What makes a civilisation successful, what allows it to last thousands of years, and what causes its eventual downfall? In this volatile world that we live in, there are many fascinating lessons to be learned from the great empires that once ruled it.

Rise and Fall brings a collection of ten world civilisations to life. Some, like the Vikings and the Incans, you may have heard of. Others, like the Benin, Kakamura or Ayutthayan empires are less well known today but in their time were immensely powerful and seemingly undefeatable.

Peter Allen, author of Atlas of Amazing Architecture (Cicada, 2021) illuminates the stories with his trademark detail- and humour-packed illustrations, taking young readers on a captivating journey through time to uncover the essence of human civilisation.