We are beginning the course with a fictional text entitled, "Fire & Blood." It is primarily a political history that focuses on a central family of monarchs with characters who keep a tight focus on the politics inside the walls of power and eyeing the throne. One clear theme of the novel is the patriarchy’s effect on otherwise powerful and strong women in the story. We will see the effects that wise, good, weak, inept and cruel political leaders can have on society. Also, what factors may cause a civil war within a country and forever alter that country in a myriad of ways?