History Matters

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the reign of King John and the problems he had securing the Angevin inheritance and the subsequent issues his baron's posed. These problems culminated in the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 which severely limited the strength of John and his son, Henry III, whose reign was overshadowed by the document. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the conflicts between England and Wales throughout the reigns of Henry III and Edward I which culminated in the latter's victory. It covers the political and social makeup of medieval Wales, particularly Gwynedd and stresses the changes that underwent both Wales and England as a result of the conquest. Recommended books: W. Davies - Wales in the Middle Ages. Probably the best overview of the period on sale. By far the easiest to follow and breaks down the Edwardian conquest (and it's legacy) extremely well. M. Morris - A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain. A very good overview of Edward's reign which focuses heavily on his personality. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the wake of Alexander III's death and Scotland's search for an heir. This led to Edward I of England's intervention and after his dominance was rejected by the Scottish, Edward sought to conquer instead. William Wallace and later King Robert the Bruce were the leaders of the Scottish resistance which eventually saw England defeated and Scotland remain independent. Recommended books: A. Barrell, Medieval Scotland (2000). A great overview of the period but its scope is much broader than this episode. G. Barrow, Kingship and Unity: Scotland, 1100-1306 (2003). Much greater focus than the above. M. Morris, A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the forging of Britain (2008). For an overview of England and its aims during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the latter half of Edward II's reign and his overthrow on behalf of his son, Edward III. Edward III's reign saw the beginning of the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death and the episode covers how these changed English society. His grandson Richard II succeeded him and his reign had many issues ranging from the Peasants' Revolt to his nobility, who deposed him for Henry IV. Really this episode is about how nobles and kings argued over money. Recommended books: A Companion to Britain in the Later Middle Ages - Ed by S. H. Rigby. - A very good overview but its coverage of the Hundred Years' War leaves a lot to be desired. The economics of England at this time are covered especially well. Amazon affiliate link (UK): http://amzn.to/2FSIfQ8 Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated. Disclaimer: Amazon Associates Program: “Ten Minute History is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the epic struggle between England and France for the French throne which lasted for over a century. It covers everything from Edward III's victory at Crécy and the Black Prince's triumph at Poitiers all the way to the French victory in 1453. All of the major battles, such as Sluys, Agincourt and Orléans are covered as well as the political intrigues in both kingdoms. Recommended Books: Michael Prestwich - The Hundred Years' War - Probably the best narrative overview of the war. Johnathan Sumption's series of the Hundred Years' War is phenomenal and insanely deep but it will cost you an arm for all of the books. Genuinely don't bother unless you're an undergrad or very interested. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the infamous Wars of the Roses (yes plural) which engulfed England after its failure during the Hundred Years' War. This conflict saw the House of Lancaster and the House of York fight it out for the throne. Some of England's most famous kings, Henry VI, Edward IV, the short-lived Edward V and most famously, Richard III are all covered in this episode which ends with the establishment of the Tudor Dynasty. Recommended Books: Alison Weir - Lancaster and York: The Wars of the Roses - Probably the best overview of the Wars given their complexity. Like most overviews it really glosses over the later parts but barring that it's excellent. Michael Hicks - The Wars of the Roses - Another very good overview but a bit more detailed (this one also has a timeline in it). Slightly harder to get into than Weir's book, though. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the decline and fall of the Ottoman Empire from the turn of the nineteenth century to its end in 1923. The first half covers the empire's struggles up until the Crimean War and the second sees the empire catastrophic fall including the Balkan Wars and of course the First World War. Ten Minute History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated. Recommended books: Douglas A Howard - A History of the Ottoman Empire (2017) - Genuinely a phenomenal introduction which covers the entire empire. There are a few things he tends to gloss over, most notably Balkan independence movements. Caroline Finkel - Osman's Dream: A History of the Ottoman Empire 1300-1923 (2006). Another great overview book, more detailed than the above but harder to get into, is particularly good at covering the Sultans and their ministers. Donald Quataert - The Ottoman Empire 1700-1922 (2005). A really good overview, it's shorter than the other two and does a great job covering Egypt. Has very good insights into the legacy of the Ottoman Empire as well which many books tend to lack.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the birth, rise, stagnation and swift fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Beginning with the 1848 Revolutions through the 1867 compromise this episode will take a look at the political and social issues the empire had. It covers the reign of Ferdinand, Franz Joseph and Karl I (Charles I) and how the empire launched the First World War which would ultimately be its downfall. The episode finishes by cover the treaties which were signed after the war and carved up the empire into the nations of eastern and central Europe. Ten Minute History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated. Recommended books: A Concise History of Austria - Steven Beller. A fantastic book which covers all of Austrian History whilst pointing out the relevant parts of Hungarian history, too. The Last Years of Austria-Hungary - Mark Cornwall.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the aftermath of Wars of the Roses through the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII of the Tudor dynasty. It covers Henry VII's attempts to stabilise the kingdom and bring it powerful allies. Most of it focuses on the reign of his son, Henry VIII and his wars with France, his many wives and his notorious break with Rome and the formation of the Church of England. Recommended Books: John Guy, 'Tudor England' - A very detailed introductory book which covers all of the Tudors and particularly focuses on Henry VIII. Gives a good overview of court intrigue, too. Robert Titler and Norman Jones (eds.), A Companion to Tudor Britain - Much more detailed (best for undergrads) thematically arranged book which focus more on religious, social and economic changes than political. Has good detail concerning Wales and Scotland as well. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode covers the reigns of Henry VIII's three children, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. It follows Edward's approach to church reform and his untimely death and Mary's attempt to undo this with the help of her husband, King Philip II of Spain. After Mary's death, Elizabeth took over and set England back on the course of Protestantism and aiding others which annoyed Philip who subsequently unleashed the Spanish Armada. The armada failed, leaving elizabeth to consolidate her reign which saw the flowering of the English Renaissance and her failure to secure an heir which ended her dynasty, beginning the reign of the House of Stuart. Recommended Books: John Guy, 'Tudor England' - A very detailed introductory book which covers all of the Tudors and particularly focuses on Henry VIII. Gives a good overview of court intrigue, too. Robert Titler and Norman Jones (eds.), A Companion to Tudor Britain - Much more detailed (best for undergrads) thematically arranged book which focus more on religious, social and economic changes than political. Has good detail concerning Wales and Scotland as well. (Same books as last episode but they're both great) Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers Spain in the 1930s before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, through the civil war itself and to the end of Francisco Franco's dictatorship. It covers why the Nationalists won, what conditions led to the civil war and how Franco governed Spain. The end of the episode is focused on the (incredibly impressive) efforts of King Juan Carlos I of Spain to bring democracy back to Spain. Ten Minute History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated. Recommended books:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the turmoil in the Frankish Kingdom which led to the rise of Charles Martel who famously defeated the invading forces of the Umayyad Caliphate at the Battle of Tours. His reign and that of his son, Pippin III, who appointed himself as king are briefly covered before the reign of Charlemagne is examined in detail. Charlemagne is without a doubt one of the most famous European monarchs and the Renaissance of Learning, his conquests and famously, his being crowned as Roman Emperor by Leo III are only a few of his achievements. His reign lasted for 47 years and after his grandsons divided the empire, the remnants became the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire. Ten Minute History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated. Recommended books: Chris Wickham - The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000. - Seriously one of the best works on the period known as the Dark Ages, it covers everything from the collapse of the Western Roman Emperor to the nomads in Eastern Europe in an easily consumable format. An amazing book. Rosamond Mckitterick - Charlemagne: The Formation of a European Identity. - This one is by my old lecturer and so I'd advise it for undergrads or enthusiasts only. It is probably the best book on Charlemagne's reign available and is up to date on the new findings surrounding things like where he conquered and his personal education. Few maps though, so boo there.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers Italy in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars and the tumultuous decades which followed it. The focus is on liberal revolutionaries, like Mazzini and Garibaldi, and their conservative opponents like Victor Emmanuel II and Cavour. The episode covers the many revolutions (emphasis on 1848) in Italy across the 19th century and the wars with the Austrian Empire with Napoleon III of France and Prussia. All of this led to a sudden explosion of Piedmont-Sardinian territory in the years 1859-1861 which ended with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. Finally, Venice and Rome would be added to the kingdom, making Italy (almost) what it is today. Recommended books: A Concise History of Italy by Christopher Duggan - Part of a great series of survey books. This one is great for Italy post-Napoleon I. It's pretty lacking with respect to the rest of Italian history (its coverage of the Renaissance/ Early Modern Italy isn't great, frankly.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Anon (you know who you are), Mitchell Wildoer, Franco la Bruna, Mason Cox, Matt M, Chris Fatta, Rbj, Shaun Pullin, Joshua, Thomas Mitchell, William Foster, Perry Gagne, Mark Routon, Spencer Smith. This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the rise of Calvinism in the Spanish Seventeen Provinces and the subsequent outbreak of the Dutch Revolt/Eighty Years' War. William the Silent led the United Provinces' (and later Dutch Republic's) bid for independence and he encountered many issues, notably the Duke of Alba and Parma as well as some hiccups in picking a monarch. All of the turmoil forced the Dutch to innovate in matters of commerce and trade whilst having to decide the religious policy of their new state. The Dutch (after losing some territory) would win their independence in 1609 but the Spanish wouldn't accept this until 1648. Recommended books: A Concise History of the Netherlands by James C. Kennedy. - A Very good book which goes into great detail about the events of the war and the importance of religious and commercial reform. Very good book. Christendom Destroyed, Europe 1517-1648 by Mark Greengrass. Another extremely good work, it bounces all over Europe so don't expect to be able to read a chapter on the Dutch and know everything. Fantastic for the religious changes in Europe during the period.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Chris Fatta Joshua Mitchell Wildoer Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne Shaun Pullin Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the decline and fall of the Western Roman Empire. It deals with the division of the empire by Theodosius I and the rule of his successors Honorius and Arcadius. Honorius' reign saw Britannia leave the empire and the first sack of Rome in about 800 years. The borders of the empire continued to weaken under his successors in the west as the East held on in the face of barbarian groups like the Huns or the Vandals. In the end, the Western Roman Empire would disappear in 476 ushering in a new age of smaller kingdoms in Europe. Recommended books: Chris Wickham - The Inheritance of Rome. Phenomenal book which covers the decline of the Roman Empire in the west (and also the East) and details what happened in the aftermath of its fall. Peter Brown - The World of Late Antiquity. One of the classics surrounding the period. Be aware that it is starting to show its age but frankly there aren't loads of great introductory overview materials like this for the period so it's still very valuable.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Chris Fatta Joshua Mitchell Wildoer Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne Shaun Pullin Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj This episode covers the rule of the James I and the Union of the Crowns which saw both England and Scotland ruled by the same monarch. It covers James' early rule which saw the Gunpowder Plot and the attempts to create a religious consensus in England. James managed to keep England out of war but after his death in 1625 his son, Charles I saw to war with Spain and intervention in the Thirty Years' War. Charles was an abrasive king and his heavy handed rule and corruption led to opposition which culminated in the Bishops' Wars and set the stage for the English Civil War. Recommended Books: John Morrill - Stuart Britain: A Very Short Introduction. Very good introductory book and extremely cheap too, good for people new to the period. Much better at covering social and economic trends than the political and religious stuff but still very good. Barry Coward and Peter Gaunt - The Stuart Age: England 1603-1714. Much more detailed (and expensive) and an extremely good work. Better for things like the personalities of James, Charles and Cromwell. Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Chris Fatta Joshua Mitchell Wildoer Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne Shaun Pullin Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the outbreak of the Bohemian Revolt which was what would eventually spiral out of control into the Thirty Years' War. The revolt was crushed fairly quickly but sparked intervention by Denmark, who didn't do too well, and later Sweden who did very well. Both of these were aided by France who decided to get directly involved in 1635. By 1648 the Holy Roman Empire lay in ruins, with Austria and Spain struggling to pay for the war and rebuild the Habsburg Empire. This war saw the rise of Sweden and France but most importantly saw the foundations of modern diplomacy built. Recommended books: Mark Greengrass - Christendom Destroyed: Europe 1517-1648. Does a great job of outlying the theological currents in Europe at the time and how all of the religious changes led to the Thirty Years' War. Peter H. Wilson - Europe's Tragedy: A New History of the Thirty Years' War. The go-to text for the war; incredibly detailed and honestly can't be beat for the topic. 100% recommend.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Franco La Bruna Chris Fatta Richard Wolfe Joshua James Baker Mitchell Wildoer Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne John Lucid Shaun Pullin Matthew Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj This episode of Ten Minute History covers the late reign of Charles I and his problems with the Bishops' War and the conflict with parliament. It wasn't long before Charles' duplicity and method of rule saw the outbreak of war between Parliament and the king's forces. The civil wars spanned about a decade and eventually saw the execution of Charles I and the ascendancy of Oliver Cromwell as the Lord Protector of the English Commonwealth (a republic). His rule saw the conquest of Ireland and war with Spain and the Dutch Republic and after Cromwell's death in 1658, it wasn't long before Charles's son, Charles II, was restored to the throne. Recommended reading: Barry Coward and Peter Gaunt - The Stuart Age: England 1603-1714. Fantastic and very detailed work which I'd recommend for undergrads but a bit dense for those simply interested in the period. John Miller - Early Modern Britain: 1450-1750. A phenomenal book. It's an overview of the entire period and really a must have if you are looking to study Britain during the era. Cannot recommend this book enough (or the others in the series).

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/ten-minute-historys-store Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Chris Fatta Joshua Mitchell Wildoer Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne Shaun Pullin Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the USSR after the death of Stalin. It covers its peak under Khrushchev during the Cold War and the Space Race and his attempted reforms before his ousting after the Cuban Missile Crisis. His replacement, Brezhnev, attempted to undo these reforms but spurned the Era of Stagnation which saw the Soviet economy stall. Gorbachev took over and attempted many sweeping reforms which went awry which culminated in the sudden breakup of the USSR and the establishment of the Russian Federation under Boris Yeltsin. Recommended Reading: Tony Judt - Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945. Probably the go-to work on the Cold War in Europe. Particularly good for the Warsaw Pact. Highly Recommended. Stephen Lovell - Soviet Union: A Very Short Introduction. A great overview of the entire USSR and its history. Recommended for any beginner to the period. Geoffrey Hoskings - A History of the Soviet Union. This is an older work (from the 90s) and excludes some of the more recent discoveries since the opening of the Soviet archives. However, it's still the best one-volume work on the USSR available in my opinion.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/ten-minute-historys-store Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Franco La Bruna Chris Fatta Richard Wolfe Joshua James Baker Mitchell Wildoer Howard G. Dude Blaine Tillack Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne Shaun Pullin Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj John Lucid Matthew Josh Selby João Santos Mark Bevan Andrew Keeling This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the international and diplomatic tensions that led to the outbreak of World War 1. It covers an overview of the war and the major nations which fought in it and some of the technological changes that occurred. It also covers the Entente's victory and the dissolution of europe's great empires and the new nations which were born of them. Recommended Reading: Michael Howard - The First World War: A Very Short Introduction. A fantastic little overview of the war and a great introduction for anyone interested. Christopher Clark - The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914. Extremely detailed survey on the lead up to the First World War. Be aware that it doesn't cover the war itself but its coverage of international diplomacy in the early 20th century is phenomenal. David Stevenson - 1914-1918: The History of the First World War. A more detailed overview of the course of the war, one of the better overviews. Max Hasting's 'Catastrophe' being another.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/ten-minute-historys-store Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Franco La Bruna Chris Fatta Richard Wolfe Joshua James Baker Mitchell Wildoer Howard G. Dude Blaine Tillack Mason Cox William Foster Thomas Mitchell Perry Gagne Shaun Pullin Anon Spencer Smith Matt M Rbj John Lucid Matthew Josh Selby João Santos Mark Bevan Andrew Keeling This episode of Ten Minute History (like a documentary, only shorter) covers the situation in the Eastern Steppe and the inter-tribal warfare there which saw the ascendancy of the Mongols. Led by Genghis Khan they waged a series of wars which over the course of decades saw the Mongol Empire become the largest contiguous empire in all of human history. Of course, the empire soon fell into civil war and from that came Khubilai Khan, whose policies earned him a reputation as a skilled and competent ruler. Recommended Reading: John Man - The Mongol Empire: Genghis Khan, His Heirs and the Founding of Modern China. This book is a fantastic detailed overview of the empire and the Yuan dynasty. Has a great chapter on the Mongol's legacy. Morris Rossabi - The Mongols: A Very Short Introduction. I always recommend these books but that's because they're great. This one has some issues with its structure but for its price point it's phenomenal.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tenminhistory Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164 Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/ten-minute-historys-store Special Thanks to the following Patrons for their support on Patreon: Franco La Bruna Kevin Sanders Richard Wolfe James Baker Chris Fatta Mitchell Wildoer Blaine Tillack Joshua Mason Cox Cornel Thomas Mitchell William Foster Norman A. Letterman anon Shaun Pullin Perry Gagne John Lucid Josh Shelby Matthew Byzana Scotorius Richard Manklow Derek Dufon Spencer Smith Rbj Mark Bevan Matt M João Santos Recommended Reading: A Concise History of the United States of America, Susan-Mary Grant. A fantastic overview of all American history with a solid run down of the lead up to and course of the Civil War (aftermath, too). The American Civil War, John Keegan. One for the more military-minded historians which covers the generals, tactics etc. in detail that you won't see in the more general texts.