"The history, myth and romance of the medieval knight on crusade, with over 400 stunning images of the battles, adventures, sieges, fortresses, triumphs and defeats." This fascinating book offers a unique insight into every element of the knight's life--his rigorous training, his obligations, his material wealth and local power, his recreation and leisure time, the intricate microcosm of his castle, and the code of chivalry that formed the moral...

Of all the peoples who fought for supremacy on the vast eastern European plain, the Slavs have proved the most enduring. They spread out from homelands beyond the Carpathian Mountains, settling territory south into the Balkans and as far west as the Elbe River. Equally impressive is their spiritual journey which began with the worship of ancient pagan gods and matured with the dawn of the Christian age. Tales from this volume include the vampire whose...

China is among the world's oldest civilizations and home to many of the earliest achievements in the history of humankind. The origins of China's imperial rulers lie in a time when the worlds of men and gods were closer than they are now. Chinese mythology relates these origins and those of China, together with the many gifts given to its people by the gods.