pinolia aug 2026 (5 resultados)

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - How did Córdoba manage to become, in the 10th century, one of the most powerful and dazzling cities of the medieval world What did it mean that, in the year 929, 'Abd al-Ra? ma n III proclaimed himself caliph and established in the West a political and religious authority comparable to that of the great centers of Islam How was that state organized, and what economic, social, and cultural foundations made its extraordinary splendor possible The Caliphate of Córdoba traces the emergence and consolidation of one of the most ambitious political projects of the Middle Ages. Under the Umayyad caliphs, al-Andalus developed a complex power structure, with solid political institutions, an efficient administration, and intense economic activity that connected the countryside, the cities, and the trade routes of the Mediterranean. Through its various chapters, the book explores the material and human foundations of that power: the rural world that sustained production and taxation, the activity of merchants and artisans, the role of currency in the caliphate's economy, and the functioning of justice and law. The book also delves into the intellectual and cultural life of the era, from scientific development to the artistic and literary creation that made Córdoba one of the great cultural hubs of its time. The work also devotes special attention to the great architectural symbols of Umayyad power, such as Madinat al-Zahra and the Great Mosque of Córdoba and its successive expansions. With contributions from renowned historians specializing in al-Andalus, the book offers a rigorous yet accessible overview of one of the most brilliant periods in the medieval history of the Iberian Peninsula.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - When did we begin to delegate not only tasks, but part of our thinking At what point did we stop memorizing, orienting ourselves, or concentrating as we once did Are we witnessing a silent transformation of our minds Juan Diego Polo explores how digital technology -- from Google to generative artificial intelligence -- is changing the way we use our brains. Research such as the so-called 'Google effect' has shown that we remember less when we know information is stored online. Subsequent studies have shown changes in our spatial orientation with the use of GPS, in our fragmented attention due to social media, and in our creativity and analytical skills when we rely on AI-based assistants. Neuroplasticity, which for millennia allowed our species to adapt to the environment, continues to operate. But now it faces an artificial ecosystem that evolves faster than we can consciously process. Memory, concentration, critical thinking, and social connections are influenced by tools designed to facilitate and optimize every mental process by companies with their own agendas. It is worth pausing to look squarely at what is happening. Understanding this change is the first step toward deciding how we want to coexist with these tools and what space we want to continue reserving for our own capabilities. Because it is not just about technology. It is about how we think, how we choose, and what we are willing to preserve as our own.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - What is radioactivity really, and why, since its discovery, has it provoked a persistent mix of wonder and fear How could an invisible phenomenon transform medicine, alter the political balance of the 20th century, and remain present today in hospitals, laboratories, and food What price was paid to learn how to master it In the late 19th century, Henri Becquerel observed an unexpected phenomenon that Marie and Pierre Curie would study with tireless rigor. From there, figures such as Ernest Rutherford, Lise Meitner, and Enrico Fermi expanded our understanding of the atom and opened up a scientific field with unpredictable consequences. It soon ceased to be merely an object of study: it was applied to medical diagnosis and the treatment of diseases, improved agricultural processes, and demonstrated that it could be both a remedy and a poison, both an energy resource and a threat. That ambivalent nature decisively shaped the 20th century. Nuclear research soon became linked to the military sphere and led to the development of radioactive weapons and an unprecedented arms race. Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked a point of no return, and radioactivity came to occupy a central place in international politics. Since then, its management has been associated with agreements, tensions, and the need for global oversight, in a world aware that such power could not be left unchecked. The history of radioactivity is not merely that of a scientific discovery. It is the story of an ambivalent force that has healed, devastated, and continues to raise uncomfortable questions about the limits of knowledge and collective responsibility.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - How do we know that the universe is expanding, and why, nearly a century later, do we still disagree on the speed of that expansion The Hubble constant has become one of the keys to understanding the cosmos and, at the same time, one of its greatest enigmas. In 1927, Georges Lemaître proposed a moving universe; shortly thereafter, Edwin Hubble's observations confirmed that galaxies are moving away from one another. From that moment on, measuring this expansion became essential for determining the age, size, and evolution of the universe. However, arriving at a reliable figure has proven far more complex than expected. The history of this measurement traces some of the most decisive moments in contemporary cosmology: the development of the Big Bang model, the emergence of new observational techniques, disagreements among research teams, and the discovery of unexpected phenomena that forced a reevaluation of existing theories. Far from being resolved, the problem has intensified in recent decades, as different methods have begun to yield incompatible results. Jim Baggott reconstructs this journey with precision and clarity, showing how scientific knowledge advances amid hypotheses, corrections, and disagreements. A story that reveals that even the most solid ideas can falter when the universe does not fit our calculations.

Taschenbuch. Condición: Neu. Neuware - In recent years, the rise of authoritarianism--even in countries with long democratic traditions--has brought an uncomfortable question back to the forefront: What does 'fascism' mean today, and when is it legitimate to use that word Amid mutual accusations and polarized debates, the term is frequently invoked but rarely examined with the rigor it deserves. In 'Fascism: History of a Word,' Federico Marcon offers a fascinating journey through the origin and evolution of a concept that shaped the 20th century and continues to influence our present. How did 'fascism' and 'fascist' come into being How have they been used at different times and in different places What is gained--and what is lost--by resorting to this label to understand both the interwar dictatorships and certain current political trends With a lucid perspective grounded in testimonies, speeches, and texts by leaders, activists, artists, and thinkers, Marcon reconstructs the term's trajectory from Mussolini's regime through the anti-fascist resistance to subsequent efforts to define its essential characteristics. Beyond history, the book raises a disturbing question: why, under certain circumstances, do societies come to voluntarily renounce ideals such as freedom, equality, and solidarity.