Bagan before Kublai Khan invaded
347337
I was fascinated with Bagan, Burma, and wanted to understand more of what happened there and why so many stupas, pagodas, and temples were built. The author is a good story teller and obviously knows both his history and much of the mystical lore of that time. An excellent read.
4762068
In our history books we see Genghis Khan as a barbarian invader and destroyer of civilizations. This film, beautifully shot in the steppes of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Chinese Inner Mongolia, tells the story from the beginning.  From unlikely origins in a minor tribe in poverty and barbaric survival struggles the young Timujin rises to unite the tribes of Mongolia.  Sequel films are planned but apparently delayed.
1106244
A remarkably rich and fascinating visual history of Ulaanbaatar documenting the changes in Mongolia's capital city since the advent of photography, a book that should be of interest to both readers interested in urban development in Asia and in Ulaanbaatar itself. Along the way, it incidentally shows how  developing nations often lack the means to insure historic preservation of significant architecture amidst the pressures of urban sprawl and redevelopment.  The author, Bayasgalan Bayanbat, is a life-long and gifted photographer who spent years replicating the angles of old photographs to produce the "then and now" contrast. His day job is as a career Mongolian foreign service officer.
874862
Interesting story of the Gurkhas in British India
422759
excellent source, reliable and thorough, parts are naturally better suited for asian or history majors text is actually 230 pages with about 95 pages of cite material
delivers a very clear picture of the development and influence kubilai and mongolian culture had on 13th century asia, because of the balancing act that kubilai was responsible for, there is a near pleading for the reader to indulge other aspects of this time because kubilai is such a dense figure and the mongols such a volatile despotism that despite the density of sources it feels like wisps of information that reveal both a cunning and touching glimpse of power
i would like to read about genghis and chiang kai-shek, if the same author has tackled other asiatic dynastic figures i can only hope they would be as well crafted, fully satisfied
4738496
In this seguel to birth of an empire Conn Iggulden does a remarkable job at bringing Temujin from uniting the tribes of his homeland into one large army and having them follow him as Genghis khan to war with there enemy the xi xia kingdom and the chin empire. The story is fantastic, lots of action and heroics without it seeming to far fetched, And the plotline and battle sequences are well thought out. He also weaves in side characters very well throughout the story without losing focus on the main plot. All in all a great read!
3628103
Riveting story of the rise of of the great Khan.  The back story sets up the path of the warrior and leader of the Mongols.
3183008
To start off with, there are few solid facts about Genghis Khan.  In telling his history, in telling about his life, you have to be careful about figuring out what piece of information is fact and which is myth.  The author Jack Weatherford is very careful about examining the Khan's life.
But he also is wonderful in building up the setting, the stage, of the Khan's life.  Without understanding the events before his life, the Mongols and how they felt, thought, and lived, much of the information has nothing to hang on.
The history is colorful, action packed, detailed without being confusing.  I would suggest buying this book if you love history, Asian history, or military history.  He also explains how the Mongols changed European culture and world history.
I would also suggest buying&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Mongols-Men-At-Arms-Series-105/dp/0850453720/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Mongols (Men-At-Arms Series, 105)</a>&nbsp;for more information on their tactics and fighting men.
2646577
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a fairly fast read.  I enjoyed the characters, though I wanted to know more about Paldons character as a child.  I liked the mix of past and present, and the Buddhist philosophy mixed into the story.  I know some Tibetans who fled Tibet in 1959, and I felt the author captured the essence of the mountainous crossing.
2369761
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From an era where the kings of Assyria ruled a vast empire [Assyria was an Iron Age Mesopotamian empire that existed between 911 and 612 BC], this direct cast is part of the rich ornamentation of the palace of Khorsabad [a village in northern Iraq].

Cast in quality design resin and hand-painted in the Neoclassical tones of ebony and gold.

The above description of this exceptional wall sculpture or plaque is found at the sellers website.  The seller, Design Toscano, is a good source for statues and other historical and antique replicas.

Human-headed winged bulls were protective genies that were placed as guardians at certain gates or doorways of the city and the palace.  Symbols combining man, bull, and bird, they offered protection against enemies and evil spirits.

These winged bulls were motifs of Syrian inspiration and one of the characteristic features of the decoration of Assyrian palaces.

This particular plaque depiction may date back to 71 BC when Sargon the second founded his capital, now present-day Khorsabad.  (Sargon the second was a king who ruled the Assyrian Empire from 722 to 705 BC.)

For this piece, I found the attention to detail quite astounding.  This sculpture is precisely painted in black and gold. It appears to be well-made and durable.  To tell you the truth, this wall sculpture exceeded my expectations and I can now understand why such a piece is found in the Louvre, Paris.

Finally, note that the winged bull had five legs.  The fifth leg is visible only when viewing from the front.  Since we see this winged bull from the side or in profile, only four legs can be seen (since the fifth leg is parallel with the front leg thats shown).

In conclusion, this is a beautiful sculpture, a museum-quality historic work of art!!

(width X height X depth = 10" X 9 " X 1";  weight = 2 lb;  made in China)

<<Stephen PLETKO, London, Ontario, Canada>>

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631467
Loved the book, a great chapter in this excellent series that continues to chart the rise of the Mongol empire. There's real depth to the characters and rich telling of battles and key moments in history. A thoroughly good read and having just finished this book I am already reading the next book on the series.
855073
The book is worth reading if you an interest in war, strategy, or important ancient Chinese battles. The translation is a bit dated, but that's why the book is free. My version did not have illustrations, but I didn't download it for the pictures.
2918651
This book is an excellent study of the Kukris, main weapon of the Gurkhas, who were Nepalis who fought for British Empire.  The construction, history, and lore of the Kukris.  Much is also given by information on the Nepali people.  A great read for students of weapons.
4698068
Aberles Chahar and Dagor Mongol Bureaucratic Administration, based on interviews with John Hangin and Urgunge Onon between 1950-1952, is an example of ethnography at a distance. Drawing upon Eric Wolfs model of closed corporate peasant communities (and perhaps his views against the explanatory model offered by ahistorical functionalism) Aberle argues that the Chahar and Dagor banners operated as closed communities interacting with the larger political structures solely through the person at the head of the bureaucratic administration. Peripheral to the centers of industry and the market economy, suffering from incursion on land and other resources, membership in both communities was fixed by birth, not residence, and for the most part, unchangeable.
318943
This is an excellent read regarding the life of the Khulafa ar-Rashidun.  I recommend this book for anyone who wants a brief history of the early years of Islam.
1594730
In the history of the world, the empire of the Mongols became, at its peak, the second largest empire in history, only surpassed by the British Empire in the twentieth century. It would be the largest continuous empire under the rule of a single person.

The book starts off with some biographical details about Temujin's early life. Temujin would be known to history as Genghis Khan. He would rise up in the military to unite feuding Mongol tribes to create a new, unified Mongol nation. Instead of fighting each other, the Mongols began conquering a large part of the Asian continent, using mainly their cavalry, as the Mongols did not practice the use of infantry, and later siege weapons to take over fortified towns. The Mongol war machine would expand the empire across Asia at a truly extraordinary rate. At its peak, the Mongol Empire would stretch from eastern Europe in the west, Korea in the east, China in the south, and Siberia in the north.

Despite beginning a great expansion starting in the thirteenth century, the empire as a unified entity did not last long. By the end of the thirteenth century, the empire had split up into four smaller, and essentially sovereign, nations, including what would become the shortest dynasty in Chinese history, the Yuan.

I found The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History to be an enjoyable overview of the Mongol Empire. This is not meant to be an in-depth look at the Mongols. There are no advanced discussions about battles or military strategy. Only a few key battles are discussed in detail.  I would recommend this book to those who are interested in learning some basics about Mongols and their Empire.
732783
This is a must read for all who are interested in the Korean war. This is the story of a British Brigade that fought valiantly to withstand a numerically superior Chinese army and fought them to a standstill. In doing so the " Gloster " portion of the brigade was practically wiped out.