This stimulating, uniquely organized, and wonderfully readable comparison of ancient Rome and China offers provocative insights to students and general readers of world history. The book's narrative is clear, completely jargon-free, strikingly independent, and addresses the complete cycles of two world empires. The topics explored include nation formation, state building, empire building, arts of government, strategies of superpowers, and decline and fall.

"This general history, based on archival and monographic sources, some of which were not available to earlier writers, is designed to be a balanced and comprehensive synthesis. Seldom does a historian come upon a richer mix of colorful personalities, dramatic action, Byzantine intrigue, and momentous historical issues." "The impact of Americans on China during the war was enormous. Much of U.S. activity in China, because of inadequate knowledge of China's culture, government, and military capabilities, was harmful to China and Chiang's regime. Moreover, U.S. efforts to induce Chiang to make reforms designed to improve his regime's war effort and chances for post-war survival were ineffective." "The sulfurous American General Joseph Stilwell, assigned to serve as Chiang's chief of staff, underestimating the fighting ability of the Japanese and disregarding Chiang's advice, followed a strategy in the first Burma campaign that contributed to the loss of Chiang's best divisions and the chance of holding north Burma. Stilwell's obsessive demand for a new Burma campaign involved him in bitter controversies with Chiang, the British, and U.S. Air Commander Claire Chennault." "When the British demanded that Stilwell be removed from Burma, he, with Roosevelt's support, demanded that Chiang turn over to him the command of China's armed forces, which was equivalent to control of China. But Americans could not enforce this demand on Chiang, who expelled Stilwell from China. Ambassador Patrick Hurley then attempted to arrange a coalition government between Chiang and the Communists, a proposal Chiang rejected." "At Roosevelt's insistence, Chiang allowed America to send U.S. personnel, the "Dixie Mission," to the Communist headquarters at Yennan. Mao Tse-Tung convinced Foreign Service Officer John Service and others that he sought a cooperative relationship with America (in order, among other reasons, to reduce his dependence on Russia). Before Stilwell's dismissal Americans had decided to arm the Communists, but the removal of Stilwell defeated that purpose, and U.S. aid continued to go exclusively to Chiang. It appeared that the ideological preferences of Americans brought about a postponement of cooperation with the ultimately victorious Chinese Communists, despite an eventual common interest in keeping Soviet influence in East Asia in check." "This comprehensive study is illustrated and includes a chronology, glossary, bibliography and index."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Talismans of the Kings of Romez is a multi-book series that chronicles mysterious events that begin to unfold on Romez, entangling each of the kingdoms in difficulties that lead them towards an uncertain destiny. These begin with the sudden unsealing of ancestral talismans, leading to the intervention of specific characters who cause the ensuing events. The series includes several volumes, each of which explain the events occurring in one or more kingdoms. These events are recorded by the Great Soul of Antelam, the ancient historian and scholar of Romez, who has been recording its events since the world's formation. He lives beneath the surface, unseen by any of the planet's inhabitants. The first volume of this exciting series, The Eagle Dragons, documents events that unfold in Santilan and Enestera. The story begins in Santilan, where greedy Quadera Rodavas, who was appointed caretaker of Castle Black by King Jannes, has recently fled when Helerant captured the Castle. After his failure, Quadera begins looking for a legendary cave, and finally locates it with the help of a friend. He discovers a mother lode of thermal diamonds covering a viable clutch of eggs of the extinct Eagle Dragons, which have been gone for millennia. His avarice, and the determination of other characters in the story to own or sell the precious diamonds and eggs, sends Santilan careening down a perilous path toward an unknown destination. Meanwhile, Enestera is undergoing massive changes. The Enesterans worship the gods of the Jahsar and Velanis Mountains. In the past, a sorcerer they consider their common ancestor, Sholrus, used a magical tool called The Four Mirrors to hide his bodily organs in the Velanis range to protect them from the passage of time. He lived for six hundred years until he was incidentally killed with the magic sword Dragal, and buried on the tallest peak, Mount Velanis. There are a number of effectively magical items in Enestera, for whose possession most of the local kings and princes hatch plots. One of them is Tedora Ardelan, a grandson of Rennes of Riklasta, who paves the way to infiltrate Enestera and launches a search for The Four Mirrors. However, he is caught due to his recklessness, The king of Enestera, the ruthless Rantoram, jails Tedora and sentences him to death…