The Enigmas of History

Book excerpt: History is replete with unanswered questions regarding our own past and that of the world in which we live. Some of these questions are mere curiosities; others are of the profoundest importance to our cultural identity and have a serious bearing on our future. Each self-contained chapter in The Enigmas of History covers a particular mystery, ranging across the globe and throughout history: from Atlantis to the Amazons; from the Ark of the Covenant to the enigma of the Black Madonnas; and from the weird mystery of Spring-heeled Jack to visions of the Virgin Mary. Among the topics explored are: • The strange history of the Dogon tribe of Mali in West Africa, who believe that they were visited in the distant past by amphibious beings from another star • The legend of the lost Himalayan kingdom of Shambhala • The mystery of the crystal skulls • The enigma of the indecipherable Voynich manuscript The Enigmas of History is an entertaining, informative compendium of strange events and weird encounters with the unexplained. It is packed with information on historical mysteries, puzzles and bewildering discoveries, and will intrigue the historian and general reader alike.