From time immemorial, prayer has provided comfort in our darkest hours, stirred us to action beyond what we thought possible, and shown us the way through seemingly insurmountable challenges. In this engaging tour of world history, author and historian Jean-Pierre Isbouts takes us on an inspiring tour of ten prayers that played a pivotal role in world events-from the divine inspiration of Joan of Arc to Martin Luther's powerful hymn, "A Mighty Fortress...

Join National Geographic and bestselling author Jean-Pierre Isbouts to investigate ten enduring mysteries of Jesus in this original ebook short. Who was the unnamed "Beloved Disciple" who leaned on Jesus during the Last Supper? What did the Holy Grail look like-and could it possibly still exist? What do alternative tales of Jesus' life, not included in the New Testament, suggest about early Christianity? From the extraordinary circumstances of Jesus'...

Provocative and original, this fresh look at Leonardo da Vinci's formative years in Florence and Milan provides a radically different scenario of how he created his signature style that would transform Western art forever. The traditional view of Leonardo da Vinci's career is that he enjoyed a promising start in Florence and then moved to Milan to become the celebrated court artist of Duke Ludovico Sforza. Young Leonardo presents a very different...

At the height of Adolf Hitler's sinister tyranny, a brace group teamed to assassinate him. This doc tells the story of Operation Valkyrie, featuring testimonials from families who helped with the plot, including those who knew Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, the man behind the mission. Historians, rare footage, and reconstructions feature in this documentary.

After Solomon's reign, grasp how the kingdom of Israel divided into a Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Observe how the Northern Kingdom became dominant under the powerful King Omri, creator of the capital of Samaria, excavated in the early 20th century. Learn of the divisive rule and tragic fate of Omri's son, Ahab, and how the kingdom fell to aggression by the Assyrian Empire.

Study three phases of Jesus's ministry, as he cast a wider and wider net with his message. Take account of Jesus's role as a healer, and of his central vision of the Kingdom of Heaven as social change. See how his ministry responded to the humanitarian crisis of brutal taxation and dispossession of the Judeans, and how, in its final phase, he determined to take his message to Jerusalem.

Begin by tying together several fascinating facts about Van Gogh's life, which then propel you to ask questions that lead to the uncovering of mysteries: Which parts of his life influenced his unique work-now worth hundreds of millions on the art market-and what drove him to a desperate act in the end?

What would you do if a difficult relative dropped in without warning and announced they would be living with you from now on? Learn how Theo manages the situation when Vincent arrives in Paris, and revel in the way that Vincent inhales the wonderful new movements of Montmartre.

Examine parallels between the history of ancient Egypt and the book of Exodus. Observe historical evidence that the Hebrews living in Egypt were forced into slave labor for the Pharaoh. See how the biblical story of Moses correlates with earlier legends and Theban history, and how the event of the Burning Bush is connected with a physical location and the life of the prophet Muhammad.

To understand the life and times of Jesus, you must first understand the world of the Roman Empire. After surveying the big-picture story of Rome, Jean-Pierre zooms in on the historical circumstances of Galilee, which included onerous taxation, hungry citizens, and something of a police state under Herod.