Why have particular systems of government come into being? What makes them fail?  What effect does government have on the way in which society is structured and on the economic and cultural life of its people?  This series looks at different systems of government and discusses their origins, history and practical application in the modern world.

Each book includes the following:

• biographies of prominent personalities
• quotes from primary and secondary sources
• mini-timelines of different systems in history 
• historical event boxes.

Monarchy:  From King Richard the Lionheart to Napoleon 1 of France, monarchs have made a huge impression on history.  But what is monarchy and where did it begin? Who are the modern monarchs and how much power do they hold?  These questions, and many more, are answered in this fascinating account of perhaps the most ancient system of government the world has known.