Other books that might interest you

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  Byzantium and Constantinople:...

  Editors Charles River

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  Due to the importance of the Roman Empire and the offshoot Byzantine Empire, it’s often forgotten that Constantinople wasn’t chosen at random; in fact, the city already existed, and it lent its name to the empire that was subsequently centered there. Byzantium, known originally as Byzantion, was an ancient Greek city centuries before it became known as Constantinople, and the etymology of Byzantion/Byzantium is still unknown. It has been suggested that Byzantion is of Thracian origin and may be derived from the Thracian personal name Byzas, which means “he-goat.” Ancient Greek legend refers to King Byzas as the leader of the Megaran colonists and the founder of the city, but the earliest name for a city on the site is “Lygos,” which likely corresponds to an earlier Thracian settlement described by Pliny the Elder in his seminal work, Natural History: “On leaving the Dardanelles we come to the Bay of Casthenes, ...and the promontory of the Golden Horn, on which is the town of Byzantium, a free state, formerly called Lygos; it is 711 miles from Durazzo.” 
  Pliny went on to explain that Lygos was a Thracian settlement founded between the 13th and 11th centuries BCE. The site, however, was probably abandoned well before Megara founded Byzantion around 657 BCE across from Chalcedon on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus. The city was briefly renamed Augusta Antonina in the early 3rd century CE by the Emperor Septimius Severus, who razed the city to the ground in 196 CE for supporting a rival contender in the civil war and had it rebuilt in honor of his son and successor, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, known as Caracalla. This new name appears to have been quickly forgotten and abandoned, with the city reverting to Byzantium after the assassination of Caracalla in 217 CE, and that’s how it would be known when Constantine fatefully moved the seat of power there over a century later.

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  Exploitation - Taking Advantage...

  Cito Harder

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  Exploitation is a fundamental aspect of human interaction, often driven by power imbalances and self-interest. It occurs when one party takes unfair advantage of another for personal or institutional gain, frequently at the expense of the exploited party’s well-being. While exploitation can be overt and aggressive, it is often subtle and embedded within social, economic, and political structures, making it difficult to recognize and address. The nature of exploitation is complex, as it is not always illegal or socially condemned, yet it can have profound ethical implications. 
  Throughout history, exploitation has manifested in various forms, from forced labor and colonialism to predatory business practices and manipulative personal relationships. At its core, exploitation relies on an asymmetry of power—whether in the form of financial control, social influence, or political dominance. Those who exploit others often justify their actions through ideologies that normalize or rationalize inequality, perpetuating systems where exploitation becomes an accepted norm rather than an aberration. This is evident in instances such as companies underpaying workers while maximizing profits, governments manipulating populations through propaganda, or individuals using emotional coercion to control relationships. 
  One of the most insidious aspects of exploitation is its ability to operate under the guise of mutual benefit. Many exploitative dynamics are framed as fair exchanges, where the exploited party is led to believe they are willingly participating. This is particularly evident in labor markets, where workers may accept unfair wages and poor conditions due to a lack of viable alternatives.

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  Gay Witchcraft

  Christopher Penczak, Storm...

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  Combining the wisdom of Witchcraft with perspectives on gay theory to make the path accessible to all. 
   
   
   
  When Christopher Penczak was introduced to Witchcraft, he found a spiritual path through which he could honor and embrace his homosexuality. In Gay Witchcraft, Penczak's clearheaded theory and practice combine to create a classic book of Witchcraft focused on the perspective of the gay community. 
   
   
   
  Penczak's writing has made it much easier for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people interested in practicing any form of Witchcraft. His willingness to share his own personal journey and the foundations that made the Craft accessible allows listeners to find their own ways of practice. This book explores the history of Paganism and offers a compendium of spells, meditations, ceremonies, and affirmations that will enrich both the novice and the experienced practitioner seeking out new views of myth, ritual, and healing.

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  Rise of the American Navy -...

  John William Ptolemy

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  Journey through one hundred years of heroism, patriotism, and endurance… fought from the sea. 
  In its two centuries of existence, America has seen more than its fair share of momentous events. 
  Through it all, the American Navy has not only been a witness, but an active and key participant to the creation and progress of the country. 
  It has grown and strengthened its capabilities – from having zero ships and zero expertise to becoming one of the largest fleets in the world. 
  Whether you’re a history buff or military enthusiast, this chronicle of the Navy’s early history is a must-read. 
  From monumental battles and memorable speeches, to groundbreaking developments and personal accounts, you’ll find it all here. 
  In The Rise of the American Navy, you will discover: 
   ● How George Washington finally got the Continental Navy created... after years of indecision in Congress 
  ● One of the most fascinating figures of the Revolutionary War – now remembered as the father of the American Navy 
  ● The resourceful strategy that helped make the newly formed navy a formidable opponent, despite being greatly outmatched by the British 
  ● The two-hour naval battle that led to American victory against Britain – and it didn’t even involve any Americans! 
  ● How pirates resurrected the US Navy and started its gradual ascent to power 
  ● First-hand accounts from those on the front lines that provide an up-close and personal view of the hardships of war 
  ● How the Civil War contributed to a new era in naval warfare that made every other navy in the world obsolete 
   And much more. 
   The US Navy’s history is inextricably linked to the history of America as a nation. After all, its creation was tied to the colonies’ fight for independence

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  Sex Positive Talks to Have With...

  Melissa Pintor Carnagey

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  Sex Positive Talks to Have With Kids is your guide to creating an open, shame-free connection with the young people in your world! These talks will help caregivers create the kind of bond that keeps kids safer, empowered, and returning to you for support along their journey. Melissa Pintor Carnagey, renowned sexuality educator for youth and families, walks you through over 150 conversation starters, reflection exercises, and activities you can begin implementing at every age and stage on topics such as: bodies, consent, pleasure, sex, menstruation, gender, sexual orientation, safe & unsafe touch, pornography, feelings, relationships, and media literacy. This inclusive, medically accurate, comprehensive guide is perfect for any parent or caregiver that’s ready to normalize the talks and be that trusted adult we all needed growing up. 
   
  Melissa is the founder of Sex Positive Families, an organization that helps families raise sexually healthy children by providing interactive virtual workshops and courses, called Growing Into You!™, and engaging resources. Their work is rooted in the belief that all children deserve holistic, comprehensive, and shame-free sexuality education so they can live informed, empowered, and safer lives. 
   
  This audiobook is skillfully read by the author, and was produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont. Audio engineering by Blake Rook.

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  20 Embodied Practices for...

  Jan Winhall, PhD. Stephen Porges

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  Trauma and addiction heal in tandem with this paradigm-shifting approach. 
   
   
   
  What if addiction, dissociation, and other manifestations of trauma were not framed as diseases or disorders, but rather as adaptive methods of regulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS)? This book takes that approach, and guides listeners through twenty embodied practices that promote the rewiring of the ANS. By integrating the latest neuroscience from Stephen Porges's Polyvagal Theory with Eugene Gendlin's embodied felt sense, Jan Winhall's Felt Sense Polyvagal Model is a paradigm-shifting, deeply somatic approach to healing trauma and addiction. 
   
   
   
  Listeners are presented with two vital tools for healing: learning how to recognize and rewire their autonomic state, and finding the felt sense of somatic wisdom. This compassionate and inviting model centers the intelligence of the body to allow for deep healing, and these twenty step-by step exercises present an accessible approach for clinicians, their clients, and anyone on the journey to healing from trauma and addiction. The book's exercises are uniquely designed to be completed either with a mental health professional, another person engaged in this embodied process (a felt sense partner), or both.

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