Much attention has recently been focused on reinstituting ethics and character education. Yet, what is being taught today is simply a re-teaching of traits taught for centuries - traits such as industry, honesty, politeness, gratitude, purity and duty to God.

Because such qualities are timeless in their application, an early 1890 work (based on works from the 1840s) is here reprinted for contemporary use. This work will inspire citizens of all ages to a greater elevation of their own character and therefore of the nation's character.

Amongst the conspirators that helped put the false Smerdis in power, was the distant cousin of Cambyses, and thus of Cyrus, the same Darius who appeared in the prophetic vision which Cyrus had dreamt of some time before. In the end, a contest was decided to determine the next king of the Persian Empire. As the story goes, Darius played a deception at the competition, and thus succeeded to the throne, and the rest, as they say, is history. The narrative of his achievements were first found, engraved in multiple scripts, high on a rock wall in on Behistun mountain, on the main highway between present-day Iraq and Iran. First discovered in 1621 by an Italian traveler, it wasn't until the early 18th century that Sir Henry Rawlinson was able to use the trilingual translation to finally unlock the secrets of cuneiform writing, and thus the fertile history of the Middle East. ISBN 1-59016-152-1 o 286 pages o 6 x 9 o tradepaper o illustrated.

Nero is part of Makers of History, a 19th century biography series by two brothers—Jacob and John S.C. Abbott. Reprinted by Canon Press, these biographies have been edited and brought up-to-date for readers twelve and up. Not only are these editions given vintage style paperback covers, but they also include introductions that explain where these men and women fit into the timeline of history.