A gripping tale of one of history's most bizarre events, and what it reveals about the strange possibilities of human nature

In the searing July heat of 1518, Frau Troffea stepped into the streets of Strasbourg and began to dance. Bathed in sweat, she continued to dance. Overcome with exhaustion, she stopped, and then resumed her solitary jig a few hours later. Over the next two months, roughly four hundred people succumbed to the same agonizing compulsion. At its peak, the epidemic claimed the lives of fifteen men, women, and children a day. Possibly 100 people danced to their deaths in one of the most bizarre and terrifying plagues in history.

John Waller compellingly evokes the sights, sounds, and aromas; the diseases and hardships; the fervent supernaturalism and the desperate hedonism of the late medieval world. Based on new evidence, he explains why the plague occurred and how it came to an end. In doing so, he sheds light on the strangest capabilities of the human mind and on our own susceptibility to mass hysteria.

In the late sixteenth century, a prominent Albanian named Antonio Bruni composed a revealing document about his home country. Historian Sir Noel Malcolm takes this document as a point of departure to explore the lives of the entire Bruni family, whose members included an archbishop of the Balkans, the captain of the papal flagship at the Battle of Lepanto--at which the Ottomans were turned back in the Eastern Mediterranean--in 1571, and a highly placed interpreter in Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire that fell to the Turks in 1453. The taking of Constantinople had profoundly altered the map of the Mediterranean. By the time of Bruni's document, Albania, largely a Venetian province from 1405 onward, had been absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. Even under the Ottomans, however, this was a world marked by the ferment of the Italian Renaissance.

In Agents of Empire, Malcolm uses the collective biography of the Brunis to paint a fascinating and intimate picture of Albania at a moment when it represented the frontier between empires, cultures, and religions. The lives of the polylingual, cosmopolitan Brunis shed new light on the interrelations between the Ottoman and Christian worlds, characterized by both conflict and complex interdependence. The result of years of archival detective work, Agents of Empire brings to life a vibrant moment in European and Ottoman history, challenging our assumptions about their supposed differences. Malcolm's book guides us through the exchanges between East and West, Venetians and the Ottomans, and tells a story of worlds colliding with and transforming one another.

Thanks to its half-century under Communism, as well as its little-known language, Albania has suffered from neglect and a sense of isolation. Yet, as this study helps to show, the Albanian lands have a long history of interaction with others. They have been a meeting-ground of Christianity and Islam; a channel through which Venice connected with the Ottoman Balkans; a place of interest to the Habsburgs; and a focus for the ambitions of neighbouring powers in the late Ottoman period. Albanians themselves could have many different identities.

The studies in this volume, by one of the world's leading experts on Albanian history, range from the fifteenth century to the twentieth, taking in politics, social history, religion and diplomacy. Each is based on original research; the longest, on Ali Pasha, uses a wealth of manuscript material to tell, for the first time, the full story of the vital role he played in the international politics of the Napoleonic Wars. Other studies bring to life ordinary individuals hitherto unknown to history: women hauled before the Inquisition, for example, or the author of the first Albanian autobiography.

Some of these studies have been printed before (several in hard-to-find publications, and one only in Albanian), but the greater part of this book appears here for the first time. This is not only a landmark publication for readers interested in south-east European history. It also engages with many broader issues, including religious conversion, 'crypto-Christianity' among Muslims, methods of enslavement within the Ottoman Empire, and the nature of modern myth-making about national identity.

A study of the creation of the historic county of Denbighshire in Wales.

The lordship of Denbigh, held by prominent English barons following its creation in 1282, was directly affected by several major events that culminated in its incorporation into the newly created county of Denbighshire, formed by the Union legislation of 1536-43. This book explores the creation of and the important changes to the English colony established in the lordship of Denbigh. Despite the earlier extensive English settlement, the area has been considered to have contributed immensely to the Welsh literary heritage.

The social policy adopted by the central administration, based at Denbigh castle, featured a colony comprised of English settlers who inhabited five English settlement centers surrounded by localities of displaced Welsh tenants. The book provides an assessment of notable trends relating to the acquisition and disposal of lands by male and female members of both Welsh and settler families, revealing that members of kindred groups succeeded in evading traditional restrictions. Further, the book surveys significant developments relating to the possession of and main activities within the lordship of Denbigh from 1282 to 1543.

A major new account of the epic siege of the island fortress of Malta

Even as the great siege began it was understood by both sides to be an epic - a potentially decisive encounter between an uneasy assortment of soldiers, native Maltese, adventurers and Knights Hospitaller on a strategically crucial but near waterless island and a vast, seemingly all-powerful Ottoman armada. With three quarters of the Mediterranean's coasts already in the hands of the Sultan and his allies, all eyes were now on Malta.

This superb new account of the siege emphasises the crucial importance of the siege while at the same time putting it in a far wider context. While since mistakenly recast as a climactic battle between the West and the East, it was also much more interesting and nuanced than that - both sides had many other interests and priorities beyond Malta. Süleyman the Magnificent had conquered and subsumed regions from Hungary to the Persian Gulf; Philip II was building an empire in America and Asia.

Drawing on a wide range of eyewitness stories, Marcus Bull gives a vivid sense of the period's technologies, values and assumptions. It was a grim world built on the labour of many thousands of disposable galley-slaves, shockingly brutal forms of warfare and religious absolutism. But it was also a world filled with the most extraordinary new discoveries and ideas. Both these worlds come together in the siege and in this book.

A magnificent tale of family rivalry and intrigue set against Henry VIII's court. The fall of Anne Boleyn and her brother George is the classic drama of the Tudor era. The Boleyns had long been an influential English family. Sir Edward Boleyn had been Lord Mayor of London. His grandson, Sir Thomas had inherited wealth and position, and through the sexual adventures of his daughters, Mary and Anne, ascended to the peak of influence at court. The three Boleyn children formed a faction of their own, making many enemies: and when those enemies secured Henry VIII's ear, they brought down the entire family in blood and disgrace. George, Lord Rochfort, left no children. Mary left a son by her husband, William Carey - Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon. Anne left a daughter, Elizabeth I - so like her in many ways and a sexual politician without rival. Includes 33 illustrations, 25 in colour.

A ground-breaking study that unveils, for the first time, the entirety of a founding Jesuit's theology.

Revered as a founder of the Jesuit order, an accomplished preacher, a papal theologian at all three sessions of the Council of Trent, and the provincial of Naples, Alfonso Salmerón was a significant figure in the intellectual life and ecclesiastical affairs of the sixteenth century. His Commentaries represent one of the most ambitious theological-exegetical endeavours of the post-Tridentine period.

Fr. Sam Zeno Conedera, SJ, brings long-overdue recognition to a foundational figure and key theologian of the order. Here, presented for the first time, is a detailed overview of Salmerón's writings and theology. It explores the author's creative use of history, his endeavour to integrate Scripture and tradition, and his exposition of the mysteries of the Christian faith. As Conedera shows, Salmerón's approach to controversial Reformation issues, such as the veneration of Mary, justification, the sacraments, and the nature of the Church, combined respect for tradition with innovation. Furthermore, his moral teachings offer profound insights into significant societal issues of the period, including public worship and the relations between the sexes.

Salmerón's brief yet carefully crafted discussion of the Society of Jesus provides invaluable insight into the self-perception of the first generation of Jesuits. This book highlights the ways in which this exceptional figure enriches our understanding of early modern Catholicism and Jesuit history.

Dive into the epic saga of global dominance in The British Empire.

In this riveting journey, you'll explore how a tiny island nation ascended to rule nearly a quarter of the globe. From the Age of Discovery to the poignant end of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, this book is a masterful tapestry of history, power, and ambition.

Discover Its Origins

Unearth the roots of the British Empire. How did a small island transform into a colossal titan of power and influence?

From Conquest to Collapse

Witness the breathtaking expanse of an empire on which the sun never set. Learn about the pivotal moments, the grand victories, and the stark realities of colonization and trade that sculpted the world.

Power and Downfall

Delve into the dual narratives of triumph and tragedy. Understand the complex interplay of historical events and internal dynamics that led to the zenith of British power and its inevitable decline.

A Story of Ambition

Grasp the consequences of imperial dreams. What did it mean for the world, and what were the lasting impacts of this colossal empire?

A Compact Chronicle

Designed as a quick yet comprehensive read, this book is perfect for those seeking to grasp the essence of Britain's imperial history without being overwhelmed.

Essential Learning

Whether you're a history buff, a student, or simply curious, this guide offers a balanced, engaging perspective on one of history's most influential empires.

Don't miss the chance to unravel the story of one of the world's greatest empires. Click the add to cart button to embark on a historical journey today!

This book provides a general overview of the daily life in a vast empire which contained numerous ethnic, linguistic, and religious communities.

The Ottoman Empire was an Islamic imperial monarchy that existed for over 600 years. At the height of its power in the 16th and 17th centuries, it encompassed three continents and served as the core of global interactions between the east and the west. And while the Empire was defeated after World War I and dissolved in 1920, the far-reaching effects and influences of the Ottoman Empire are still clearly visible in today's world cultures.

Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire allows readers to gain critical insight into the pluralistic social and cultural history of an empire that ruled a vast region extending from Budapest in Hungary to Mecca in Arabia. Each chapter presents an in-depth analysis of a particular aspect of daily life in the Ottoman Empire.

Like Cortés and Pizarro, Coronado Sought to Conquer a Native American Empire of the Southwest

Winner of Two Colorado Book Awards

The historic 1540-1542 expedition of Captain-General Francisco Vasquez de Coronado is popularly remembered as a luckless party of exploration which wandered the American Southwest and then blundered onto the central Great Plains of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The expedition, as historian John M. Hutchins relates in Coronado's Well-Equipped Army: The Spanish Invasion of the American Southwest, was a military force of about 1,500 individuals, made up of Spanish soldiers, Indian warrior allies, and camp followers. Despite the hopes for a peaceful conquest of new lands--including those of a legendary kingdom of Cibola--the expedition was obliged to fight a series of battles with the natives in present-day Sonora, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The final phase of the invasion was less warlike, as the members of the expedition searched the Great Plains in vain for a wealthy civilization called Quivira.While much has been written about the march of Coronado and his men, this is the first book to address the endeavor as a military campaign of potential conquest like those conducted by other conquistadors. This helps to explain many of the previously misunderstood activities of the expedition. In addition, new light is cast on the non-Spanish participants, including Mexican Indian allies and African retainers, as well as the important roles of women.

International Booker Prize Finalist
The Spectator (UK): Best Book of the Year

From the award-winning author of The Order of the Day, a powerful account of the German Peasants' War (1524-25) that shows striking parallels to class conflicts of our time.

In the sixteenth century, the Protestant Reformation launched an attack on privilege and the Catholic Church, but it rapidly became an established, bourgeois authority itself. Rural laborers and the urban poor, who were still being promised equality in heaven, began to question why they shouldn't have equality here and now on earth.

There ensued a furious struggle between the powerful--the comfortable Protestants--and the others, the wretched. They were led by a number of theologians, one of whom has left his mark on history through his determination and sheer energy. His name was Thomas Müntzer, and he set Germany on fire. The War of the Poor recounts his story--that of an insurrection through the Word.

In his characteristically bold, cinematic style, Éric Vuillard draws insights from this revolt from nearly five hundred years ago, which remains shockingly relevant to the dire inequalities we face today.

This book is the second volume of a projected 3-volume edition which aims to contribute to our understanding of Robert Persons's significance as a controversial figure in early modern European history. It includes documents and letters by Persons, as well as letters to Persons, notably from the superior general of the Society of Jesus, Claudio Acquaviva. Letters in Latin, Italian and Spanish are presented both in the original language and spelling and with English translation, and letters in English in original spelling. The correspondence in this volume covers Persons's eight-year sojourn in Spain following the failure of the Spanish armada of 1588, the repercussions of the death of William Cardinal Allen, and Persons's return to Rome in 1597 to deal with disaffected students at the English College.

Amelia Bassano was born in 1569 into a family of Venetian Jews who were court musicians to Queen Elizabeth I. At about the age of thirteen, she became mistress to the fiftysix-year-old Lord Hunsdon, Henry VIII's reputed son by Mary Boleyn. As Lord Chamberlain, Hunsdon was in charge of the English theatre and would become the patron of the company that performed the Shakespearean plays. Amelia lived with him for a decade, during which time she also had an affair with the playwright Christopher Marlowe. When she became pregnant, Amelia was exiled from court and next surfaces as the mysterious 'dark lady' in Shakespeare's sonnets. At the age of forty-two, she became the first woman to publish a book of original poetry, employing linguistic features resembling the later Shakespearean plays. Amelia died in poverty in 1645. Drawing upon a wealth of documentary evidence, this controversial and provocative book unites Tudor history, feminism, and Shakespeare scholarship to demonstrate that Amelia Bassano was in all the right places and had all the right knowledge, skills, and contacts to have produced the Shakespearean canon.

The English Civil War explores a period, which revolutionised government and witnessed the first faltering steps of parliamentarians towards the democratic form of government we know today. It deals with the essentials of the conflict as a readable chronological narrative, beginning with the causes of the war and ending with the execution of King Charles I. The English Civil War presents concisely the essentials of the conflict as a readable chronological narrative, beginning with the causes of the war and ending with the execution of King Charles I. The author describes the celebrated battles of Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby, together with the major political events, which characterised one of the most turbulent periods in English history. Contemporary documents and leading secondary sources have been used to produce a picture of those troubled times - a period which revolutionised government and witnessed the first faltering steps of parliamentarians towards the democratic form of government we know today. The English Civil War is both an invaluable source of reference, and an encouragement to delve deeper into what is the most fascinating of historical subjects and a subject of perennial interest.

The reports and despatches of Eustace Chapuys, Spanish Ambassador to Henry VIII's court from 1529 to 1545, have been instrumental in shaping our modern interpretations of Henry VIII and his wives. As a result of his personal relationships with several of Henry's queens, and Henry himself, his writings were filled with colourful anecdotes, salacious gossip, and personal and insightful observations of the key players at court, thus offering the single most continuous portrait of the central decades of Henry's reign. Beginning with Chapuys' arrival in England, in the middle of Henry VIII's divorce from Katherine of Aragon, this book progresses through the episodic reigns of each of Henry's queens. Chapuys tirelessly defended Katherine and later her daughter, Mary Tudor, the future Mary I. He remained as ambassador through the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, and reported on each and every one of Henry's subsequent wives - Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Katharine Parr - as well as that most notorious of ministers Thomas Cromwell. He retired in 1545, close to the end of Henry VIII's reign. In approaching the period through Chapuys' letters, Lauren Mackay provides a fresh perspective on Henry, his court and the Tudor period in general.

Sixteenth-century Reformation Europe was a tumultuous time during which many defining ideas of the modern era were formulated. The technological advancement augured by the Gutenberg press allowed the unprecedented circulation of ideas among a growing legion of literate Europeans. The writings of radical reformer Martin Luther were perhaps most influential of all. His opposition to the universal Roman Catholic Church fundamentally challenged the elites and their institutions. Along the way, Luther was opposed by the Church, the political powers of the day, and competing religious ideologies. Ink Against the Devil distills the major impulses from these debates that continue to resonate to this day. This book will appeal to both lay and professional scholars of the Reformation and its major players with prose that is accessible and free of jargon. Loewen directly addresses the debates between Luther and his many foes, including Humanists like Erasmus and the sectarian opponents found among contemporary Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Of particular interest will be a focus on anti-semitism throughout Luther's published writings and sermons. There may be no other examples of this book's scope in such a natural, narrative presentation.

This comprehensive study examines Polish demonology in relation to witchcraft trials in Wielkopolska, revealing the witch as a force for both good and evil. It explores the use of witchcraft, the nature of accusations and the role of gender.

The German Landsknechte (German plural, singular Landsknecht), meaning servants of the land, were colourful mercenary soldiers with a redoubtable reputation, who took over the Swiss forces' legacy and became the most formidable military force of the late 15th and throughout 16th century Europe, consisting predominantly of German and Swiss mercenary pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, they achieved the reputation for being the universal mercenary of early modern Europe. Was Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 to 1519, the founder of the first mercenary Landsknecht regiments in 1487. He called upon Georg von Frundsberg (1473-1528), known by many as the Father of the Landsknechte, to assist him in their organization. Our book, cover all the history of this soldiers with finest illustration all in colour and 16 artistic colour plates.

Herzog Moritz aus Sachsen-Lauenburg fuhrte in Buxtehude ein skandaltrachtiges Leben zwischen amourosen Dreiecksbeziehungen und politischen Verwerfungen. Sein textiles Erbe wird heute im Historischen Museum Hannover und Museum August Kestner bewahrt. Das Buch Moritz aus Buxtehude stellt den Kleidernachlass nun erstmalig in seiner Gesamtheit vor und bereitet dazu die Ergebnisse eines mehrjahrigen Forschungsprojektes zu den Objekten und ihren ursprunglichen Kontexten sowie zur mitunter skurrilen Lebensgeschichte des Herzog Moritz auf. Dabei werden die Kleidung und der Alltag, der sie einst umgab, allgemeinverstandlich und lebendig vermittelt. Aufgrund des umfangreichen Quellenmaterials lassen sich das Leben des Herzogs, sein Handeln, seine Probleme und Losungsstrategien sehr gut nachzeichnen, dabei werden immer wieder Bezuge zu den Kleidungsstucken hergestellt.

A bottom-up story of the fishworkers, whalers, First Nations, merchantwomen, oceans, and animals who together made a new colonial world in the early Atlantic

In the early decades of the sixteenth century, mariners from across Europe forged a vast seasonal fishery in the northwest Atlantic. They called this floating colony Terra Nova and laid the foundation for a history of extracting food and fuel that extended into the twentieth century. The history of Terra Nova, once one of the largest European colonies in the Atlantic basin, has never before been considered in its entirety or in its proper Atlantic context.

Historian Jack Bouchard tells the story of Terra Nova, showing that its early development was shaped by colonial histories across the Atlantic world. He demonstrates that when we put food production, ocean environments, and maritime labor at the center of the story, we can see the overlooked lives and voices of those who made change in these early years. The result is a new history of the Atlantic world: one where humans migrate in the wake of ice and fish, where Indigenous and Arctic trade routes are joined to transatlantic exchange, where colonies exist without settlement or empire, and that centers the role of food production, labor, and maritime landscapes in our shared history.