Empires Splendour

The Gunpowder Empires and Modern Times

The final installment in the groundbreaking The Venture of Islam series, “a monumental three-volume interpretation of Islamic civilization” (Review of Middle East Studies). The Venture of Islam has been honored as a magisterial work of the mind since its publication in early 1975. In this three-volume study, illustrated with charts and maps, Hodgson traces and interprets the historical development of Islamic civilization from before the birth of Muhammad to the middle of the twentieth century. This work grew out of the famous course on Islamic civilization that Hodgson created and taught for many years at the University of Chicago. In this concluding volume of The Venture of Islam, Hodgson describes the second flowering of Islam: the Safavi, Timuri, and Ottoman empires. The final part of the volume analyzes the widespread Islamic heritage in today’s world. Praise for The Venture of Islam “This is a nonpareil work, not only because of its command of its subject but also because it demonstrates how, ideally, history should be written.” —The New Yorker “In placing Islamic society in a context encompassing not only Islam outside the Middle East proper but contemporary societies such as western Europe and China, he provides a prospective sorely missed in most works on the subject.” —Linda C. Rose, History

Empire Splendor

France's Empire period, guided by the grand visions of the Emperor Napoleon, was one of the most sumptuous and creative epochs in French art, architecture, and decoration. By 1800, Neoclassical architects Percier and Fontaine had left an indelible mark on the Imperial residences and on the palatial homes of the country's leading families. The elegant decorative sensibility of this period reflected a nostalgia for the treasures of ancient Rome and Egypt and resulted in the creation of stunning, opulent interiors to match equally regal facades. Empire Splendor is a gorgeous photographic odyssey through France's most splendid Neoclassical residences, including extravagant chateaus, beautiful urban palaces, and Napoleon's official domiciles. Renowned curator Bernard Chevallier leads a detailed, room-by-room tour through the finest Empire antechambers, bedrooms, libraries, salons, and beyond. This is a captivating visual experience for historians, decorators, and art lovers alike.

The Four Prophetic Empires and the Kingdom of the Messiah