Behind the ordinary history of the world lies a second, hidden story - of secret societies, lost civilizations, sinister conspiracies, and mysterious events. Alternative visions of history have been around for nearly fifty years and popular culture has rapidly fed into this growing obsession. But how secret are these secret societies and what traces do the murky events of hidden history leave behind? Here you'll find the facts, arguments, important figures, and theories surrounding key questions being asked by many today: do secret societies actually control the world and, if so, what do they plan to do with it? What were the real origins of Christianity, the Freemasons, or the French Revolution? What is the significance of King Arthur, Leonardo da Vinci and Adlof Hitler to the world's secret societies?

Discover everything you ever wanted to know about secret societies like the Freemasons, the historical mystery of Atlantis, why King Arthur, Leonardo da Vinci and Hitler are key figures, plus conspiracy theories, forgotten sciences and ancient wisdom.

Unlock the lost and hidden meanings of the world's ancient and modern signs and symbols with the latest in the hugely popular series of 'Element Encyclopedias'. This is the biggest A-Z reference book on symbolic objects you'll ever find.

The latest title in the much-loved Element Encyclopedia series, The Element Encyclopedia of Celts explores the history, culture, and mythology of these great peoples.

This is an A-Z reference book on all things psychic, mysterious and paranormal - the marvels, secrets and mysteries of the visible and the invisible world. This guide covers everything you could want to know including ghosts, strange phenomena, people, places, events, and ideas.

An archaeologist explores history’s most fascinating enigmas, from the ancient Druids to the mysteries of the Mayan calendar and the lost city of Atlantis. Across thousands of years of history, so-called lost civilizations still speak to us through their artifacts and architecture. In Hidden History, archaeologist Brian Haughton fills the gap between archaeology and alternative history using the latest available data and a common sense, open-minded approach. Divided into three sections, this expertly researched volume shares the secrets of Mysterious Places, Unexplained Artifacts, and Enigmatic People. Haughton introduces readers to the greatest mysteries of the ancient world, from the labyrinthine palace of Knossos on Crete to the pyramids of Egypt, the remote jungle temples of Peru, and the megalithic mystery of Stonehenge. But he also goes further to explore historical puzzles like the Coso Artifact, the possibility of ancient flight, and the Voynich Manuscript, as well as mysterious peoples from the Magi and the Druids to the Knights Templar and the Green Children. With more than 50 photographs and illustrations, this is the ideal reference work for those interested in the archaeology of these great enigmas.