Five Thousand Years of Monarchy

ISBN: 9781394154418
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$29.95
SKU:
9781394154418
Availability:
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25 units
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Minimum Order: 25 copies per title

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Pre-order this book today and they will ship when released on Sep 23rd 2025

Product Details

Author:
Michael Arnheim
Format:
Paperback
Pages:
496
Publisher:
Wiley (September 23, 2025)
Imprint:
Wiley-Blackwell
Release Date:
September 23, 2025
Language:
English
Audience:
General/trade
ISBN-13:
9781394154418
Weight:
16oz
File:
Wiley-wileyUS_3_incremental_jul29_2025-20250729.xml
Folder:
Wiley
List Price:
$29.95
Country of Origin:
United States
Pub Discount:
50
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$20.67
Shipping Origin:
Wiley-1
Publisher Identifier:
P-WIL
Discount Code:
D

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Overview

Offers a sweeping, entertaining journey through the real power structures of world history

Five Thousand Years of Monarchy challenges everything you thought you knew about political history. With wit, clarity, and a deep command of historical detail, Michael Arnheim reframes five millennia of global governance through a strikingly original lens: the idea that every government, from ancient Sumer to modern China, is either a monarchy or an oligarchy—regardless of its name or apparent ideology. This provocative framework reveals insights into some of history's greatest puzzles and personalities, from the Roman emperors to Castro's Cuba, Augustus to Queen Victoria, and from Louis XVI's missed opportunity to the untold powers of King Philip II.

Drawing on lively anecdotes, surprising facts, and colorful historical vignettes, Arnheim brings the power struggles of the past vividly to life. Why was Imperial China more stable than any modern democracy? Could World War I have been avoided by more autocracy? And why are aristocracies more hostile to monarchs than revolutions ever were? Engaging, opinionated, and highly readable, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy offers a powerful reminder that what really matters in politics isn't titles or constitutions—it's who holds the power, and how.

Presenting a bold and original reinterpretation of world history through the lens of power structure, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy:

  • Distills all governments—ancient and modern—into just two essential types: monarchy or oligarchy
  • Provides a global scope, covering rulers and regimes from every major civilization
  • Reveals little-known historical facts, such as King Philip II of Spain's reign as King of England
  • Offers original, counterintuitive takes on major events such as the French Revolution and World War I
  • Explores the surprising longevity and success of the Roman and Chinese empires
  • Challenges conventional narratives and political assumptions with evidence-based analysis

Written in an engaging, accessible, and often humorous style, Five Thousand Years of Monarchy is ideal for general readers with an interest in history, politics, or leadership, as well as students and instructors in History, Classics, and Political Science.

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