Tamerlane; the Ottomans; the Mughals; the Manchus; the British; the Japanese; the Nazis; and the Soviets: All built empires meant to last forever; all were to fail. But; as John Darwin shows in this magisterial book; their empire-building created the world we know today. From the death of Tamerlane in 1405; to America's rise to world "hyperpower;" to the resurgence of China and India as global economic powers; After Tamerlane is a grand historical narrative that offers a new perspective on the past; present; and future of empires.
#1185109 in Books Sentinel Trade 2011-02-22 2011-02-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .70 x 5.50l; .50 #File Name: 1595230793272 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good Reading; Wrong EventsBy Alan Dale Daniel7 Events That Made America America is a conservative's look at what the author thinks are some important moments in the history of the USA. Mr. Schweikart is an excellent writer and he puts his points across well. The seven events he thinks are of critical importance are: 1. Martin Van Buren's idea about political parties (the spoils system) 2. The Dread Scott decision 3. The Johnstown flood 4. Eisenhower's heart attack 5. Western rock and roll penetrates the iron curtain 6. Ronald Regan's sending the Marines to Lebanon 7. Obama's favorable media treatment.In fact; each of these chapters is a lead-in to what Mr. Schweikart thinks is a more important topic. For example; the Ike heart attack is a foil for talking about the government's regulatory invasion of our lives re: food; and the government's control of the debate on what is good and bad for you. He stresses; for example; the government decided before the facts were in that animal fat was bad and plants were good; and then - after the research failed to support that position - the government continued to say plant based foods were superior. The government upped funding for research proving the fat theory was true while de-funding research showing fat was not the enemy. The overall message is we cannot trust the government when it takes a scientific position for political reasons; and our government funds junk science while ignoring; and even eroding; real science.While I think Mr. Schweikart is correct about the government and its unwarranted and unconstitutional interference with our lives; food included; I wonder if this is really an event that makes America America. And how about the concept that rock and roll penetrating the iron curtain and helping bring about the fall of communism; even if it is true; is this an event that makes America what it is today? Even on its face; this event happened in the Soviet Union and its captive nations; not in the USA. The same can be said for the Lebanon expedition; which went horribly wrong; is this an event - missing the importance of Muslim fanaticism in the 1980s - that made the USA what it is today?If I were picking 7 events; even as lead-ins to larger topics; I don't think I would have chosen any one of these. The formulation of the Truman containment policy; the attack on Pearl Harbor; the Great Depression and FDR's response to it; our entry into World War One; Lincoln's decision to fight the Civil War without quarter; our decision to establish a colony in the Philippines; LBJ's Great Society programs and the backing he received from the Democratic Party to push and establish a welfare state; all deserve more attention than the 7 events chosen for this book. I can think of perhaps 100 other events that were more important.Still; it is excellent reading and it provokes thought.AD20 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great View of our historyBy Wayne J. Street Jr.Dr. Schweikart has told a very interesting story and done fabulous research. This is a great example of "unintended consequences." That is the bane of politics. 7 most unexpected events have had a ripple effect in our society. America identifies a problem and as always wants a "quick fix.' The author demonstrates; how these "quick fixes" not always work out the way we intend them to.If you like history and want to see a little different thinking; this is the book for you2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Connecting the DotsBy Mike COk; I'm a liberal by most Schweikart measures; except I love my country; teach Sunday School; keep balanced accounts; believe in a strong defense; and pay LOTS of taxes. The fact is; I enjoyed this book - all except the overwhelming sense you cannot help but absorb that the author simply loathes more than half of his countrymen - those who might dispute the premise that the Framers penned perfection in the Constitution; could see into the future; or could magically impute their supposed intentions on 21st century life.The Framers did not have it all sewn up - and they had the wisdom to know it. The Constitution is and was a compromise in every sense. It created a framework that allows "nannyism" and judicial activism every bit as much as it allowed slavery. It is not prescriptive or deterministic. Its genius is in the fact that it allows for government to evolve. At a particular snapshot in time; the Constitution loosely bound states together that were essentially warring - its imperfections were evident immediately in that it begged for a Bill of Rights. Since then; a few things have happened; we've changed; circumstances have changed; thought has evolved. The Framers; if presented with today's issues; would certainly have done things differently.The author contrives to be balanced. He even criticizes Reagan's interventionism in Beirut as ill-thought and of questionable constitutionality. In a play on the notion of damning with faint praise; Schweikart praises the Gipper with faint criticism. A more telling anomaly is that the author regards Lincoln highly - this is a given. He seems to forget that there has never been a more activist president or one who used every ounce of his enormous legal skill to bend the constitution his way; and when the constitution didn't support a "new birth of freedom" he essentially threw it out in favor of the Declaration!Schweikart covers his topics with amazing blizzards of facts - many of which are of high interest and not common knowledge. Unfortunately there are invariably dubious ones sprinkled throughout (e.g.; the obesity epidemic is based on metrics derived by self-hating liberals); that lead to utterly messed up conclusions (did you know that obesity is an acceptable element of our natural evolution as desk sitters? that Franklin D. Roosevelt; the person who saved capitalism even before he saved freedom; is the root cause of all government evil?). This book is worth reading. It's offers a great test of factual knowledge; and provides several examples of deductive reasoning gone askew; but you have to be on your game.
