Ten Kings and the Worlds They Ruled

Hammurabi, David, Kublai Khan, Peter the Great, Attila the Hun—these are just some of the legendary kings profiled in this fascinating book. These complex men—different yet similar in so many ways—were formed by the worlds they were born into while shaping the worlds in which they lived. Kings made the rules by which their people lived. Kings carried on wars to protect their realms or expand their power. And kings, like the rest of us, were multifaceted human beings with conflicting dreams and motives.

From Hammurabi, who ruled the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, to Peter the Great, the ruthless but visionary czar who transformed Russia from a cultural and political backwater to a powerful modern state, Milton Meltzer dramatically shows how political leaders use and abuse power. The stories of these ten kings provide striking examples of how one person can change the course of history. Handsome, full-color portraits by Bethanne Andersen and informative maps help bring each king and his world alive.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
1. Hammurabi
   
2. David
   
3. Alexander the Great
   
4. Attila
   
5. Charlemagne
   
6. Kublai Khan
   
7. Mansa Musa
   
8. Atahualpa
   
9. Louis XIV
   
10. Peter the Great
    A Note on Sources
    Bibliography
    Index