Rise and Fall: Great Empires that Shaped the World

What makes an empire successful? What qualities enable a leader to inspire millions, create a government and rule vast areas of land? What are some of the features of an empire, and how does one come about in the first place?

Featuring the empires of the Minoans, the Vikings, the First Persian Empire, the Mongol and Mali empires, the Kingdom of Benin, the Aztecs, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya of Thailand and the Japanese Kamakura Shogunate, this marvellous nonfiction resource showcases each fascinating culture, looking at how each empire rose to power, and what its significance was.

As well as sharing some of history’s most notable empires, author and illustrator Peter Allen analyses some of their common features: bold, charismatic leaders who balance ruthlessness with fairness; postal networks that connect vast territories; structured governments; the embracing of religious and cultural diversity to keep peace between the population. However, we also learn what happens to those empires when power is misused and taken for granted.

Each empire spreads over a number of pages, showing readers its architecture, culture, art, religion and what daily life looked like for people. Allen also explains why each empire declined, and what came after it.

This is a bright and appealing illustrated book which nonetheless covers some complex ideas, meaning that it would be best suited to upper primary aged children. There is a glossary in the back of the book which will help curious readers get a good understanding of the material, and adult readers will no doubt enjoy learning a little something too.