the service of a god or ideology. It is certain to be a useful companion in the classroom, and a boon to anyone fascinated by the dark attraction of religion and violence." —Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa Barbara

"With Andrea and Holt as sure-footed guides, Sanctified Violence tackles a vast subject: the global history of holy war in its many forms across the millennia. From cosmic struggles between forces of good and evil at the dawn of mythic time to apocalyptic battles at history’s end, this book explores the transcendental impulses and religious ideologies that fuel and shape collective violence in virtually every culture and age. Modern military chaplains and armed Buddhist monks keep company with medieval Templars and Aztec Flower warriors. Sanctified Violence never pretends to have all the answers to difficult questions about warfare and the sacred, but rather invites reflective readers to appraise their complicated relationship for themselves. Richly illustrated, each chapter offers a detailed commentary on its major historical sources and poses questions for further analysis, making the volume ideal for the classroom." —Brett E. Whalen, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Contents: Introduction: What Is Holy War?, Chapter 1: Holy Wars in Mythic Time, Holy Wars as Metaphor, Holy Wars as Ritual, Chapter 2: Holy Wars of Conquest in the Name of a Deity, Chapter 3: Holy Wars in Defense of the Sacred, Chapter 4: Holy Wars in Anticipation of the Millennium, and an Epilogue: Holy Wars Today and Tomorrow.

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"White War, Black Soldiers is a terrific read, from start to finish, and addresses such an important gap in our knowledge about Africa, Africans, and WWI. The editors offer a rich, balanced and nuanced account not just of the historical contexts in which to read these texts but also of how we should approach them—in all their complexity. Diallo’s text nicely defies a neat postcolonial reading and helps us appreciate the historical contingencies and variations of interwar ‘radicalism’. It also of course helps students confront the ongoing whiteness of WWI studies."
—Antoinette Burton, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"With a comprehensive scholarly introduction that contextualizes the service of African men within European-led colonial armies, this book presents two extremely rare personal accounts by African soldiers who fought in the First World War. The early twentieth century writings of Senegalese war veterans Bakary Diallo and Lamine Senghor, here published in English for the first time, illustrate the global nature of the conflict. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the Great War or African History."
—Timothy Stapleton, University of Calgary, author of Africa: War and Conflict in the Twentieth Century (2018)

"With White War, Black Soldiers, Prof. George Robb has provided us with both important primary documents (previously available only in French) and valuable historical context to dramatically improve our knowledge and understanding of the African Experience in WWI. As an Africanist who has taught world history for over two decades, I have long been frustrated by student's lack of awareness that anyone other than Europeans were involved in the first World War. This situation was exacerbated by the absence of more than a handful of brief African accounts of the conflict in Europe. By bringing the experiences and perspectives of Bakary Diallo and Lamine Senghor to an English-speaking audience, Robb has provided World Historians, Africanists, and secondary teachers alike with a valuable tool to help address this situation."
     —Jonathan Reynolds, Northern Kentucky University

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"Erik Jensen's The Greco-Persian Wars offers a refreshing introduction to a critical (but often misunderstood) historical event in world history. Rejecting dated models of East-West confrontation, this book usefully frames the Persian invasions of Greece in terms of imperial expansion and frontier development, and also considers the long-term evolution of Greco-Persian relations after 480–479 BC. The source selections draw on both Achaemenid documents as well as Greek narratives to contextualize the conflict." —John Hyland, Christopher Newport University

"I like Jensen’s book very much. This 'key moment' in world history has traditionally been read almost exclusively through Greek eyes, and having these translations of the Persian sources provides the opportunity and impetus for a fresh interpretation of this classic encounter. . . . The Introduction provides an excellent background to the Persian sources and sheds invaluable light on the people and society that produced them." —Robert Garland, Colgate University

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"Frey's concise and readable history of the Indian Rebellion is an excellent introduction to one of the most important wars of the nineteenth century. The rebellion lasted more than a year and pitted broad sections of north Indian society against the British East India Company. British victory consolidated colonial rule that would only be dislodged by twentieth-century nationalist movements. Frey provides a crystal-clear account of the causes, principal events, and consequences of the rebellion. Equally importantly, he deftly discusses why the rebellion remains controversial. Well-chosen documents add texture to the analysis. This is the best short history of the rebellion in print."
     —Ian Barrow, Middlebury College

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"Destined to delight readers with its vibrant, spot-on translations, this definitive collection of haiku grandmaster Bashō’s travel writings, in prose as well as poetry, conveys the exquisite pleasures and heartbreaks of the road as a metaphor for life itself." —Adam L. Kern, University of Wisconsin–Madison

"The travel writings of Matsuo Bashō are of enormous literary importance, and so it is a joy to see them collected in this compact volume, in translations of exemplary elegance, faithfulness, and accessibility. The annotations are especially valuable: they show a solid grasp of the author’s life, work, and times, and provide rich and detailed background information about allusions to Chinese and Japanese classics. Along with the high quality of the translations themselves, this thorough commentary makes the book a significant scholarly resource and will help readers appreciate the density and delicacy of Bashō’s writing. A very welcome addition to the English-language literature on one of the central poets of the Japanese tradition." —David B. Lurie, Columbia University

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"In this concise volume, Clark provides a nice split between detailed yet engaging narrative history—of the sort required to understand Japan in the context of the nineteenth century world—and primary sources that include updated translations, previously unused sources, classic texts, and helpful visual materials. A welcome addition to world, East Asian, and Japanese history courses." —Michael Wert, Marquette University

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"I am delighted that The Medieval Record—a book I used successfully in my medieval history survey over many semesters—is getting a new lease on life. The color illustrations are wonderful, and the new documents are translated beautifully into modern English. I like that this collection includes many sources not available in other readers, which tend to bundle the same old bunch of traditional sources (in varying translations from different translators). I like the very thoughtful introduction, which helps students think about historical documents and how to ‘do’ history when they read them. I especially appreciate the Topical Contents feature in the front matter—this is very helpful in guiding students to writing assignments." —John Contreni, emeritus, Purdue University

"I am delighted that a new edition of Medieval Record has finally been published. I want to thank the author and Hackett Publishing. I have used the old version for years and still consider it the best text out there. This year I’ll use it as the primary book for my class; it will serve both lectures and labs/primary source work. What I appreciate about the book is that it teaches students to read primary sources critically, a skill they can apply to their lives. It teaches students how to do history, rather than just learn and memorize." —Joëlle Rollo Koster, University of Rhode Island

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"With this timely book in Hackett Publishing's Passages series, Michael Bryant presents a wide-ranging survey of the trials of Nazi war criminals in the wartime and immediate postwar period. Introduced by an extensive historical survey putting these proceedings into their international context, this volume makes the case, central to Hackett’s collection for undergraduate courses, that these events constituted a 'key moment' that has influenced the course of history. Appended to Bryant's analysis is a substantial section of primary sources that should stimulate student discussion and raise questions that are pertinent to warfare and human rights abuses today." —Michael R. Marrus, Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies at the University of Toronto

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Selected by CHOICE Magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2020.

"[A]n exceptional resource for investigating early modern piracy . . . Highly recommended."  — M. Reardon, West Texas A&M University, in Choice

"This volume represents a sea change in educational resources for the history of piracy. In a single, readable, and affordable volume, Lane and Bialuschewski present a wonderfully diverse body of primary texts on sea raiders. Drawn from a variety of sources, including the authors’ own archival research and translations, these carefully curated texts cover over two hundred years (1548–1726) of global, early-modern piracy. Lane and Bialuschewski provide glosses of each document and a succinct introduction to the historical context of the period and avoid the romanticized and Anglo-centric depictions of maritime predation that often plague work on the topic." —Jesse Cromwell, The University of Mississippi

"A really exciting volume. The wide range of archival material collected here from around the world will allow readers to explore the early modern world, and real-life experience of piracy, first hand. But the book also serves as an effective introduction to such broader topics as working with, and learning from, sources; how researchers use archives; how historians can make dramatically different arguments about the same document; and how historians construct a narrative based on available evidence."
 —Mark G. Hanna, University of California, San Diego

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"An elegant tour of the republics and princely courts where the Italian Renaissance flourished. Bartlett presents a survey of glittering cultural, literary, and artistic achievements, never losing sight of the important political contexts in which they were made. The whole sweep of the Italian Renaissance—the fabulous wealth of its merchants, the ruthless schemes of its princes, the high ideals of its poets and writers, the astonishing works of its artists and architects, the struggles of its visionaries and reformers—comes into focus." —Margaret Meserve, University of Notre Dame

"Kenneth Bartlett (Univ. of Toronto, Canada), a prolific writer on Italy, the Renaissance, and humanism, and Gillian Bartlett, an author and educator, have produced a volume that will appeal to many scholars. Their book is organized as a series of biographies of prominent figures from the period—including Petrarch, Machiavelli, and Michelangelo, among others—and each chapter concludes with examples of appropriate works of art, accompanied by useful commentaries. The authors begin with Petrarch, describing how he introduced and popularized concepts that defined humanism. Geographically, Bartlett and Bartlett also focus more on minor states, such as Naples, than is customary, although they ultimately chart their narrative to Counter-Reformation Rome, where humanism died, leaving its traces in art and architecture. Happily, the spirit of humanism also survived elsewhere, to enrich our lives today. . . . [T]hose with some background knowledge will be fascinated by this beautifully written text, and will hopefully appreciate the poetic rhythm of the prose, appropriate for a book that celebrates Cicero, the ultimate Latin stylist. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels." —W. L. Urban, emeritus, Monmouth College (IL), in Choice

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"Margaret L. King has put together a highly representative selection of readings from most of the more significant—but by no means the most obvious—texts by the authors who made up the movement we have come to call the 'Enlightenment.' They range across much of Europe and the Americas, and from the early seventeenth century until the end of the eighteenth. In the originality of the choice of texts, in its range and depth, this collection offers both wide coverage and striking insights into the intellectual transformation which has done more than any other to shape the world in which we live today. It is simply the best introduction to the subject now available." —Anthony Pagden, UCLA, and author of The Enlightenment and Why It Still Matters

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"This outstanding collection makes available for the first time a remarkable range of primary sources that will enrich courses on women as well as Latin American history more broadly. Within these pages are captivating stories of enslaved African and indigenous women who protest abuse; of women who defend themselves from charges of witchcraft, cross-dressing, and infanticide; of women who travel throughout the empire or are left behind by the men in their lives; and of women’s strategies for making a living in a world of cross-cultural exchanges. Jaffary and Mangan's excellent Introduction and annotations provide context and guide readers to think critically about crucial issues related to the intersections of gender with conquest, religion, work, family, and the law." —Sarah Chambers, University of Minnesota

"Mangan and Jaffary's volume offers an impressive collection of primary sources for Latin American women’s history. It includes texts covering a diversity of women, times, and places across this broad region; shows that women were agents of survival and change for themselves and others; and humanizes the experience of colonial life for specific individuals and families across a long period. This book will be very usable in courses on Latin American, gender, social, and cultural history. I highly recommend it." —Susan Kellogg, University of Houston

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"Outstanding . . . the best short history I have read of America's role in World War II. Stoler and Michelmore draw on a judicious selection of historical documents to provide a concise, readable history. The historiography of the war is well covered and explained. It is no small task to delineate the many, sometimes, heated debates over the conduct of the war, and in this volume the many sides of the historical debate are fairly and evenly treated. For a single-volume study, the book is remarkably comprehensive. It addresses major events and decisions; yet it also covers the political and policy-driven, strategic and operational, and social and cultural aspects of the War. The development of key technologies (such as the atomic bomb) and intelligence capabilities are explained. Finally, this book also covers topics that are often neglected in histories of the War, including racism in America, the American response to the Holocaust, and the evolving role of women in the workforce." —Adrian Lewis, The University of Kansas

"A superbly researched resource, packed with fascinating primary sources, and full of cutting edge judgments and explanations. Stoler and Michelmore take us into nearly every corner of the American experience in World War II, from the White House to race riots to combat operations, and much more." —John C. McManus, Missouri University of Science and Technology

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"A fascinating study of interrelatedness among peoples that does much to undermine the conventional notion of there being an essentialist divide between Greco-Roman and barbarian culture and peoples. Jensen's work is not only a testimony to the truly multicultural dimension of the ancient Mediterranean, but also a reminder of how contemporary prejudices help shape our view of past societies. The world that the author paints is 'a tumult of different ideas, interpretations, and conflicts that had no final resolution.' What better reason could a historian offer for studying antiquity? Both readable and scholarly, Barbarians in the Greek and Roman World has a refreshingly modern ring and delivers an important modern message." —Robert Garland, Colgate University

"This book is excellent, and even necessary, reading for any survey of the ancient world. Easy to read and unafraid to explain scholarly arguments, Jensen takes his readers on a tour of the so-called Greek and Roman world. While he follows traditional chronological and temporal boundaries, he does not adhere to the old scholarly lens. In fact, by directly challenging it, he opens our eyes to an entirely different ancient world. Rather than speak from the heart of the Roman forum or the Athenian agora, Jensen approaches ancient history from the position of an outsider, as a scholar unwilling to settle on simple narratives of progress from single centers, but rather forcefully admitting difference. Ultimately, Jensen illustrates the benefit of moving beyond the Greeks and the Romans and the importance of doing so. After all, as far as the Romans and Greeks were concerned, we—the English-speaking readers that form Jensen's audience—are as much, if not more, barbarian than Greco-Roman!" —Brian Turner, Portland State University

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"This is a wonderful anthology. Its texts not only span the whole of Luther's reforming career, but also cover the theological, political, and social issues that mattered most to him and his age. Best of all, the original integrity of the texts remains perceptible, even when abridged. This valuable collection will be a great teaching tool and also a most useful resource for anyone interested in Luther or the Protestant Reformation." —Carlos Eire, Yale University

"[Helfferich's] translations are clear and easy to read and couched in contemporary English that is appealing to the reader. The introductions to each document are informative and effective, sketching out each text’s major themes, and placing the document into a larger context. The information provided in the notes is helpful, particularly the references identifying Scriptural passages to which Luther refers. . . . The book features a balanced assortment of Luther’s works, including some of his most important and well known works, as well as some of his lesser known (or, at least, lesser read) writings. The collection reflects the broad range of subjects that Luther addressed during his lifetime and, since the documents are arranged in chronological order, it provides the reader with the opportunity to see how Luther’s thought developed. The thematic table of contents is extremely helpful as it identifies for the reader in which writings Luther addressed a particular topic. The collection of documents, then, is valuable in that it allows readers to explore both the breadth of Luther’s work as well as to engage a particular aspect of Luther’s thought as it developed over time." —Susan Mobley, Concordia University Wisconsin

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"Getchell does an exemplary job of explaining the context, development, and results of the Cuban Missile Crisis. She has an expert grasp on the latest research in the field, and her prose is engaging, making this book a pleasure to read." —Renata Keller, author of Mexico's Cold War: Cuba, the United States, and the Legacy of the Mexican Revolution

In October 1962, when the Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba, the most dangerous confrontation of the Cold War ensued, bringing the world close to the brink of nuclear war. Over two tense weeks, U.S. president John F. Kennedy and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev managed to negotiate a peaceful resolution to what was nearly a global catastrophe. Drawing on the best recent scholarship and previously unexamined documents from the archives of the former Soviet Union, this introductory volume examines the motivations and calculations of the major participants in the conflict, sets the crisis in the context of the broader history of the global Cold War, and traces the effects of the crisis on subsequent international and regional geopolitical relations. Selections from twenty primary sources provide firsthand accounts of the frantic deliberations and realpolitik diplomacy between the U.S., the U.S.S.R., and Fidel Castro's Cuban regime; thirteen illustrations are also included.

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Series: Myths of History

 "Seven Myths of Native American History will provide undergraduates and general readers with a very useful introduction to Native America past and present. Jentz identifies the origins and remarkable staying power of these myths at the same time he exposes and dismantles them."
—Colin G. Calloway, Dartmouth College

"Misconceptions continue to shape public perceptions of American Indians. Deeply ingrained cultural fictions, what Jentz (history, North Hennepin Community College) refers to as myths, have had a lasting hold on popular understanding of Native Americans. In this readable and engaging overview, Jentz provides an important corrective, one that not only catalogs key stories and stereotypes but also lays a foundation for challenging them. As the title indicates, Jentz seeks to demystify seven fundamental ideas about American Indians through critical histories. Following a helpful introductory discussion, he devotes a chapter to each myth. Specifically, he unpacks (1) the noble savage, (2) the ignoble savage, (3) wilderness and wildness, (4) the vanishing native, (5) the authentic Indian, (6) the ecological Indian, and (7) the mystical native. Throughout, Jentz employs clear language and tangible examples to clarify each myth and its significance. [T]his work will greatly benefit nonspecialists, including high school teachers and students. The volume will be useful as either a textbook in introductory courses in Native American studies or as secondary reading. Summing Up: Highly recommended."
—C. R. King, Washington State University, in Choice

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"Bartlett does an excellent job of illustrating events and issues relevant to the historical period. [His introduction] succeeds in placing the history of Renaissance Florence in a broader geographical and chronological context, not only by explaining how the rise of the Medici family was possible but also by illustrating the dynamics that linked the Republic of Florence to other Italian and non-Italian states. . . . The style is very clear, the narrative is effectively structured, and the text, while avoiding oversimplification, is easily accessible. . . . The brilliant first part [of this book] provides an enjoyable and informative introduction to the subject for English-speaking readers. . . . The sources show how Renaissance Florence's extraordinary historical players, such as Cosimo and Piero de' Medici, Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Girolamo Savonarola, were perceived by their contemporaries. The wide range of different kinds of documents, such as chronicles, letters, diaries, and sermons, is ideal for students who want to get a glimpse of what and how fifteenth-century people used to write." —Stefano Dall'aglio, in Renaissance and Reformation

"A brief narrative overview of the mainly political history of Florence to the end of the fifteenth century that also offers an attractive collection of illustrative documents, aimed to engage student interest and discussion." —Melissa Bullard, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

 "King Leopold of Belgium's exploits up the Congo River in the 1880s were central to the European partitioning of the African continent. The Congo Free State, Leopold’s private colony, was a unique political construct that opened the door to the savage exploitation of the Congo's natural and human resources by international corporations. The resulting ‘red rubber’ scandal—which laid bare a fundamental contradiction between the European propagation of free labor and ‘civilization’ and colonial governments’ acceptance of violence and coercion for productivity’s sake—haunted all imperial powers in Africa. Featuring a clever introduction and judicious collection of documents, Michael Rutz’s book neatly captures the drama of one king’s quest to build an empire in Central Africa—a quest that began in the name of anti-slavery and free trade and ended in the brutal exploitation of human lives. This volume is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in the history of colonial rule in Africa." —Jelmer Vos, University of Glasgow

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"A great accomplishment. Not only does Smulewicz-Zucker's anthology bring together a diverse array of sources (54 in total), it also weaves together what are more or less canonical sources in twentieth-century African political thought with many unexpected, yet equally rich and illuminating, items. Smulewicz-Zucker has chosen material from all of the continent’s major regions, including . . . documents from more than two-dozen different countries, international and regional organizations, and conferences. Moreover, he has organized the material in a way that creates an engaging and powerful narrative articulating the complicated history of African independence. This outstanding collection will surely find its way into undergraduate courses in fields as diverse as African history, international relations, comparative politics, and even political theory."  —Jeffrey Ahlman, Smith College

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Series: Myths of History

"Readers of this book who thought they knew a lot about the U.S. Civil War will discover that much of what they 'knew' is wrong. For readers whose previous knowledge is sketchy but whose desire to learn is strong, the separation of myth from reality is an important step toward mastering the subject. The essays will generate lively discussion and new insights." —James M. McPherson, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University

"Wesley Moody's clear, engaging book tackles enduring Civil War myths with grace, candor, and persuasive evidence. By exploring a wide range of subjects including the war's causes, soldiers, leaders, prisons, and battlefields, this volume's group of talented historians accomplishes more than myth busting. Each scholar reveals deeper, more satisfying stories hidden beneath Civil War fallacies and falsehoods. As a result, Civil War students and enthusiasts will find more than facts in this compelling book; they’ll encounter the complexities of real war, the long shadows of memory, and the hard work that historians conduct to illuminate the past." —Jason Phillips, Eberly Professor of Civil War History, West Virginia University

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Series: Myths of History

"Northrup’s highly accessible book breaks through the most common barriers that readers encounter in studying African history. Each chapter takes on a common myth about Africa and explains both the sources of the myth and the research that debunks it. These provocative chapters will promote lively discussions among readers while deepening their understanding of African and world history. The book is strengthened by its incorporation of actors and issues representing the African diaspora and African Americans in particular." —Rebecca Shumway, College of Charleston

"This is a very good book. . . . Northup uses the seven myths formula to address some major issues in African historiography. These range from addressing older debates about whether Africa has a history at all, to Ethiopian exceptionalism, to the effects of long distance trade, to ethnic formation, to the Afro-pessimist-Afro-optimist debate. His approach to these topics is wide ranging. . . . All of this is delivered in an accessible, jargon-free, undergraduate-friendly style. . . . Perhaps the best thing about the book is that it does not stop with confronting popular misconceptions and myth making about Africa. It also addresses debates within the discipline. . . . Using material from this book would be a way to expose students to debates within the field and help to dispel the notion that there is an agreed upon narrative about Africa’s past." —Erik Gilbert, Arkansas State University, in International Journal of African Historical Studies

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"Thoughtful, readable, and concise, this little book sets the Russian Revolution in its global context. Though primarily focused on the period from 1917 to the 1930s, it nicely illustrates the many ways in which the effects of the Revolution are still being felt today." —Rex Wade, George Mason University

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Series: Passages: Key Moments in History

"Ian Barrow has written a concise yet engaging, rich, and detailed history of the East India Company—its rise to power, evolution, and eventual demise. This book will be read with great interest by students as well as those general readers seeking a better knowledge of the world's first multi-national corporation and its important influence in the creation of the modern South Asian world."  —Michael Dodson, Indiana University Bloomington

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"I assign students to read The Federalist so they will grasp the ideas. But too often they can’t get past the words. Adam Seagrave's The Accessible Federalist will enable readers of all backgrounds to understand the ideas that shaped the Constitution. It will also spur many readers onward to study and appreciate the original texts. I hope it gets wide attention and classroom use." —James H. Read, Professor of Political Science, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

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"The American Debate over Slavery, 1760–1865 will be a superb resource for teachers and students of early American history. Editors Lubert, Hardwick, and Hammond have carefully assembled and introduced a rich collection of significant documents that bring the slavery debate into sharp and illuminating focus. This is easily the best book in its field." —Peter S. Onuf, University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello)

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