Bernard Randall

A leader for the people, Solon would go down in history as the lawmaker who set the stage for Athens to become the first democratic state. Solon's incorruptible spirit, along with his oratorical skills and poetry, were a refreshing break from the tyrants of his time, whom the people of Greek city-states feared as they rose to power. Readers will benefit from an understanding of how an environment of political turmoil bred a new, more inclusive system of law when what existed wasn't working for the people, while eye-catching call-outs offer insights that position historical background in the present.

The only time in which the known world was united under one empire was during the reign of Alexander the Great. This book tells of a triumphant life of war and carnage that was inspired by an upbringing that encouraged unending ambition. Readers will learn about how massive differences in managing the Macedonian and Persian armies resulted in a strikingly decisive outcome, while engaging call-outs situate Alexander the Great in history, describing the evolution of phalanx warfare, the treatment of ancient hostages, and the impact of founding Alexandria in Egypt.

After Greece's golden age, Macedonia to the northeast became the most powerful state of the region, and one of its young ambitious kings, Alexander, conquered most of the known world, from Greece and Egypt in the west to Persia and India in the east.