In the Shadow of the Gods: The Emperor in World History

Historian Lieven (Russia Against Napoleon) delivers an erudite, globe-spanning study of “hereditary holders of supreme authority” and their systems of government. He highlights the shared features of regimes as far-flung as ancient Mesopotamia and 19th-century Japan, including the challenge of succession, the religious role of the emperor, and the need for a tightly knit relationship between the emperor and landowning elites. The Ottoman, Romanov, and Hapsburg dynasties get their due, but Lieven also introduces readers to more obscure monarchies, including India’s Mauryan Empire (321–189 BCE), which produced the Arthashastra, a guide to statecraft that rivals The Prince, and, under the leadership of a ruler named Ashoka, spread Buddhism across East and Southeast Asia. Lieven also details the advanced cavalry techniques, mobility, and sheer manpower of the Mongol Empire, and argues that under Chinggis Khan (c. 1158–1227 CE), “the Mongol military machine became the most formidable yet seen in history.” Throughout, Lieven pays close attention to female rulers, including Russia’s Catherine the Great and Wu Zetian, the only sovereign empress in Chinese history. Though the last chapter largely abandons the lens of empire for a whirlwind tour of European nationalism, Lieven’s sharp wit and vast knowledge impress. This eloquent and entertaining chronicle casts world history in a new light. (June)