Yesterday I read The Transformation of Environment into Landscape: The Historical Ecology of Monumental Earthwork Construction in the Bolivian Amazon by Clark L. Erickson about the ring ditches found in the Bolivian Amazon that were used as settlements, fisheries, or tree gardens. It's kind of amazing how much work went into not only constructing the ditches, but putting up one or more palisades to protect the interior. The largest of these ditches has a diameter of 1499 m and covers an area of 1,764,961 m2.

I'm almost finished with Enemy at The Gates by William Craig, planning on reading Bloodlands by Timothy Snyder next. I'm currently researching the Eastern Front of the Second World War for a piece of historical fiction I'm writing, as I want it to be as accurate as possible.

I'm also looking for books that have to do with the mindset of the average Soviet and German soldier at the time, so I was hoping you guys had some recommendations for that. Thanks!

This week I have discovered that I am not chronically lazy, but a bona fide gentleman - at least according to Sir Thomas Smith who in 1588 defined a gentleman thusly: one 'who studieth at universities... can live idly and without manual labour, and will bear the port, charge and countenance of a gentleman, he shall be called master and shall be taken for a gentleman'

Oh, I've set myself a horrible essay for my school coursework: 'To what extent can the English Civil War be described as a class war?'; can anyone recommend some (short) reading on class itself as a method of historical analysis and class in the civil war.

Many thanks,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask... I've watched Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" and now I'm very curious about the prehistoric humans and I'd like to read/watch more about them. I'm interested in the evolution from primates, their lifestyle and characteristics and I'm kind of also wondering about the encounters between Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals... If someone could at least hint me into the right direction that would be great.

Edit: So far I found the /r/Anthropology book list which might cover some of the stuff so it's a good start.

can anyone recommend a book/books on the African experience in WWII? but specifically NOT the war in North Africa.

Am reading A History of the Art of War; the Middle Ages from the fourth to the fourteenth century by Sir Charles Oman and am reminded yet again of my ignorance of the Carolingian Empire, heck, many of the various peoples, tribes and states of the period.

Any favorites to recommend? From general history to a specific place or period, it's all good reading.

I'm currently reading about the Battle of Sedan ( 1870 ) in a paper that specializes in battles, wars, armies and similar things. Though it is very simple ( less than 10 pages dedicated to a subject ), they have great maps ( made like in a video game for example ) to explain some troops movements, the generals' decisions, ...Etc

The article opens me on reading more about the period of the late Second Empire in France. I always liked Napoleon III for some reasons but never had the chance to read a complete book about him.

Is it possible that there is such a books, or books, that gives a comprahensive comparison of different products and technologies of various cultures, or eras? My particular interest would be comparing European medival and reneisance technology with the one of China, India, and Rome, but others might be useful and interesting too.

For example, you read about Gutenberg and his printing press, and you then read that there where for much longer printing machines in China. But when you go to detailsabout it, you see how much advanced (or not advanced), different (or not different), gutenberg's press was to those others

But most of times when I see mention of some technology that existed in e.g Europe and China, India, Rome, there is a lack of the analysis of actual similiarity of the two, especially the lack of technical information, like which materials were used, what was the principle of work, which was more complicated, which more durable, how widespread and used each was etc

I could piece it together going through multiple books about each era and culture's technology but I figured there might be a book where it was already done

Iv been watching BBC Auschwitz The Nazis and the Final Solution, interesting. Im not a histroian but i`m trying to find references to klara kunig, a supposed nice nazi concertion camp guard, if any one can help many on the paper trail please.