U.S. News & World Report-The Great Conquerors-Collector's Edition-January 3, 2006-Untold Tales of the Great Conquerors.

by Michael Barone, Ulrich Boser, Beth Brophy

Few historical characters are as fascinating as the heroes and villains who were the conquerors. Alexander the Great - Charismatic hero or self-indulgent butcher? His empire stretched from the Balkans to India. Julius Caesar - A brilliant general and strategist who was guided by raw ambition, his name became a concept. Attila the Hun - In many cultures, the “Scourge of God” remains a model of heroism and courage. Charlemagne - The “Father of Europe," he tried to impose education, law and Christianity on the Continent. The Vikings - Why didn’t these seafaring adventurers stay in America? Perhaps they never intended to. William the Conqueror - Always an agent of change, he won the Engiish crown at Hastings and greatly altered Britain. Genghis Khan - Barbarian or Renaissance man? He probably has about 16 million descendants living today. Hernando Cortés - By outmaneuvering and defeating the Aztecs, he founded the mestizo nation that is Mexico. Mehmet II - His powerful cannon conquered Constantinople and changed the political map forever. Napoleon Bonaparte - He was a welter of paradoxes, a military genius, an outsider who is still glorified in France. Adolf Hitler - No one can explain the twisted psyche of the 20th century’s ultimate symbol of evil. Joseph Stalin - He brutally crushed the spirit of his own people while conquering half of Europe. United States, empire builder? Americans don’t view themselves as conquerors, but that’s not exactly accurate.

88 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2006

About the author

Michael Barone, a political analyst and journalist, studies politics, American government, and campaigns and elections. The principal coauthor of the annual Almanac of American Politics (National Journal Group), he has written many books on American politics and history. Barone is also a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner. Barone has also written for many major market publications, including The Economist, The New York Times, The Detroit Press, American Enterprise and The Daily Telegraph of London.
He graduated from Harvard University in 1966 and Yale Law School in 1969.