History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Castle: (ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers) (Eyewitness Books)

Average customer rating:

castle eyewitness books
great book for first grader
Good foundation
Not good.
Hooray for Eyewitness Books!

Castle: (ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers) (Eyewitness Books)
Christopher Gravett
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679860002
Release Date: 1994-05-10

Book Description

Full-color photos. Take a look behind the walls of these fascinating fortresses and learn how they were built to house hundreds of people and animals; how a young boy rose from lowly page to noble knight; and what life was like for the castle residents.

Customer Reviews:

castle eyewitness books.......2007-08-28

A wonderful book for children grades 3-6 who are interested in all things medieval. Huge amounts of information without a lot of reading, just enough to add to the wonderful photography. A must for children interested in finding out more

great book for first grader.......2007-05-13

My first grader loved this book while working on his castle unit at school.

Good foundation.......2002-02-08

Like all the Eyewitness books, the quantity of information in Castle is both its strong point and weak point. We are taken to castles through time as well as in different cultures, and both the architectural and sociological aspects are examined. However, many of the facts and pictures included on a given page seem rather random and do not fit into a coherent general presentation.

Castle is good fun if one remembers to read the main sections and the details when they're specifically interesting, but to just enjoy the pictures for some of the minutia.

Not good........1999-09-17

Eyewitness Castles, Medieval Life, Knights: Boring. Eyewitness Castle isn't that good. It is very boring. The water Eyewitness books like Eyewitness SHARK are far more better then Castles, Medieval Life and Knights.

Hooray for Eyewitness Books!.......1998-07-05

Eyewitness books give readers complete information in short 'blurbs' and captioned pictures. These books are always the first to be checked out in our school library...our students LOVE THEM...and parents, you will too!

Knights And Castles (Magic Tree House Research Guide, paper)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful book for kids of all ages
Terrific Reference for Middle Ages * Art * Theme!
Knights and Castles
Great for fans of the magic tree house!

Knights And Castles (Magic Tree House Research Guide, paper)
Will And Ma Osborne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Medieval | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0375802975
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Book Description

What was it like to wear armor? What was the food like in castles? This book explores what life was really like in medieval times.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful book for kids of all ages.......2000-12-26

This is a wonderful book for kids of all ages. The reference works in back to museums, internet sites and other books is well done. I recommend this book for any one who has children interested in Knights and Castles!

Terrific Reference for Middle Ages * Art * Theme!.......2000-10-13

I'm an artist and art teacher, and after discovering this book, I ordered copies for my middle school ART students! While it's an easy read for students of this age (5th through 7th grade), it's packed with understandable text and pictures. It's a great reference for the various art projects that my students are doing as part of our study of the Middle Ages, and the kids have really enjoyed it....

Knights and Castles.......2000-08-14

Mary Pope Osborne does it again!

Our Family loves the Magic Tree House series. They hit us on many levels. Our youngest loves to be read to, our next just hit chapter books, our oldest is beyond this intro. level chapter books - but loves this series & reads the books over and over.

I am delighted to introduce reasearch ideas in such a non-threatening, inviting manner to my children. Learning and reading is so fun; and this concept sheds new light for a young audience. Not only will this help after reading the MTH series, it will add a new dimension when going on field trips, museums, the library, the internet, etc. I am going to share this book with our elementary school.

Ms. Osborne and her husband take the opportunity to be thorough, while simplifying for young minds - and the illustrations keep a young reader's attention.

Bravo! Keep 'em coming.

Great for fans of the magic tree house!.......2000-08-11

My 4-year-old son and I have been reading the Magic Tree House series for nearly half his life; they are among his favorite books (in fact, when given an opportunity at a book sale at day camp this summer, he opted to buy the next book in the series rather than the Pokemon cards that all his friends were buying!). When I showed him the Knights and Castles Research Guide, he was thrilled! We started reading it right away, and he found it fascinating. Especially appealing are the illustrations, much more numerous and detailed than those in the regular series. My only (very minor) disappointment is that it would have been even more wonderful if these books in this Research Guide series had been presented as if they were the actual books that Jack and Annie found in the treehouse (complete with the quotations that appear in the Tree House books), rather than ones they put together from "research" after their visits.

Average customer rating:

Amazing....
Introduction to Medieval Fortifications
The best place to start to learn about castle life
A Great Resource
just the facts m'lady

Life in a Medieval Castle
Joseph Gies , and Frances Gies
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 006090674X

Book Description

"The authors allow medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books."--Time

Customer Reviews:

Amazing...........2006-11-27

I know that some people like to say that the works of the Gies are dry. Try reading 500 pages of Peter Brown. Now THAT'S dry. It's hard to make history terribly informative and yet accurrate and interesting. The Gies are very clear and personally I found it extremely interesting. It was the only book (out of 7) that I was required to ready for my class on Medieval Europe that I found interesting (and actually read all of!). It is not a novel, so be forwarned. If that's what you want, you WILL be dissappointed, but it is an excellent HISTORY book.

Introduction to Medieval Fortifications.......2006-08-17

I have enjoyed reading other books by Frances & Joseph Gies, this one in particular is one of my favorites. For those seeking an introduction to the military, economic, and cultural signifigance of the castle in Medieval Europe, this is your best choice. Inside you will find a description of a castle's typical staff & personnel, the living conditions of those residing there (better than most would assume), the daily and yearly routine of business in the castle and its lands (mainly agricultural), and the most vital role as a military post for regional defense. The training of the Knight is covered well (Read "The Knight in History" by the same authors). In general, the focus is on castles in Britain, probably the most heavily fortified nation in Europe, after Germany, or maybe France, in terms of quantity of castles. Within you will also find many interesting illustrations: photos of historic sites, and Medieval illumination.

The best place to start to learn about castle life.......2005-05-29

This book is absolutely the best place to start if you want to learn about medieval castles. It explains in very accessable prose how medieval castles came to be, how they evolved, the roles they served in medieval society, what they were like at their zenith, how military strategy through the middle ages centered around the castle, and how their relevance declined with the changes in technology and the political scene that came with the late medieval period. The Gieses give the reader a very clear picture of what life was like for the people whose lives centered in or around the castle, from the nobility at the top down through the staff needed to keep the castle running to the villagers at the bottom. In particular, it shows the various functions that the castle staff needed to serve in order to keep things running smoothly, and the duties of those responsible for those functions, from chamberlains, chaplains, seneschals and stewards down to pantlers, haywards and reeves. In many cases, the best things are the historical anecdotes used to show a particular aspect of castle life, from the manner in which meals were served to the ways provisions were acquired in an era where money was by no means a common exchange, and how matters of jurisdiction often overlapped in problematic ways (a lord might have jurisdiction over a castle but not over the forest surrounding it which belonged to the king). This is not what I would call the definitive text on all aspects of castle lore, but it is probably the single best place to start to get a clear and detailed education on, as the title indicates, "life in a medieval castle."

A Great Resource.......2005-03-31

Life in a Medieval Castle takes a broad look at all aspects of castle life and their role in the Western European social system between the 11th and 16th centuries. Most of the examples are English and Norman Castles. Overall I'd give this book 3.5 stars and recommend it to anyone interested in a easy general overview of castles and their structural and social evolution throughout the middle ages. For someone more interested in the military and siege aspects of castles this book may not contain as much info as you'd like. I'm keeping this one for my personal collection.

just the facts m'lady.......2003-12-19

The authors do an excellent job describing, in great detail, the ins and outs of of life in a midieval castle. So, it would be of great use to someone doing a research report for some odd reason on the subject. Otherwise, I found the book unfit for casual reading because its nothing but factoid after factoid, presented without a hint of personality. Basically reads like an owners manual. I was expecting more with a subject this fascinating.

Average customer rating:

Prussian and Bavarian splendor
Good photos and writing
German Castles And Palaces

German Castles and Palaces
Uwe Albrecht
Manufacturer: Vendome Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Architectural | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0865652074

Customer Reviews:

Prussian and Bavarian splendor.......2005-03-16

Really a thorough book, it seems to hit all the important castles and palaces and does a wonderful job of spending more time on the more important buildings. The pictures are very good, though I do agree with the reviewer that stated the book needed more exterior photos, allthough I still would not have rated it a five star book, but definitely four and a half. In order to have gotten five stars the author would have need to have focused more on the great palaces and much more time on Potsdam and Bavaria. This is a subject that needed and got a fine assessment. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in European architecture at it's best.

Good photos and writing.......2000-07-28

This is a great book, good photos and loaded w/ info. The only thing that I think would make it better would be show more pictures of the exterior of the palaces because some palace photos are all interior so you cant see what it looks like from the outside, but this is only on a few palaces. Overall, this is a great book and I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could.

German Castles And Palaces.......1999-11-27

I love this book. The photography is just fabulous. If you ever wanted to know what the German Castles and Palaces look like, or are planning a trip to Germany and would like to see some of them, this is the book for you! Also, the history is very informative. I just can't say enough for this book! I am an artist, and I have never seen such an artful display of art from a bygone era. WOW!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful pages, very high quality, useful information!
This is a very useful guide to castles in Scotland

Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland
Damien Noonan
Manufacturer: Welcome Rain Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Scotland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1566491886

Book Description

In this exciting and lavishly illustrated new guide, Damien Noonan explores a variety of historic sites.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful pages, very high quality, useful information!.......2001-11-17

You will love the look and feel of this book. Stunning photographs grace virtually every page. Definitions of the different types of ancient structures, as well as a summary of different time periods in Scottish history, are provided. Opening times and entrance costs of the castles are also included. The geographic organization of attractions is perfect for travelers.

What I like most about this resource are the opinions and recommendations given by the author. So many travel books refuse to offer information about the quality of the site and how worthwhile a visit would be. I found that some of the castles I thought were the best (and was planning to visit) were hardly given the time of day in this book. That was because this book gives the most information about the most interesting castles and monuments. I discovered several fascinating sights that we weren't even planning to visit.

I give this book five stars because it offered enough information for me to change and rearrange my trip itinerary. That means that it was both thorough and helpful. Some may be disappointed, because certain castles are covered in two full pages, while others are listed with only their address, opening times, and a one-line description.

This is a very useful guide to castles in Scotland.......2000-08-15

This is very useful as a general introduction to the castles in Scotland. It looks at over 200 sites, giving information about the history of the castle plus opening times . It gives a little information , obviously limited by space , about a lot of castles rather than a lot of info about any one castle. It certainly isn't a detailed guide to any single castle. It is well illustrated with many pictures of the castles. If you like castles , you will love this book.

The Medieval Fortress: Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages

Average customer rating:

Total Information - Great Line Art - Very Krunchy
A Good General Overview but......
Great study of medieval castles
Medieval Fortress by Kaufmann
Just get it - you will not regret!

The Medieval Fortress: Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages
H. W. Kaufmann , J. E. Kaufmann , and Robert M. Jurga
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0306813580
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Book Description

The castles of the Medieval world continue to interest readers, both as architectural wonders and because of their dramatic role in world history. The general public is largely unaware of just how many castles survive today or over how wide an area of Europe and the Middle East they are to be found.

Fortifications specialists J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann and technical artist Robert Jurga (authors of the acclaimed Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II) have once again combined European sources and personal observations to present a unique portrait of military architecture. They reveal how the medieval fortress combined both Roman and barbarian features, with some influences from as far away as China. Detailed coverage is given to castles in the British Isles, France, Germany, Moorish Spain, and as far east as Poland and Russia, as well as Muslim and Crusader castles in the Middle East.

The Medieval Fortress covers the origin and evolution of the castles and other walled defenses, their major components, and the reasons for their eventual decline, which was not solely due to the introduction of gunpowder. Also receiving extensive coverage are the weapons and equipment of garrisons and besieging troops. Over 100 photographs and 400 extraordinarily detailed technical drawings accompany the main text, which also takes an in-depth look at representative castles of each major type.

Customer Reviews:

Total Information - Great Line Art - Very Krunchy.......2004-11-18

This book starts from the first few pages with an in depth study of the fortified positions of the middle ages - i.e. castles, keeps, etc. Despite a level of detail that may be too in depth for a beginner, the book itself provides a very readable style and is absolutely full of useful information (krunchy bits) for authors or others wishing to make an in depth study of medieval fortifications (ATTENTION GAMERS!). It has hundreds of high quality, albeit sometimes confusing, line art portraits that show each and every aspect of castle or its related cousins (where is #67 again - its sometimes like Where is Waldo finding the numbers referenced in the subtext). The book also has a great deal of information regarding siege techniques and the weapons used therein - and this information is fantastic in its level of detail and the included line art! The included photos are all in B&W, and some are rather grainy, but by far, they all serve the purpose they were intended to - they show the true grandeur of the castle as it was.

Within the text, the authors do have a habit of referencing other authors, which, if your looking for more on the subject, is good. However, by page 80, they have referenced at least 30 other authors and works (is that not what the bibliography is for).

Outside of this one complaint, the book is absolutely invaluable to anyone interested in the subject!

NOTE: This review references the soft-cover red front edition of the book, which I could not find the link for on Amazon (it may be an out of print edition or not, I am not sure - however, the TOC of the this edition appears identical to mine, so I am assuming that the contents have only been repackaged for the HB binding).

A Good General Overview but.............2004-11-17

On the whole, I found this book to quite informative with many detailed descriptions of medieval European castles and cities. On some specific castles the data can be fairly general. I found this to be most obvious on castles that I have been fortunate enough to visit in the past and purchase a guide brochure or booklet from which I naturally compared the data.
I found the section on eastern European fortifications and their developement over the centuries to be very interesting as this was a subject I previously knew very little about.
But I do have one major 'gripe' or dissatisfaction with the book. The detailed and extensive floor plans provided throughout the book all suffer from some serious 'under labelling'. For example, a specific castle floor plan might have 20 itemised (numbered) points or features of interest on it. But when one refers to the "legend' or 'key' to find out what a certain feature is, it becomes painfully obvious that not all 20 features are actually clarified or described in the key. This is a fault that is not isolated and is unfortunately prevalent on the vast majority of floor plans in the book.
I'm not sure whether this problem is peculiar to the published edition I purchased or is in fact inherent throughout the whole published run. In any case it appears to be a large oversite in the 'quality control' department of the book's publication process. Other than these faults, I thought this book to be a good 'read'.

Great study of medieval castles.......2004-06-01

If you've been looking for a complete book on medieval castles, you have found the book for you. Although it touches lightly on such on such areas as medieval food, hygene, and battles, the bulk of this book is an in-depth study of castles. The writing is a bit dry, but very informative, covering fortresses from England, France, Itally, and even eastern Europe. I doubt there is much about castles unsaid in this book.

Medieval Fortress by Kaufmann.......2003-09-30

This is an excellent work. It would be perfect for a student
project with a focus on Middle Ages building designs. The author
provides detailed engineering specifications for castles, forts,
a motte and rising towers. The engineering statics implications
are explained in the detailed design process. The work covers
action implementalities; such as, the ram, siege and cannon.
The author spends a portion of the book explaining how
war objects were constructed during the Middle Age period.

In addition, he concludes that an increase in wall size
necessarily means weakening the overall superstructure.
Some time is spent explaining the model diet for the period
which consisted of wheat, barley, oats and fish. This work
will help readers understand the building requirements
for structures created during the Middle Ages. The book would
be valuable for historians, art buffs, architects, engineers
and a wide constituency of other readers.

Just get it - you will not regret!.......2002-03-26

It does not matter if you all ready are a "fort-geek" or some one, who just want a book on the topic: This book will for sure please you.

"The Medieval Fortress" is a nice big (app. 11" x 8.5" or 28,5 x 22 cm), 319p. book, which covers the development of fortified places through out Europe and North-Africa from the early to the late middle ages - when the forts had their glory.
The book is built up of five main chapters. The First deals with the elements of a fortification; the Second deals in general with the different kind of fortifications in different parts of Europe (Islamic, Byzantine, Frankish, British, Norse, Slavic and Magyar (Hungarian)); the Third does the same, but with emphasis on the emerging castle; the Fourth chapter introduces gunpowder and the decline of the high castle walls through the description of several sieges (Constantinople, Rhodes, and siege of fortifications during the Reconquista); Chapter Five goes in depth with some selected fortifications in Europe: Some of the more famous ones and some more obscure. The reader is guided through fortifications/castles in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Low Countries, Switzerland, Holy Roman Empire, Scandinavia, Central Europe (present day Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovenia) Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Mediterranean, Italy, Spain&Portugal, and North Africa. The appendixes gives the names of some more important builders and architects and their titles in different languages (French, Portugese, Spanish, Duch, Sweedish, and Russian), a chronology of important sieges from 623 (Constantinople) to 1529 (Vienna), a history of medival artillery and a glossary.
There are endless amounts of B/W pictures alongside with even more B/W line drawings and plans of forts, just like on the front cover of the book.

This book is a very good buy!

Customer Reviews:

Read the all reviews first!.......2007-05-05

I was really disappointed by this book. It's very anti-Christian, anti-European, anti-Middle Ages, even. Avery Hart is warping history to suit a politicly correct agenda. I hoped to at least get a few craft ideas, but those were unoriginal and not well done. The "make your own code of honor" craft for example didn't even give an example of what a medieval code of honor might have been like. The book, in my opinion at least, is a big waste.

Lots to do!.......2007-02-13

Make sure you're ready to take on craft projects when you get this book, you'll be inspired to build castles and family crests!

Anti-Christian Zealotry at its worst.......2006-07-04

Apparently Christianity is at the root of all evil and the cause of most misfortune that occurred in the middle ages. If it weren't for those darned Christians, it seems the world would be a much better place. St. Frances of Assis was ok, (he loved animals), but all the rest of the Christians were closed-minded, violent and supersititous. I wasn't aware that the church wouldn't let people read because it might confuse them and that many people became monks because they didn't want to go to war.

I wish I had read all the reviews before purchasing this item, and I have definitely learned my lesson. I would never allow my children to read this trash.

Excellent for Modern-Day Thought and Practice.......2005-11-21

Ignore the obvious religious zealots who feel they have a right to shove their beliefs down the throats of everyone else in this country and the world in general: there is absolutely nothing wrong with a child learning about the realities of the middle ages, which was an era heavily influenced by the Catholic church. An adult subject matter, albeit an opportunity for quality parenting, this era was dominated by the church and many superstitious and malinformed beliefs we hold true today stem from this era of intolerance and brutality against human kind and religious freedom.

This book is a wonderful and refreshing guide to learning about the middle ages, and offers a perspective on the era which allows children to ask questions and open their minds to the possibilities of the belief systems of other people and families. Children asking their parents questions based upon moral ground and religious belief is extremely healthy, and it offers up an opportunity for parents to parent their children the way they decide to parent their children. This is especially true if your family happens NOT to be Christian, as non-Christians in this era were treated rather harshly (i.e. the Crusades of Christians against Muslims and Jews).

The activities are creative and allow children to begin an inquisitive mindset geared toward futher want of learning about the middle ages. In general, this is a fine place to start and it opens a pathway for learning more about the era. There are other books available with better and more indepth activities, however this book offers a balanced introduction to the times. Combine this with whatever religious classes or teachings your family traditions, and further the lessons with trips to museums to view tactile and artistic representations of the people of the middle ages, along with writings from poets and authors of the times for an even-keeled and well-balanced cirriculum.

Knights & Castles - what a great book!.......2005-09-23

We are studying the Medieval period; this book has been invaluable with lots of great reading, wonderful ideas and awesome crafts!! Well worth the money and enjoyed by both Mom and child!
Thanks!
Dayle Rewa

Average customer rating:

GORGEOUS!!!
Amazing book
Beautiful book for castle lovers

Castles And Palaces of Europe
Ulrike Schober
Manufacturer: Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 9036617022

Book Description

The most beautiful and important castles and palaces of Europe are presented here in a single volume. 240 color illustrations and high-quality photographs, along with background information, historical facts, and entertaining anecdotes, make this is an indispensable reference for lovers of architecture and history alike.

Customer Reviews:

GORGEOUS!!!.......2007-02-09

THE PICTURES ARE BEAUTIFUL, EVERY PAGE IS FILLED WITH COLOR AND BEAUTY FROM THESE BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURES ALL THROUGHOUT EUROPE. MOST OF THE CASTLES AND PALACES SHOWN ARE IN GERMANY OR AUSTRIA, BUT THERE ARE SOOO MANY MORE AS WELL. THE BOOK LITERALLY HAS CASTLES FROM NEARLY EVERY COUNTRY IN EUROPE. PURELY AMAZING.

Amazing book.......2006-09-21

I just received this book, and I really enjoy it just with first pages this book is over my expectations, if you really love castles I recommend you this book, my favorite castle is the one that is in the cover "Neuschwanstein" I was looking for a book of that castle and I checked so many books and when my husband found this book and ordered immediately at Amazon the same day and I like to thank Amazon for quickly deliver of my item, and again this book is beautiful so get it and enjoy it.

Best rgds,
Samy

Beautiful book for castle lovers.......2002-11-15

A huge very colorful book of castles and palaces.Includes sites from all over Europe. Most of the castles featured are newer fancier types,not many old ruins in here.Gorgeous photography with inside pictures as well.Quite a bit of information on each palace is also included. If you like German castles you will love this book.

Dream Palaces: The Last Royal Courts of Europe

Average customer rating:

Mediocre, but has a some redeeming qualitites

Dream Palaces: The Last Royal Courts of Europe
Jerome Coignard
Manufacturer: Vendome Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0865652287

Book Description

Throughout the 19th century, European royalty built extraordinary palaces to which they retreated from their "official" lives in St. Petersburg, Paris, Vienna, and elsewhere. This book offers a panorama of these fantastic estates, where leading architects, craftsmen, muralists, garden designers, and naturalists were employed at enormous expense to create a life of unsurpassed luxury. Many of the palaces are now legendary: Ludwig II's famous Neuschwanstein, which dominates the Bavarian Alps; the "Alexandra Cottage" of Peterhof, the gift of Nicholas I to his wife; the lovely Castle of Miramare built for the ill-fated Archduke Maximilian, the short-lived emperor of Mexico. The palaces are "romantic" in every sense, as creations of their time, and as places suffused with nostalgic memory.

Author Jérôme Coignard provides a brief overview of each royal family and their palace's architecture and decoration, drawing on contemporary memoirs and letters. Marc Walter's color photographs are accompanied by period interior views, watercolors, and family photographs. With information on visiting hours and directions to each of the palaces, this book offers a private tour through the last courts of Europe. AUTHOR BIO: Jérôme Coignard is a novelist, essayist, and contributor to numerous French magazines. Marc Walter is a photographer and graphic designer whose most recent books include Voyages around the World and Toile de Jouy. Markus of Habsburg-Lorraine, an Austrian archduke, is the current resident of Kaiser-villa in Bad-Ischl, built for his ancestor, the emperor Franz-Joseph I, in 1834.

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre, but has a some redeeming qualitites.......2005-12-16

This book does have SOME nice pictures, but the bottom line: there is an unacceptable amount of room for improvement. The authors of this book had great potential to create something extraordianry, but wasted space by including too much text for a coffee table book and devoting entire pages to average photographs. Despite its many flaws, I do have to admit that their selections were truly fresh and original. The authors use several palaces that I had never heard of and avoid using cliches like Versailles, Schonbrun, or the Catherine Palace. If you are looking for a different lineup of palaces you might want to give this book a second thought. If you do decide to but it, DO NOT, under any circumstances, pay retail for this book. I found a used one at $28.00, and I experienced some buyer's remorse.

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