Ancient history Books
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Roman Army of the Middle Empire AD 180284
Book SynopsisDuring the Middle Empire period (AD 180-284) the Roman army had to face the terrible Third Century Crisis', wherein a combination of socio-economic problems and new external threats threatened the Empire with complete collapse. Several provinces became temporarily independent from the central government of Rome, while others were frequently raided by foreign invaders. The Roman army had to fight with all its resources in order to reconquer a good portion of the Empire and preserve its unity. The Romans were forced to modernize and reform their forces to face the new challenges posed by a multitude of warlike enemies, such as the Persians in the Middle East or the Germanic Peoples in Central Europe. The previous military system based on the power of the legions' heavy infantry was completely revised, with the introduction of new organizational patterns. Cavalry became much more important than before, together with light troops specialized in skirmishing. The personal equipment of the Ro
£21.25
Oxford University Press Reign of Arrows
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£28.49
Turner Publishing Company Caesar Versus Pompey
Book SynopsisWho was Rome’s greatest general, statesman, and nation-builder: Caesar or Pompey? Few people have had as many words written about them down through the centuries as Julius Caesar—the brilliant general who made Queen Cleopatra of Egypt his mistress. He has captured the imagination of playwrights, historians, soldiers, and emperors. Little has been written about his ally, son-in-law, and eventual enemy Pompey the Great, who crashed onto the Roman scene as a victorious twenty-three-year-old general and who, at the height of his career, was arguably more famous, more popular, and more successful than Caesar. Caesar Versus Pompey tells the parallel life stories of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, as their lives and loves became intertwined and interdependent, as they grew from rivals to partners, then from joint rulers to warring
£12.34
Oxford University Press Inc The Last Kings of Macedonia and the Triumph of
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe Macedonian king Philip V is usually remembered as the man whose alliance with Hannibal triggered the Roman expansion in the East. Drawing upon epigraphic discoveries of the last decades that document Philip's military and administrative reforms and responses to crises and correct the hostile account of the historian Polybius, Ian Worthington has composed a nuanced and up-to-date narrative of a life that started with ambitions and triumphs, and ended with defeats and tragedies. Philip's actions generated a process that Polybius calls symploke: the entanglement of political developments in Europe, Africa, and Asia. With this book, he now takes the place that he deserves among the greatest protagonists of the Hellenistic Age. * Angelos Chaniotis, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton *A brilliant and much-needed volume on the last kings of ancient Macedonia. Worthington duly gives Philip V, Perseus, and Andriscus (Philip VI) the attention they deserve, challenging the view that they are mere 'postscripts' to Macedonia's Classical past and losers in the fight for supremacy in the second century BC Mediterranean. This updated history will undoubtedly foster interest in the last Antigonid kings and revise our understanding of the conflict between Macedonia and Rome. * Emma Nicholson, University of Exeter *Table of ContentsPreface Figures Abbreviations Maps Introduction: We Three Kings 1. The Kingdom of Macedonia 2. Introducing Philip V 3. The Social War 4. Taking on Rome 5. From the First to the Second Macedonian Wars 6. The Second Macedonian War 7. Fall of the Phalanx 8. Macedonia Renascent 9. Perseus: Last of the Antigonids 10. The Third Macedonian War 11. Dismembering Macedonia 12. Provincia Macedonia Appendix: "Fake News:" The Sources on Philip V and Perseus Bibliography, Index
£24.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
Book SynopsisFor the ancient Egyptians, the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1700 BC) was a classical period of art, history and literature. The Twelfth Dynasty was one of the strongest ever to rule on the banks of the Nile: some of its kings were later worshipped as local gods, and were made famous by classical Greek authors. Yet Egyptologists tend not to look beyond the extraordinary royal sculpture and literary masterpieces of the time. Although the picture is fragmentary, as with any archaeological record, the last two hundred years of exploration and excavation have revealed much of the splendour of the period. This book examines the evidence for the culture, history and society of both central and provincial Egypt at the time, revealing the wealth of the entire country. In this second edition, Wolfram Grajetzki incorporates recent discoveries, discussions and publications which have emerged over the intervening fifteen years, including new excavation reports for the mastabas a
£20.89
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Alexander the Great Avenger
Book SynopsisDetailed study of Alexander the Great's invasion of the Persian Empire, which was cast as a war of vengeance for Persia's earlier invasions of Greece.
£23.80
Princeton University Press How to Stop a Conspiracy
Book SynopsisTrade Review"An awesome book about the Catiline conspiracy."---Rep. Jamie Raskin, Axios"“[A] cautionary warning for our own volatile and perilous political moment. ... Osgood’s clear, engaging translation of Sallust’s The War Against Catiline brings vital aid from the past to the present.”"---Emily Katz Anhalt, Arts Fuse"Rings uncomfortably familiar"---Mark Danner, New York Review of Books
£13.29
Princeton University Press Digging Up Armageddon
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Absolutely fascinating."---Paul Zimansky, Times Literary Supplement"Like the best tales from the golden age of archaeology, Digging Up Armageddon combines the grandeur of ancient history, the currency of modern fame and the cast of a malarial soap opera."---Dominic Green, The Spectator"An original and lively study that skilfully mixes archaeology with personalities, and politics with culture, science and technology."---Andrew Robinson, Nature"[Cline] writes with the deft surety of someone familiar with both the site and its archive . . . . What makes [Digging Up Armageddon] such a smart historical treatment of Megiddo is Cline’s nuanced examination of how labor, privilege, politics, and capitalism underscored much of the archaeology done in the United States and Europe in the early to mid-20th century."---Lydia Pyne, Los Angeles Review of Books"Enjoyable reading . . . riveting."---Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel"Engaging." * Moment Magazine *"It’s really quite amazing how he pulls it off—Cline has written a book deeply-imbued with scholarship, an in-depth look at the history and archaeology not just of the expedition at Megiddo, but of the whole Near Eastern region and ancient Israel. . . . So vivid is Cline’s telling of the story that readers might be forgiven for finding the personal dimension just as interesting as the archaeology. Anyone who thought that archaeologists were just boring people digging up ancient relics which were of no interest to anyone outside their own field, will be quickly disabused of such a notion."---John Butler, Asian Review of Books"A fascinating read. . . . So detailed is [Cline’s] account of those involved that the book reads better than many a modern novel."---Peter Costello, Irish Catholic"If it is thrills, spills and devious political machinations of past excavations that take your fancy, why not check out Eric Cline’s new book. . . . This is the story about Megiddo that they didn’t want you to know." * Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society *"[A] diligent, clear, and engaging guide through the individuals, relationships, and (more or less) serendipitous events that shaped one of the most influential excavations. . . . Part biography and part history, Cline’s Digging Up Armageddon is an exemplary work of scholarship and story-telling that will entertain and inform scholars and interested nonexperts alike."---C. A. Strine, Palestine Exploration Quarterly"If you love to read about crossroads of history, are fascinated by the years between wards and well beyond, and really just like a good story, this is the book to begin that journey."---Elaine Holden, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript"At the time this massive dig was undertaken, it was criticised for high costs and never-ending delays. Cline celebrates the high points, but he also exposes the mission's failures."---Sam Waters, Current World Archaeology"Cline writes with wry insight into human nature and a saving sense of humour."---Patrick Madigan, Heythrop Journal"[Cline] has placed the project in the context of its times."---Neil Faulkner, Minerva
£17.09
Red Wheel/Weiser Confessions of an Egyptologist: Lost Libraries,
Book SynopsisIn this book, Erich von Däniken shares the story of his friend Adel H., an Egyptologist, who, as a 16-year-old boy, was trapped for days under the Step Pyramid of Saqqara. Based on his conversations with Adel H., he retells the boy''s search for a way out of the underground world, how the boy roamed passageways and chambers and saw what he calls "impossible" things of which the professional world is completely unaware. Adel experienced uncanny events, a mixture of spirit realm and reality, which is described here for the first time. "The story of Egypt," Adel says, "has two sides-the official one and the unknown one." It is secrets like the sights and events Adel experiences underground that von Däniken refers to throughout this book. Von Däniken shows that the Great Pyramid of Giza is nothing but a huge library created for the people of the future. He proves his claim through quotes from the few ancient works that still survive. Who actually had an interest for millennia in destroying knowledge/books? It''s not about a few thousand, but about millions of books. Von Däniken documents the fanatical destructive rage of the people and means: If we would only have one ten-thousandth of the former writings, human prehistory would have to be completely rewritten.And where are the lost labyrinths? The one of Crete and the gigantic labyrinth of Egypt, of which all ancient historians reported? Against the background of these revelations, von Däniken turns the spot on to another focus of his book. A paradigm shift in the question of extraterrestrial life: "The gods have already come back. They came down again. They are currently orbiting our planet!"
£14.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Attila the Hun: Arch-enemy of Rome
Book SynopsisAttila the Hun is a household name. Rising to the Hunnic kingship around 434, he dominated European history for the next two decades. Attila bullied and manipulated both halves of the Roman empire, forcing successive emperors to make tribute payments or face invasion. Ian Hughes recounts Attila's rise to power, attempting to untangle his character and motivations so far as the imperfect sources allow. A major theme is how the two halves of the empire finally united against Attila, prompting his fateful decision to invade Gaul and his subsequent defeat at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plain in 451. Integral to the narrative is analysis of the history of the rise of the Hunnic Empire; the reasons for the Huns' military success; relations between the Huns and the two halves of the Roman Empire; Attila's rise to sole power; and Attila's doomed attempt to bring both halves of the Roman Empire under his dominion.
£16.99
Atlantic Books Eureka!: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About
Book SynopsisThe ancient Greeks gave us our alphabet and much of our scientific, medical and cultural language; they invented democracy, atomic theory, and the rules of logic and geometry; laid the foundations of philosophy, history, tragedy and comedy; and debated everything from the good life and the role of women, to making sense of foreigners and the best form of government, all in the most sophisticated terms.But who were they? In Eureka!, Peter Jones tells their epic story, which begins with the Trojan War and ends with the rise of the Roman Empire, by breaking down each major period into a series of informative nuggets. Along the way he introduces the major figures of the age, including Homer, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Euclid and Archimedes; explores the Greek myths and the role of the gods;provides fascinating insights into everyday life in ancient times; and shows us the very foundations of Western culture. Eureka! is both entertaining and illuminating, and will delight anyone who ever wanted to know more about our ancient ancestors.Trade ReviewLike everything else Jones writes, Eureka! is packed with intriguing nuggets for novices and experts alike... He flits between the beautiful and the banal, never missing a good story, whether it is about glorious death or industrious donkeys. -- Natalie Haynes * The Times *I love the fact that a book like this exists: populist and inclusive in intention, cultured in execution, and often cheerfully abstruse in content... Jones is a storyteller at heart, unashamed to entertain while educating by stealth, as all the best teachers do. * Spectator *Entertaining... a meze of Hellenic civilization in 500 bite-sized portions * Daily Telegraph *An entertaining and informative read that will be enjoyed by dusty scholars, bright-eyed Classics newbies and general readers alike. A sheer joy of a book. * The Lady *
£10.44
Collective Ink The End of the Megamachine: A Brief History of a
Book SynopsisThe End of the Megamachine provides a uniquely comprehensive picture of the roots of the destructive forces that are threatening the future of humankind today. Spanning 5000 years of history, the book shows how the three tyrannies of militarized states, capital accumulation and ideological power have been steering both ecosystems and societies to the brink of collapse. With the growing instability of the Megamachine in the 21st century, new dangers open up as well as new possibilities for systemic change, to which everyone can contribute. "The topic could not be more important. A very valuable and surely timely contribution." Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology/University of ArizonaTrade Review"A must read for everyone rising against the system that is destroying life on earth and our future.” Vandana Shiva, World Future Council
£17.99
Cambridge University Press The Idea of the City in Late Antiquity
Book SynopsisThe city was one of the central and defining features of the world of the Greek and Roman Mediterranean. Challenging the idea that the ancient city ''declined and fell'', Andrew Wallace-Hadrill argues that memories of the past enabled cities to adapt and remain relevant in the changing post-Roman world. In the new kingdoms in Italy, France and Spain cities remained a key part of the structure of control, while to contemporary authors, such as Cassiodorus in Ostrogothic Italy, Gregory of Tours in Merovingian Gaul, and Isidore in Visigothic Spain, they remained as crucial as in antiquity. The archaeological evidence of New Cities founded in this period, from Constantinople to Reccopolis in Spain, also shows the deep influence of past models. This timely and exhilarating book reveals the adaptability of cities and the endurance of the Greek and Roman world.
£42.74
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Alexandria: A History and Guide
Book SynopsisWith a novelist's pen, Forster brings to life the fabled, romantic city of Alexander the Great, capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt, beacon of light and culture symbolised by the Pharos, where the doomed love affair of Antony and Cleopatra was played out and the greatest library the world has ever known was built. In the autumn of 1915, in a 'slightly heroic mood', E.M. Forster arrived in Alexandria, full of lofty ideals as a volunteer for the Red Cross. Yet most of his time was spent exploring 'the magic, antiquity and complexity' of the place in order to cope with living in what he saw as a 'funk-hole'. Threading 3,000 years of history with vibrant strands of literature and punctuating the narrative with his own experiences, Forster immortalised Alexandria in this book, painting an incomparable portrait of the great city and, inadvertently, himself.Trade ReviewThis work is something more than just a work of literary piety devoted to that strange and evocative city called Alexandria... it succeeds in being a small work of art, for it contains some of Forster's best prose as well as felicities of touch only a novelist of major talent could command. Vintage Forster. -- Lawrence DurrellSurely the best guide-book ever written. -- Bonamy DobréeTable of ContentsList of Maps and Plans Introduction Preface Authorities Part I: History I Greco-Egyptian Period II Christian Period III The Spiritual City IV Arab Period V Modern Period Part II: Guide I From the Square to Rue Rosette II From the Square to Ras-el-Tin III From the Square to the Southern Quarters IV From the Square to Nouzha V From the Square to Ramleh VI From the Square to Mex VII Aboukir and Rosetta VIII The Libyan Desert Appendices I The Modern Religious Communities II The Death of Cleopatra III The Uncanonical Gospels of Egypt IV The Nicene Creed Notes
£14.99
Oxford University Press Inc Killing the Messiah
Book SynopsisLong ago, on a spring morning in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate passed judgement on a mysterious preacher. Jesus of Nazareth was nailed to a cross shortly after and died in agony. The effects of this verdict have reverberated throughout the world and have shaped two millennia of history. Even so, the trial remains shrouded in mystery to this day. The New Testament Gospels are unclear about what charges Pontius Pilate judged. They portray Pilate as embracing Jesus'' innocence despite having him killed. We are left with more questions than answers. Why did Pontius Pilate condemn a man he believed innocent? What was Jesus'' crime? How should we understand Pilate''s role in Jesus'' execution? Killing the Messiah addresses these questions and analyzes Pilate''s path to crucifying Jesus. It determines why and how Pilate deemed Jesus guilty of criminal behavior and the roles played by various people in ensuring Jesus'' crucifixion. It also probes how the personal motivations and social obligations of Pilate and other authorities affected how they assessed Jesus'' criminality. To do this, it situates Jesus'' trial within the geo-political context of the Roman Middle East. In the decades before Jesus'' lifetime, and throughout the centuries that followed, Roman courts determined the outcomes of millions of trials throughout the region. Jesus'' trial took place in the same basic legal apparatus as all of these. By approaching the arrest, trial, and sentencing of Jesus from the perspective of Roman and legal history, this book sheds fresh light on the most famous conviction in world history.
£18.99
Harvard University Press The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours
Book SynopsisThe ancient Greeks’ concept of “the hero” was very different from what we understand by the term today. In 24 installments, based on the Harvard course Nagy has taught and refined since the 1970s, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours explores civilization’s roots in Classical literature—a lineage that continues to challenge and inspire us.Trade ReviewNagy’s zest for Homeric texts is boundless. -- Nathan Heller * New Yorker *[Nagy’s] analysis is fascinating, often ingenious… This book is a valuable synthesis of research finessed over thirty years… Complemented by a free online sourcebook, edited by Nagy, containing translations of all the ancient texts discussed, like an ancient hero it will provide a lasting legacy beyond the hora of its publication. -- Francesca Wade * Times Literary Supplement *[Nagy] has managed to become an éminence grise without ever quite ceasing to be an enfant terrible… Nagy is a passionate close reader… Like the Iliad, Nagy’s book is an ambitious work in twenty-four installments, developed over a long period of oral performance, alluding to and reworking earlier versions (themselves fluid), before finally taking on a more lasting form. -- Gregory Hays * New York Review of Books *The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours is Gregory Nagy’s MOOC book. The massive open online course is one of the most significant developments in higher education in years and Nagy is one of the foremost Homerists of his generation, so the book deserves attention both as an academic publication and as a pedagogical experiment. Scholars already familiar with Nagy’s work will not find radically new insights here. What they will appreciate is a systematic and exceptionally lucid statement of the research he has carried out over the past four decades… One of the greatest achievements of Nagy’s research is that it powerfully illuminates the relationship between myth and cult. -- Barbara Graziosi * Times Higher Education *There’s a vital subject at the heart of the book—more vital perhaps now than ever, since the concept of the ‘hero’ has been so overused and distorted in the 21st century that it scarcely has any meaning anymore, applying equally to Armed Services employees working in an accounting office in Qatar and elementary school teachers doing what they’d be fired if they didn’t do. Nagy exuberantly reminds his readers that heroes—mortal strivers against fate, against monsters, and, as we’ll see, against death itself—form the heart of Greek literature, the vital counterweight to the gaudy gods and goddesses who so often steal the limelight. He surveys the incredible feast of Greek literature from Homer and Hesiod to the tragedians (his extended analysis of Euripides’ Hippolytus, for instance, is a wondrous highlight of the book’s final marches) and overlays on top of that feast a neat but thin conceit of ‘hours’ characterized by certain ancient Greek concepts like Kleos, Memnemai, Akhos, Penthos, and Aphthito. The comprehensiveness of his coverage allows him to bring in every variation on the Greek hero, from the wily Theseus to the brawny Hercules to the ‘monolithic’ Achilles to the valiantly conflicted Oedipus, and that same sweep puts him in a perfect position to spot the linking factors and expound on them. -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Monthly *Backed by formidable learning and a vast ecumenical sweep embellished with details—yet written in a winningly readable informal style—The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours offers to us penetrating considerations of the ways in which Greek classics continue to make themselves felt in our lives even today. -- M. S. Nagarajan * The Hindu *This volume is a summation of the insights of a scholar who has devoted his life to these materials, and who has a deep, learned, and personal vision of the ancient Greek psyche, its values, and its manifestations in song and prose. The result is a stimulating tour of ancient Greek literature. -- P. Nieto * Choice *By force of its prestige, the Iliad sets the standard for the definition of the word epic: an expansive poem of enormous scope, composed in an old-fashioned and superbly elevated style of language, concerning the wondrous deeds of heroes. That these deeds were meant to arouse a sense of wonder or marvel is difficult for the modern mind to comprehend, especially in a time when even such words as wonderful or marvelous have lost much of their evocative power. Nor is it any easier to grasp the ancient Greek concept of hero (the English word is descended from the Greek), going beyond the word's ordinary levels of meaning in casual contemporary usage. Who, then, were these heroes? In ancient Greek traditions, heroes were humans, male or female, of the remote past, endowed with superhuman abilities and descended from the immortal gods themselves. A prime example is Achilles. The greatest hero of the Iliad, Achilles was the son of Thetis, a sea-goddess known for her far-reaching cosmic powers. It is clear in the epic, however, that the father of Achilles is mortal, and that this greatest of heroes must therefore be mortal as well. So, too, with all the ancient Greek heroes: even though they are all descended in some way or another from the gods, however many generations removed, heroes are mortals, subject to death. No matter how many immortals you find in a family tree, the intrusion of even a single mortal will make all successive descendants mortal. Mortality, not immortality, is the dominant gene. * From the book *
£21.56
Oxford University Press The Spartans
Book SynopsisThe image of Sparta, and the Spartans, is one dyed indelibly into the public consciousness: musclebound soldiers with long hair and red cloaks, bearing shiny bronze shields emblazoned with the Greek letter lambda. ''This is Sparta!'', bellows Leonidas on the silver screen, as he decides to lead his 300 warriors to their deaths at Thermopylae. But what was Sparta? The myths surrounding Sparta are as old as the city itself. Even in antiquity, Sparta was a unique society, considered an enigma. The Spartans who fought for freedom against the Persians called themselves ''equals'' or peers, but their equality was reliant on the ruthless exploitation of the indigenous population known as helots. The Spartans'' often bizarre rules and practices have the capacity to horrify as much they do to fascinate us today. Athenian writers were intrigued and appalled in equal measure by a society where weak or disabled babies were said to have been examined carefully by state officials before being dumpedTrade ReviewWith a succinctness worthy of his subjects - whose 'linguistic austerity' inspired the word 'laconic' - Bayliss distils extensive research to offer an engaging, lucid insight into this unique society. * Madeleine Finney, The Mail on Sunday *A new history of these extraordinary and often terrifying people, which is both scholarly and highly entertaining. * Christopher Hart, Mail Online *A readable, informative, excellent survey. * Brian Maye, The Irish Times *Anyone interested in Sparta should read it, and every school library should own it. * David Stuttard, Classics for All *The Spartans will prove of value not only to the layman interested in learning something about this most famous ancient warrior culture, but also the seasoned student of the subject. * A. A. Nofi, New York Military Affairs *[A] thematic and scholarly treatment. * Paul Cartledge, author of The Spartans: An Epic History *With deceptive ease, [Bayliss] guides his readers not just across well-trodden ground but sometimes to unexpected vantage points from where he can challenge orthodox views... The Spartans punches above its weight, and with 14 black-and-white illustrations (including two maps), references, suggestions for further reading and an index, it's a knockout. Anyone interested in Sparta should read it, and every school library should own it. * David Stuttard, Classics for All *Throughout the book, Bayliss never shouts. Yet, in his quiet, succinct way, he has produced a book that can with some justice claim, 'This is Sparta.' * Alastair Brans, Australian Book Review *Table of Contents1: Go tell the Spartans 2: Sparta's civic structure 3: The Spartan lifestyle 4: Raising a Spartan 5: Spartan women 6: Helots 7: The Later Reception of Sparta Further reading Index
£12.34
Eglantyne Books The Sacred Geometry of Ancient Greece
Book SynopsisHow the Greek temples and Greek statues were entirely based upon principles of sacred geometry.
£17.99
The American University in Cairo Press Nefertiti, Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt: Her Life
Book SynopsisNefertiti’s current world dominion as a cultural and artistic icon presents an interesting contrast with the way in which she was actively written out of history soon after her own death. This book explores what we can reconstruct of the life of the queen, tracing the way in which she and her image emerged in the wake of the first tentative decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs during the 1820s–1840s, and then took on the world over the next century and beyond. During the last half of the fourteenth century BC, Egypt was perhaps at the height of its prosperity. It was against this background that the 'Amarna Revolution' occurred. Throughout, its instigator, King Akhenaten, had at his side his Great Wife, Nefertiti. When a painted bust of the queen found at Amarna in 1912 was first revealed to the public in the 1920s, it soon became one of the great artistic icons of the world. Nefertiti's name and face are perhaps the best known of any royal woman of ancient Egypt and one of the best recognized figures of antiquity, but her image has come in many ways to overshadow the woman herself.Trade Review"[T]he most objective and well-balanced summation of her career to date . . . . This volume is well-produced and sumptuously illustrated and a fine addition to this welcome biographical series."—Morris Bierbrier, Egyptian Archaeology"Writing an overview of Nefertiti’s life and times is essentially an impossible task. . . Only a few people are up to this task, and thank Heavens that one of them is Aidan Dodson. Bravo!! Buy this book." —Stephen Harvey, Stony Brook University"This thoroughly researched, documented, and illustrated book includes maps, a chronology of dynasties, extensive endnotes, and image sources. . . Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals."—CHOICE"Dodson goes beyond prior scholarship by meticulously chronicling her life and offering up new theories about her origins and significance."—AramcoWorldPraise for Aidan Dodson"Professional Egyptology at its best." —Brian Fagan"Highly Recommended."—CHOICE"A masterpiece of meticulous scholarship . . . . ideal for non-specialist general readers with an interest in ancient Egyptian history." —Reviewer's Bookwatch“Intriguing and involving historical study and extrapolation.” —Midwest Book Review“With copious illustrations, this book supplies intriguing insights into pharaonic politics, arrived at through meticulous, knowledgeable research.” —Book News
£28.49
Penguin Books Ltd Ramesses
Book SynopsisEveryone has heard of Ramesses the Great - but what is the truth behind the legend? Joyce Tyldesley''s lively book explores the life and times of Egypt''s greatest king. Ramesses II was the archetypal Egyptian pharoah: a mighty warrior, an extravagant builder and the father of scores of children. His momuments and image were to be found in every corner of the Egyptian empire. This is his amazing story.Trade ReviewIn her new book, 'Tyldesley has added a new, more human dimension' to the picture we have of Ramesses and 'her book should be required reading for Egypt's imaginative tour guides' The Sunday Times
£999.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Mediterranean in the Ancient World
Book SynopsisFernand Braudel was France's foremost post-war historian. He is best known for The Mediterranean in the Age of Philip II, Civilization and Capitalism and The Identity of France. This will be Braudel's final major posthumous publication.Sian Reynolds has translated all the great Braudel books published in English. She is recognised as one of the leading translators of French on either side of the Atlantic.Table of ContentsPart 1: seeing the sea; the long march to civilization - the lower paleolithic - the first artefacts, the first people, fire, art and magic, the Mediterranean strikes back - the first agrarian civilization, conclusion; a twofold birth - Mesopotamia and Egypt - the beginnings, boats on the rivers, ships on the sea, can the spread of megaliths explain the early history of the Mediterranean?; centuries of unity - the seas of the Levant 2500-1200BC - ever onward and upward?, Crete - a new player in the cosmopolitan civilization of the Mediterranean, accidents, developments and disasters; all change - the 12th to the 8th centuries BC. Part 2: colonization - the discovery of the Mediterranean "far west" in the 10th to 6th centuries BC - the first in the field - probably the Phoenicians, the Etruscans - an unsolved mystery, colonization by the Greeks; the miracle of Greece - Greece - a land of city-states, Alexander's mistake, Greek science and thought (8th to 2nd centuries BC); the Roman takeover of the greater Mediterranean - Roman imperialism, Rome beyond the Mediterranean, a Mediterranean civilization - Rome's real achievement; appendices.
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Augustus
Book SynopsisOctavian was a young soldier training abroad when he heard news of Julius Caesar''s brutal assassination?and discovered that he was the dictator''s sole political heir. With the opportunism and instinct for propaganda that were to characterize his rule, Octavian rallied huge financial, military and political backing to take autocratic control of a state devoted to Republicanism. He became Augustus, Rome''s first Emperor and founder of the greatest empire the world had ever seen. In this monumental biography, translated into English by Anthea Bell, Jochen Bleicken tells the story of the man who found himself a demi-god in his own lifetime. This sweeping history starts with the traumatic assassination of Julius Caesar, and goes on to depict the civil wars that tore the Roman world and the final fall of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, before exploring theambivalent glory of Augustus''s reign.Trade ReviewAn unequalled biography -- Harry Mount * Spectator *Masterful ... a breathtaking panorama of Roman politics at a crucial turning point in history -- Simon J. V. Malloch * Literary Review *Jochen Bleicken's biography of Rome's first emperor is excellent on the young Octavian and his wheeling and dealing -- Natalie Haynes * Independent *A superb account ... It should become standard reading for everyone interested in the foundations of the Roman empire -- Peter Jones * BBC History Magazine *Worthy, authoritative, magisterial and impressive * The Times *
£999.99
OUP USA By the Spear
Book SynopsisA unique military and cultural history that chronicles the reigns of Philip and Alexander the Great in one sweeping narrative.Trade ReviewA steady stream of fascinating stories of brilliant military tactics interspersed with rampant post-Classical gore. From the slaughter of whole villages to unbridled violations of human dignity, By the Spear reminds us of the ugliness of war, especially when military leaders are apparently void of morality filters ... By the Spear is loaded with compelling details ... but they aren't simply piled on helter-skelter; rather, they are embedded in Ian Worthington's coherent narrative about Macedonian ascendancy in the 4th century BC. This celebrated professor at the University of Missouri convincingly gives Philip II his due in Hellenism's spread, and masks not his thesis that Philip 'has lived too long in Alexander's shadow'. * Books & Culture *Most histories extolling Alexander the Great pay modest attention to his father, Philip II, but Worthington gives him equal billing in this admirable, scholarly dual biography. * Kirkus Reviews *By the Spear is an impressive book * Gerard DeGroot, The Times (UK) *Ian Worthington is one of this generation's leading historians of ancient Greece and Macedonia. In this book he provides for the first time in a single volume a comparative perspective on Philip and Alexander's empire building, and he admirably succeeds in making this complex and convoluted story accessible to the uninitiated. * Joseph Roisman, author of Alexander's Veterans and the Early Wars of the Successors *As Ian Worthington reminds us, without Philip II there would have been no Alexander the Great, and by considering together the accomplishments and foibles of both father and son, By the Spear raises a larger question: do great conquerors make great kings? Alexander inherited the legacy of Philip, an ascendant Macedonian empire, but what was the legacy of Alexander, and to whom was it left? By considering the larger picture, Worthington provides new insight into one of ancient history's most fascinating sagas. * Steven Saylor, author of Raiders of the Nile and Roma: A Novel of Ancient Rome *The Macedonian empire that reshaped the Mediterranean world was the creation of two remarkable men. Worthington's provocative thesis is that Alexander was a conqueror whose legacy was chaos. Philip was a king who left Alexander the basis of empire. Was the father, then, greater than the son? By the Spear offers an unconventional answer in a narrative that is both persuasive and engaging. * Dennis Showalter, author of Armor and Blood: The Battle of Kursk *What father-son duo is more mesmerizing than Philip and Alexander of Macedon? Too often historians have focused on one, marginalizing the other, thus Ian Worthington's even-handed treatment of both is to be celebrated. Concise yet clear, Worthington masterfully explores Philip's career and the dazzling, violent, and world-changing reign of his son. * Lawrence A. Tritle, author of A New History of the Peloponnesian War *this will be a great text for Greek history collections ... Highly recommended. * J. M. Williams, CHOICE *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements Timeline Quotations from Ancient Works and Special Abbreviations Maps 1. The Architect and the Master Builder 2. Greece and Macedonia 3. Philip II and the Rise of Macedonia 4. The New Player in Greek Politics 5. The Gathering War Clouds 6. The Downfall of Greece 7. Philip's Assassination and Legacy 8. Alexander's Early Kingship - and Persia 9. From Europe to Asia 10. Alexander: Master Strategist and Emerging God 11. The Decline and Fall of the Persian Empire 12. The War in Afghanistan 13. Passage to India 14. Retreat from India 15. Alexander's Final Years 16. Death in Babylon and Alexander's Legacy Appendix: The Sources of Information Bibliography Index
£14.39
Oxford University Press Inc Rome
Book SynopsisStrategy of Empire dispels the myth that Romans were incapable of longterm strategic thinking or maintaining any enunciated strategy for more than a brief period, acting as a welcome counternarrative to Edward Luttwak's The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire: From the First Century A.D. to the Third.Trade ReviewAs an argument about the Roman Empire's ability to conceptualize and maintain an ongoing imperial strategy, the book succeeds and is highly recommended. It reinvigorates and reshapes the debate. * Law & Liberty *A military history of the Roman Empire with a twist. Using his expertise in strategic operations, [Lacey] makes a compelling argument that the Romans did think and plan strategically in governing.... Highly recommended. * CHOICE *This well-argued and exhaustively researched book will no doubt reopen the debate as to whether the Romans really were capable of strategic thought. * Military History Matters *...he[Lacey] writes honest, straightforward English, tells a good story, makes his disagreements with other scholars fairly and clearly and, even if one disagrees with some of his conclusions, the weight of his experience brings a sense of authority to what he writes. His reflections on the modern military world are especially valuable. * Peter Jones, Classics for All *Engagingly written and logically structured, this is an invaluable contribution to knowledge which moves the discussion far beyond the Luttwak/Isaac debate. The author's practical experience of military planning is brilliantly deployed throughout, and the fact that staff officers effectively use the modern equivalent of Roman itineraries to plan campaign moves is worth a whole book in itself. * Peter Heather, King's College London *Jim Lacey has already established himself as a major historian of politics and strategy in the twenty-first century. He has now brought his focus to Roman strategy and done so with the critical mind of a first rate strategist. This brilliant work replaces all other examinations of Roman strategy. * Williamson Murray, The Ohio State University *Drawing on a wealth of ancient and modern material, Lacey succeeds in bringing a fresh perspective to the question of grand strategy in the Roman empire. This book should become mandatory reading for anyone interested in the development of strategic military thought in any age. * David Potter, University of Michigan *Lacey... concludes that the western empire managed to survive for five centuries despite numerous enemies and environmental challenges because it remained committed to three strategic elements: securing the economic foundations of the empire, maintaining a military force second to none, and having a seemingly inexhaustible supply of soldiers. * New Testament Abstracts *Lacey also emphasizes the importance of economics to the Roman military machine. * Jesse Russell, The European Conservative *The facts presented are faultlessly accurate, and the story is told with a warm, almost conversational (albeit completely academic) tone that is insightful, often witty, and completely free of jargon, which allows the story it conveys to be easily understood by the widest possible audience. It contains enough food for thought to satisfy the most strait-laced academic while providing an easily absorbed and engrossing narrative that will be more than palatable to an amateur history enthusiast. It could as easily serve as summer beach reading as for a textbook for a college survey class. It is thus a worthy addition to any library devoted to ancient military history, or to history in general. * Journal of Military History *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants 1. Could the Romans Do Strategy? 2. How Dangerous Were the Barbarians? 3. Paying for a Strategy 4. The True Sinews of Strategy 5. The Core of Roman Strategy 6. Strategy at the Strate of Empire 7. Strategy after Augustus 8. The Year of the Four Emperors 9. The Infrastructure of Empire 10. An Army for Empire 11. Rome's Fleets 12. The Empire at High Tide 13. The Severan Interlude 14. New Threats 15. The Third Century Crisis 16. Diocletain, Constantine, and a New Empire 17. The Late Imperial Army and Strategy 18. Four Battles and a Divorce 19. The Gothic Challenge 20. The Aftermath of Adrianople 21. Denouement
£27.62
Oxford University Press Inc The Plague of War
Book SynopsisIn 431 BC, the long simmering rivalry between the city-states of Athens and Sparta erupted into open warfare, and for more than a generation the two were locked in a life-and-death struggle. The war embroiled the entire Greek world, provoking years of butchery previously unparalleled in ancient Greece. Whole cities were exterminated, their men killed, their women and children enslaved. While the war is commonly believed to have ended with the capture of the Athenian navy in 405 and the subsequent starvation of Athens, fighting in Greece would continue for several decades. Sparta''s authority was challenged in the so-called Corinthian War (395-387) when Persian gold helped unite Athens with Sparta''s former allies. The war did not truly end until, in 371, Thebes'' crack infantry resoundingly defeated Sparta at Leuctra, forever shattering the myth of Spartan military supremacy.Jennifer Roberts'' rich narrative of this famous conflict is the first general history to tell the whole story, from the war''s origins down to Sparta''s defeat at Leuctra. In her masterful account, this long and bloody war affected every area of life in Athens, exacerbated divisions between rich and poor in Sparta, and sparked civil strife throughout the Greek world. Yet despite the biting sorrows the fighting occasioned, it remains a gripping saga of plots and counter-plots, murders and lies, thrilling sea chases and desperate overland marches, missed opportunities and last-minute reprieves, and, as the war''s first historian Thucydides had hoped, lessons for a less bellicose future. In addition, Roberts considers the impact of the war on Greece''s cultural life, including the great masterworks of tragedy and comedy performed at this time and, most infamously, the trial and execution of Socrates. A fast-paced narrative of one of antiquity''s most famous clashes, The Plague of War is a must-read for history enthusiasts of all ages.Trade ReviewA narrative that is readable and worth reading for Greek history novice and junkie alike. The affordable paperback, furthermore, is suitable for undergraduate classroom use. Roberts is an engaging and entertaining story-teller with a sense of humor. * Classical Journal-Online *She illuminates every complex situation, having the essential but often obscure details at her fingertips; she uses her sources as old friends, responsibly but critically.... You are in good hands with Roberts; this is a sad tale, excellently told. * The Heythrop Journal *A welcome contrast from traditional studies of the war ... Impressive * Journal of Hellenic Studies *Roberts presents the reader with a clear, straightforward and chronological narrative of events from the background to and origins of the war through to its grim conclusion and inconclusive war-torn aftermath... this is a good read and a good overview of the events that shaped the Classical Age. The events it describes will long continue to invite debate. * Mathew Trundle, H Soz Kult *This work is based on impressive scholarship. Roberts maintains a smooth, highly readable narrative flow. In addition to a careful analysis of Thucydides, the author interweaves discussions of fifth- and fourth-century drama, philosophy, architecture, and art. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. * A. J. Papalas, CHOICE *An impressively informed and informative work of exceptionally detailed and documented scholarship, "The Plague of War: Athens, Sparta, and the Struggle fro Ancient Greece" reads from beginning to end with an inherently engaging narrative that reads with the smoothness of a well tuned novel. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library World History collections in general, and Hellenic History supplemental studies reading lists in particular, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readres with an interest in the subject that "The Plague of War" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.39). * Margaret Lane, The Midwest Book Review *[Roberts's] in-depth knowledge of the period's players, locations, and events are all woven expertly into the narrative, providing the reader with a broad, expansive view of the war and its consequences for Greek culture and the future of Western civilization." -Military HeritageJennifer Roberts brings her accustomed cool expertise to bear on this hottest of hot topics: not just any old war, but one that in ancient Greek terms counted as a world war and, like those of the last century, produced almost equally as ghastly and irredeemably nasty consequences. Worst of all, in some ways, this was in her concluding epitaph 'War Without Victory'. * Paul Cartledge, author of Democracy: A Life *In this riveting narrative, Jennifer Roberts breaks new ground with a full-length portrait of the classical Greek world as viewed through a dramatic account of the Peloponnesian War. Roberts breathes new life into the familiar succession of campaigns and battles through the scope of her vision, which gives equal attention to the war's many impacts on the home-front in both Athens and Sparta. In The Plague of War, we see how social upheavals, economic crises, family life, and even philosophy and drama were drawn inexorably into the war-zone. * John R. Hale, author of Lords of the Sea *Jennifer Roberts recreates the agony of Athens and Sparta with a deft hand and a knowing eye. She tells the story of the war that ruined Greece in all its power and pathos. This is a learned, sympathetic and readable account. * Barry Strauss, author of The Death of Caesar *Table of ContentsList of Maps and Images A Note on Sources Introduction Chapter 1: Setting the Stage Chapter 2: The Greek States at War and Peace Chapter 3: Sparta Provoked, Athens Intransigent Chapter 4: The War Begins Chapter 5: The Plague of War Chapter 6: New Challenges and New Leaders Chapter 7: The Fortunes of War Chapter 8: War Throughout the Mainland, and the Call of the West Chapter 9: Moving Towards Peace Chapter 10: The Peace that Was Not Peace Chapter 11: An Invitation and Two Scandals Chapter 12: Deliverance for Syracuse Chapter 13: The Empire Strikes Back Chapter 14: Dramatic Developments for the Athenians Chapter 15: Alcibiades, Cyrus, and Lysander Chapter 16: A Seeming Victory Chapter 17: Athens After the Amnesty Chapter 18: The Greek States in a Changing World Chapter 19: Continuing Warfare in an Age of Reflection Chapter 20: The End for Sparta Chapter 21: War Without Victory Cast of Characters Bibliography
£14.39
Oxford University Press Inc Greek Mythology
Book Synopsis
£15.36
Oxford University Press Inc Thraldom
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewTimely, relevant, thoroughly researched and assembled by one of the foremost authorities on Old Norse law, Old Norse place-names, and the Old Norse language, this has to be the definitive work on slavery in the pre-historical Old Norse world. It encourages us to question of our many previously held ideas about slavery in the Old Norse and Germanic world. * Terry Adrian Gunnell, University of Iceland *This study, based upon eminent insights into linguistics, history and archaeology, fills a definite gap. It is a great contribution to Viking Age studies and to studies of slavery in general. * Thomas Lindkvist, University of Gothenburg *Stefan Brink is at the top of his field and no one is better equipped to do justice to the difficult and still underexamined topic of Viking slavery. Brink's interdisciplinarity is masterly as he weaves together his sources drawn from historical documents, runic inscriptions, Icelandic sagas, early law, place names, personal names, and archaeology into a cohesive narrative. By combining his analysis of the sources on the Viking Age with an impressive historical depth and an anthropological approach to slavery, Brink provides readers with a deep understanding of unfreedom in the early history of Europe well beyond the borders of Scandinavia. * Davide Zori, Baylor University *Karen Bek-Pedersen, who translated this work from a Swedish version, deserves high praise for an easily readable and learned book that deals even-handedly with numerous disciplinary specialties. * Speculum 98/4 *This is an important book for students and researchers concerned with the Viking period, a work of formidably scholarly research by a writer with a probably unparalleled knowledge of the subject. * John Kennedy, The Parergon *Table of ContentsForeword and Acknowledgements Prologue Introduction 1. Slavery in Europe during antiquity and the first millennium 2. Scandinavian slavery 3. Where did the slaves come from? 4. Thralls in Old Norse poetry and sagas 5. Thralls in runic inscriptions 6. Terms for thralls and their meanings 7. How were thralls used? 8. Evidence for thralls in Scandinavian place-names 9. How were thralls identified? 10. Thralls' names in Scandinavia 11. The special case of Älmeboda parish in southern Småland 12. Thralls in the archaeological material - Can we excavate slavery? 13. The rise and fall of Scandinavian thraldom - when did slavery appear in Scandinavia? 14. The status of slaves in Prehistoric Scandinavian society 15. Excursus Trelleborg Appendix 1- Historical and Archaeological Periods in Europe Appendix 2- Development of Indo-European languages Abbreviations Bibliography Index
£29.92
Oxford University Press Inc Pharaohs Land and Beyond
Book SynopsisThe concept of pharaonic Egypt as a unified, homogeneous, and isolated cultural entity is misleading. Ancient Egypt was a rich tapestry of social, religious, technological, and economic interconnections among numerous cultures from disparate lands. In fifteen chapters divided into five thematic groups, Pharaoh''s Land and Beyond uniquely examines Egypt''s relationship with its wider world. The first section details the geographical contexts of interconnections by examining ancient Egyptian exploration, maritime routes, and overland passages. In the next section, chapters address the human principals of association: peoples, with the attendant difficulties of differentiating ethnic identities from the record; diplomatic actors, with their complex balances and presentations of power; and the military, with its evolving role in pharaonic expansion. Natural events, from droughts and floods to illness and epidemics, also played significant roles in this ancient world, as examined in the third section. The final two sections explore the physical manifestations of interconnections between pharaonic Egypt and its neighbors, first in the form of material objects and second, in the powerful exchange of ideas. Whether through diffusion and borrowing of knowledge and technology, through the flow of words by script and literature, or through exchanges in the religious sphere, the pharaonic Egypt that we know today was constantly changing--and changing the cultures around it. This illustrious work represents the first synthesis of these cultural relationships, unbounded by time, geography, or mode.Trade ReviewAt all times, and often against its 'Egyptocentric' self-representation, ancient Egypt was dependent on manifold interconnections with the world around. While such interconnections- especially diplomatic or trade relations- have been explored previously, many ways in which the ancient Egyptians were entangled with their neighbours still need investigating. This book does exaclty that... The intended audience are lay enthusiasts interested in interconnections in the Bronze and Iron Age Mediterranean, yet the theoretical approach of some chapters; the choice of topics , written by specialists in their field; and the comprehensive bibliographies for each entry open this volume up and make it a very useful tool for students and academic researchers as well. * Katharina Zinn, World Archaeology *Accompanied by a comprehensive bibliography and illustrated with colour and back-and-white images and line drawings, this accessible volume will be equally useful for academic researchers, students and readers enthusiastic to learn more about the complexities of ancient Egypt's foreign relations."Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty. * G. Emeagwali, CHOICE *A fascinating look at ancient Egypt through the lens of its interactions with the surrounding lands, written and edited by a stellar cast of scholars whose contributions will be of interest to professionals and the general public alike. Compelling insights abound, covering the exchange of concepts and innovations in art, science, architecture, writing, literature, and religion, in addition to material objects. Additional discussions of natural forces such as floods, droughts, and epidemics that impacted such interactions over time remind us that such interactions could not, and should not, be taken for granted! * Eric Cline, The George Washington University *At last! An authoritative, well-rounded volume that examines the wider world of Ancient Egypt-and it was wide. These wide-ranging essays debunk the long-held myth that Egypt was an isolated civilization. Crammed with fascinating argument and myriad nuggets of valuable information, this invaluable book will long be a fundamental source. An exceptional achievement. * Brian Fagan, University of California, Santa Barbara *This book significantly changes how we understand ancient Egypt's relationships with other cultures. Rather than the standard geographic survey of Egypt's neighbors, enemies, and trading partners, Pharaoh's Land and Beyond takes a fresh approach, focusing on the structures, paths, and ideas that brought the ancient Egyptians into contact with other peoples. The editors have brought together a wide range of scholars with diverse expertise to this innovative volume. * T. G. Wilfong, University of Michigan *Pharaoh's Land and Beyond succeeds in presenting a com-pelling picture of how deeply entangled ancient Egypt and its neighbours were. It ought to be embraced by students and scholars alike who are looking for a concise and current non-Egyptocentric analysis of intercu1- tural contact both within and beyond the Nile Valley. * Matthew J .S. Jarlett, Ancient Near Eastern Studies *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Acknowledgments List of Figures and Plates Introduction Pearce Paul Creasman and Richard H. Wilkinson SECTION I: Pathways Chapter 1 Finding the Beyond: Exploration Thomas Schneider Chapter 2 Paths in the Deep: Maritime Connections Pearce Paul Creasman and Noreen Doyle Chapter 3 Pathways to Distant Kingdoms: Land Connections Gregory Mumford SECTION II: People Chapter 4 Children of Other Gods: Social Interactions Bettina Bader Chapter 5 Between Brothers: Diplomatic Interactions Richard H. Wilkinson and Noreen Doyle Chapter 6 The Armies of Re Anthony Spalinger SECTION III: Objects Chapter 7 The Long Arm of Merchantry: Trade Interactions Samuel Mark Chapter 8 Artisans and Their Products: Interaction in Art and Architecture Stuart Tyson Smith Chapter 9 Traded, Copied, and Kept: The Ubiquitous Appeal of Scarabs Vanessa Boschloos SECTION IV: Ideas Chapter 10 Technology in Transit: The Borrowing of Ideas in Science and Craftwork Ian Shaw Chapter 11 The Flow of Words: Interaction in Writing and Literature during the Bronze Age Part I: Writing Systems: Cuneiform and Hieroglyphs in the Bronze Age: Script Contact and the Creation of New Scripts Orly Goldwasser Part II: Literature: Egyptian and Levantine Belles-Lettres-Links and Influences during the Bronze Age Noga Ayali-Darshan Chapter 12 All Gods Are Our Gods: Religious Interaction Part I: "From Bes to Baal": Religious Interconnections between Egypt and the East Izak Cornelius Part II: Egypt and Nubia Kathryn Howley Part III: Religious Interaction between Egypt and the Aegean in the 2nd Millennium BCE Nanno Marinatos SECTION V: Events Chapter 13 Violence in Earth, Water and Sky: Geological Hazards James A. Harrell Chapter 14 The Fickle Nile: Effects of Droughts and Floods Judith Bunbury Chapter 15 Illness from Afar: Epidemics and Their Aftermath Rosalie David References and Further Reading Index
£23.99
Oxford University Press Inc Roman Perspectives on Linguistic Diversity
Book SynopsisThirty years ago Robert Kaster''s Guardians of Language: The Grammarian and Society in Late Antiquity investigated ancient Greco-Roman grammarians as social agents within their social and cultural context. This collection of twelve essays develops that line of inquiry by focusing on one dimension of their activity: how Roman grammarians - as well as scholars and intellectuals more broadly - described, made sense of, and resisted linguistic diversity within the Roman republic and empire. This includes social and diachronic variety within Latin as well as multilingual contact with Greek and other Mediterranean languages. The essays cover five centuries of Latin reflection on language, from Varro to the fifth or sixth century CE. The book concludes with an autobiographical Epilogue by Robert Kaster about the origins of Guardians of Language and updates to the prosopography of known ancient grammarians found in Guardians.Trade ReviewHow does a language that has become the lingua franca of an Empire change over time? Who drives such change, and how is it seen by intellectuals and by those who oversee élite education-the grammatici? These essays explore these questions in detail, insightfully, often humorously. The Epilogue, Robert Kaster's own account of the accidental genesis of Guardians of Language, shows why its 30th anniversary deserves celebration, and displays the wit and modesty that helped inspire the loyalty of Kaster's students and colleagues alike. Kaster's updated prosopography of Roman grammatici makes the book indispensable for students of that no longer quite so neglected group of guardians of the Latin language. * David Blank, University of California, Los Angeles *Gitner has assembled an all-star team to finally respond to Guardians of Language in the best possible way. Recent technical advances in a variety of fields have been marshaled, the time frame of the investigation has been expanded, and the relevance of a variety of other scholarly discourses to the policing of language has been properly recognized. All in all, a remarkable collective achievement. * Andrew Riggsby, University of Texas, Austin *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Contributors Short Title Abbreviations Preface Adam Gitner Introduction 1. Counterfeit and Coinage: Gresham's Law and the Grammarian James E. G. Zetzel Part I: Varro 2. Varro the Conservative? Katharina Volk 3. Varro and the Sabine Language in the De lingua Latina Wolfgang D. C. de Melo 4. Varro's Word Trees Andreas T. Zanker Part II: Professional Grammarians 5. The Use of Greek in Diomedes' Ars grammatica Bruno Rochette 6. The Grammarian Consentius on Language Change and Variation Tommaso Mari 7. Antiquus = squalidus? Pompeius' Attitude towards Antiquity Anna Zago 8. T(w)o Be or Not T(w)o Be: The dualis numerus according to Latin Grammarians up to the Early Middle Ages Tim Denecker 9. Anonymous Grammatical Scholarship: Insights from an Annotated Juvenal Codex from Egypt Alessandro Garcea and Maria Chiara Scappaticcio Part III: Scholars and Intellectuals 10. Civic Metaphors for Lexical Borrowing from Seneca to Gellius Adam Gitner 11. Grammar and Grammarians, Linguistic and Social Change from Gellius to Macrobius Leofranc Holford-Strevens 12. Language Variation and Grammatical Theory in Roman Legal Texts Rolando Ferri Epilogue The (Very Fragile) Origins of Guardians of Language Robert A. Kaster Prosopographical Addenda to Guardians of Language Robert A. Kaster Bibliography General Index Index of Notable Passages
£54.00
Oxford University Press Inc Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World
Book SynopsisIt is often thought that the story of Tutankhamun ended when the thousands of dazzling items discovered by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon were transported to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and put on display. But there is far more to the boy-king''s story. Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World explores the 100 years of research on Tutankhamun that have taken place since the tomb''s discovery, from the several objects in the tomb made of meteoritic iron that came from outer space to new evidence that shows that Tutankhamun may actually have been a warrior who went into battle. Author Bob Brier also takes readers behind the scenes of the recent CT-scans of Tutankhamuns mummy to reveal more secrets of the young pharaoh.The book also illustrates the wide-ranging impact the discovery of Tutankhamun''s tomb had on fields beyond Egyptology. Brier examines how the discovery of the tomb influenced Egyptian politics and contributed to the downfall of colonialism in Egypt. Outside Egypt, the modern blockbuster exhibitions that raise great sums of monies for museums around the world all began with Tutankhamun, as did the idea of documenting every object discovered in place before it was moved. And to a great extent, the modern fascination with ancient Egypt DL Egyptomania DL was also greatly promoted by the Tutmania that surrounded the discovery of the tomb. Deeply informed by the latest research and presented in vivid detail, Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World is a compelling introduction to the worlds greatest archaeological discovery.Trade ReviewTutankhamun still raises many questions, argues Egyptologist Bob Brier in his stylish book celebrating the century since the pharaoh's tomb was rediscovered. * Nature *Accessible and engaging. * Ancient Egypt *Brier has a particular style, which is engaging and accessible. As such, the book can be read as something of an introduction to pharaonic Egypt, and some of the politics surrounding Egyptology that other Tutankhamun titles may lack. * Ancient Egypt *An accessible, engaging synthesis. * New Scientist *Brier's history of the medical examination of Tutankhamun's mummy is excellent and a cautionary tale concerning the information that can be gleaned from the ancient dead. * Minerva *On the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of the golden boy Tutankhamun, we have to honor the careful work of the great archaeologist Howard Carter. The story of the curse, the magic, and the thrill of the discovery is narrated beautifully in this book by Bob Brier. * Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and co-author of Giza and the Pyramids *Brier's book cuts a swashbuckling swathe through the romantic and dramatic history of the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb. He explores the vicissitudes suffered by the boy-king's mummy, current research on it, the story of the curse, and the many marvelous and ordinary objects found in the only virtually intact kingly tomb to be found in the Valley of the Kings. * Salima Ikram, Distinguished University Professor, American University in Cairo and author of Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt *If you think you know everything about Tut, discard that idea. Little-known tidbits of Egyptological lore are interwoven with new discoveries and fresh interpretations of the world's most famous king. This is both a fun and informative read. I couldn't put it down! * Rita Freed, Chair Emerita, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: History of the Tomb Chapter 1. Lost but Not Found Chapter 2. Preferably a Non-Gentleman Chapter 3. Wonderful Things Chapter 4. Locked Out Chapter 5. Face to Face with Tutankhamun Chapter 6. Final Clearance Part II: Tutankhamun Research Chapter 7. Tutankhamun Translated at Last Chapter 8. X-raying Tutankhamun Chapter 9. Scanning Tutankhamun Chapter 10. Tutankhamun's Family Tree Chapter 11. Tutankhamun's Chariots Chapter 12. Tutankhamun as Warrior Chapter 13. Tutankhamun's Footwear Chapter 14. Tutankhamun's Sarcophagus Chapter 15. Is Nefertiti in Tut's tomb? Chapter 16. It Came from Outer Space Chapter 17. The Search for the Missing Pectoral Part III: Tutankhamun's Legacy Chapter 18. Tutankhamun as Activist Chapter 19. What's Found in Egypt Stays in Egypt Chapter 20. Tutankhamun Superstar Chapter 21. Setting Standards Bibliography
£19.97
Oxford University Press Inc The Alternative Augustan Age
Book SynopsisThe princeps Augustus (63 BCE - 14 CE), recognized as the first of the Roman emperors, looms large in the teaching and writing of Roman history. Major political, literary, and artistic developments alike are attributed to him. This book deliberately and provocatively shifts the focus off Augustus while still looking at events of his time. Contributors uncover the perspectives and contributions of a range of individuals other than the princeps. Not all thought they were living in the Augustan Age. Not all took their cues from Augustus. In their self-display or ideas for reform, some anticipated Augustus. Others found ways to oppose him that also helped to shape the future of their community. The volume challenges the very idea of an Augustan Age by breaking down traditional turning points and showing the continuous experimentation and development of these years to be in continuity with earlier Roman culture. In showcasing absences of Augustus and giving other figures their due, the papers here make a seemingly familiar period startlingly new.Trade Review...so great and distinct... * Lindsay Powell, Ancient Warfare *The Alternative Augustan Age, has the desire to explore the 'underside' of this crucial period, and is appropriately dedicated to the memory of Powell...this long period of history has subsequently been treated in either a homogenized or a linear way, which not only flattens out nuance, but promotes teleological interpretations. This volume instead shifts the spotlight onto other actors, not just by giving them their moment in the sun, but by not defining their importance in relation to Augustus. This allows us to see a 'a series of alternatives- alternative spaces, alternative worldviews, and alternative narratives'. * Greece & Rome *Table of ContentsPreface List of contributors Table of figures 1. The alternative Augustan age Hannah Mitchell, Kit Morrell, Josiah Osgood, and Kathryn Welch 2. Augustus as magpie Kit Morrell 3. Hopes and aspirations: res publica, leges et iura, and alternatives at Rome Eleanor Cowan 4. Rebuilding Romulus' Senate: The lectio senatus of 18 BCE Andrew Pettinger 5. The good wife: fate, fortune, and familia in Augustan Rome Bronwyn Hopwood 6. At magnus Caesar, and Yet! Social resistance against Augustan legislation Werner Eck 7. C. Asinius Pollio and the politics of cosmopolitanism Joel Allen 8. For Rome or for Augustus? Triumphs beyond the imperial family in the post-civil war period Carsten Hjort Lange 9. Egyptian victories: the praefectus Aegypti and the presentation of military success in the age of Augustus Wolfgang Havener 10. African alternatives Josiah Osgood 11. The reputation of L. Munatius Plancus and the idea of "serving the times" Hannah Mitchell 12. How do you solve a problem like Marcus Agrippa? James Tan 13. Acting "republican" under Augustus: the coin types of the gens Antistia Megan Goldman-Petri 14. Saecular discourse: qualitative periodization in first century BCE Rome Paul Hay 15. Maecenas and the Augustan poets: the background of a cultural ambition Philippe Le Doze 16. Gauls on top: provincials ruling Rome on the shield of Aeneas Geraldine Herbert-Brown 17. The rise of the centumviral court in the Augustan age: an alternative arena of aristocratic competition Matthew Roller 18. Shields of Virtue(s) Kathryn Welch 19. The popular reception of Augustus and the self-infantilization of Rome's citizenry Tom Hillard 20. Inventing the imperial Senate Amy Russell Bibliography
£24.99
Oxford University Press Inc Conquering the Ocean
Book SynopsisAn authoritative new history of the Roman conquest of BritainWhy did Julius Caesar come to Britain? His own account suggests that he invaded to quell a resistance of Gallic sympathizers in the region of modern-day Kent -- but there must have been personal and divine aspirations behind the expeditions in 55 and 54 BCE. To the ancients, the Ocean was a body of water that circumscribed the known world, separating places like Britain from terra cognita, and no one, not even Alexander the Great, had crossed it. While Caesar came and saw, he did not conquer. In the words of the historian Tacitus, he revealed, rather than bequeathed, Britain to Rome. For the next five hundred years, Caesar''s revelation was Rome''s remotest imperial bequest.Conquering the Ocean provides a new narrative of the Roman conquest of Britain, from the two campaigns of Caesar up until the construction of Hadrian''s Wall across the Tyne-Solway isthmus during the 120s CE. Much of the ancient literary record portrays thTrade ReviewThe target audience is presumably undergraduates with little knowledge of Roman Britain. The book may offer them a marker of the current anti colonial approach with an up-to-date bibliography, but it is to be hoped that challenging it will encourage readers to seek a more balanced engagement with the original texts. * David Bird, Classical Review *Richly illustrated and offering an extensive bibliography, Conquering the Ocean is a pleasing and well-crafted examination of the Roman occupation of Britain that students of the period, as well as professional historians, will find to be of considerable value. * Brett F. Woods, Brett F. Woods, Ph.D., is a professor of history for the American Public University System, Worldhistory.org *This is a fascinating and well-illustrated look at this neglected aspect of Roman and ancient war history, describing the long-term successes and failures of a succession of emperors to conquer this land at the northern limits of the Roman empire. * New York Journal of Books *... an incisive, up-to-date commentary on Roman campaigning... The text is an engaging and enjoyable read, with Hingley taking care to discuss both Romans and Britons, while scrupulously setting the warfare within its wider context to produce a rounded picture of events... Hingley's account of the Boudican revolt is a particular triumph... a highly successful volume that makes for essential reading. * Matthew Symonds, Current Archaeology *The text is an engaging and enjoyable read, with Hingley taking care to discuss both Romans and Britons, while scrupulously setting the warfare within its wider context to produce a rounded picture of events. A wealth of illustrations, especially those prepared by Christina Unwin, are a major asset.... For the Romans, Ocean was a divine force that encircled the inhabited world and was the father of all water deities. As Britain lay within this realm, conquering the island amounted to subjugating Ocean himself. In this spirit, the power of the sea was evoked at key moments, including Tacitus' account of Agricola's campaigning in Scotland. The emphasis on Hadrian's Wall running between 'the two shores of Ocean' can be seen in a similar light. Teasing out this dimension adds real freshness to the subject, delivering a highly successful volume that makes for essential reading. * Current Archaeology *Overall... an excellent investment for readers looking for an accessible and engaging overview of the Roman conquest of Britain. * Captain Richard Dick, Naval Historical Foundation *a fascinating and well-illustrated look at this neglected aspect of Roman and ancient war history, describing the long-term successes and failures of a succession of emperors to conquer this land at the northern limits of the Roman empire. * Jerry Lenaburg *This highly readable account of the Roman conquest and occupation of Britain seeks to synthesise recent work on classical literary references to the island with the much larger body of archaeological and epigraphic research on Roman Britain. * Britannia *In this captivating and compact book, Hingley reconstructs the various ideological and historical moments of the Roman conquest and securing of Britain between Caesar's invasion and 410 CE. * Donato Sitaro, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
£15.52
Oxford University Press The Hellenistic Age
Book SynopsisThe three centuries which followed the conquests of Alexander are perhaps the most thrilling of all periods of ancient history. This was an age of cultural globalization: in the third century BC, a single language carried you from the Rhône to the Indus. A Celt from the lower Danube could serve in the mercenary army of a Macedonian king ruling in Egypt, and a Greek philosopher from Cyprus could compare the religions of the Brahmins and the Jews on the basis of first-hand knowledge of both. Kings from Sicily to Tajikistan struggled to meet the challenges of ruling multi-ethnic states, and Greek city-states came together under the earliest federal governments known to history. The scientists of Ptolemaic Alexandria measured the circumference of the earth, while pioneering Greek argonauts explored the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic coast of Africa. Drawing on inscriptions, papyri, coinage, poetry, art, and archaeology, in this Very Short Introduction Peter Thonemann opens up the history and culture of the vast Hellenistic world, from the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC) to the Roman conquest of the Ptolemaic kingdom (30 BC).ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewHaving worked on the history and historiography of the Hellenistic world and Middle Roman Republic for over twenty-five years, I gained a firmer synoptic grasp of my subject from reading this book. I can think of no higher praise than that for a book of this type. * Craig B. Champion, The American Historical Review *Review from previous edition Those looking to find a concise and stimulating introduction to the Hellenistic world need look no further than this excellent pocket-sized volume. * Mark Thorne, The Classical Journal *A beautiful little jewel * Greece & Rome *Peter Thonemann's short, straightforward, but sharply written introductory volume, The Hellenistic Age, exemplifies a different trend, a miniature encapsulation of a complex world. * Carol Atack, Times Literary Supplement *In displaying his enthusiasm for the diversity of the Hellenistic world and the achievements funded by its monarchies, Thonemann rightly underlines the brutality of conflicts that spread far beyond the Mediterranean. * Carol Atack, Times Literary Supplement *Pocket-sized, highly engaging and packed full of varied and fascinating information the perfect introduction to an enthralling era. * Lucia Marchini, Minerva *Peter Thonemann's introduction to arguably one of the most fascinating of all epochs of human history may be very short but it is also very brilliant: wide-ranging, sharply focused, and deeply illuminating. * Paul Cartledge *most usefully, in a work that aims to inspire further investigation among sixth formers, undergraduates and interested general readers, there is an eclectic range of books and articles cited as further reading for each chapter. In a small compass Thonemann successfully evokes the great variety and complexity of Hellenistic civilisation * Claire Gruzelier, Classics for All *Table of ContentsPreface 1: The idea of the Hellenistic 2: From Alexander to Augustus 3: Demetrius the Besieger and Hellenistic kingship 4: Eratosthenes and the system of the world 5: Encounters 6: Priene Timeline Further Reading Index
£9.49
Oxford University Press Thermopylae
Book SynopsisThe story of Thermopylae, the battle that helped define the identity of the ancient Greeks: how it was fought, how it has been remembered, and what it means for us today.During the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, a Greek force of approximately 7,000 faced the biggest army ever seen in the Greek peninsula. For three days, the Persiansthe greatest military force in the worldwere stopped in their tracks by a vastly inferior force, before the bulk of the Greek army was forced to retreat with their rear guard wiped out in one of history''s most famous last stands.In strict military terms it was a defeat for the Greeks. But like the British retreat from Dunkirk or the massacre at the Alamo, this David and Goliath story has taken on the aura of success. Thermopylae has acquired a glamour exceeding the other battles of the Persian Wars, passing from history into myth, and lost none of that appeal in the modern era.In Thermopylae, Chris Carey analyses the origins and course of this pivotal batTrade ReviewThe book's best contribution: showing the impact Thermopylae had even in its own time-how its meaning resonated with ancient observers and how it helped both self perpetuate, and shaped the development of ancient culture. Carey then seamlessly connects this with the meaning the battle has to modern people and connects it firmly to the present day, tracing its lineage carefully through modern history. Carey shows Thermopylae's legend came to dominate our understanding of it nearly as soon as Xerxes fixed Leonidas's head to a pole and had it paraded before his cheering troops, a fact that greatly complicates efforts to interpret this critically important battle. Fortunately for readers, it's a complication Carey is well equipped to tackle. * Myke Cole, United States Commission of Military History, International Journal of Military History and Historiography *Carey is one of Britain's foremost students of ancient history. In this meticulous examination of the story he admits that most of the "facts" we have are speculative ... The value of Carey's book lies in its reflections upon a legend that continues to influence our culture and ideals. * Max Hastings, The Sunday Times *Excellent ... a considerable addition to the history and cultural legacy of one of the world's most significant battles. * Paul Cartledge, Literary Review *Highly readable and informative ... Carey's account of [the battle of Thermopylae] provides an absorbing exposition of both the facts and the fictions that underlie and surround it. * Diana Bentley, Minerva *Very readable, well researched and thought-provoking ... an excellent book and thoroughly recommended. * Chris May, Battlefield magazine *Thermopylae is a discerning examination of a still resonant battle and the problems it poses for ancient historians. Its author writes intelligently for non-specialist students of military history, without footnoting controversies. He has walked Xerxes's route. * Donald Lateiner, Michigan War Studies Review *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1: Reading Thermopylae: The Problems 2: The Pass 3: The Persians 4: The Greeks 5: The Battle 6: Thermopylae Refought 7: Thermopylae in the Ancient World 8: The Myth in the Modern Era 9: And Finally... Notes Further Reading Index
£12.34
Oxford University Press The Hellenistic Age
Book SynopsisThe three centuries which followed the conquests of Alexander are perhaps the most thrilling of all periods of ancient history. This was an age of cultural globalization: in the third century BC, a single language carried you from the Rhône to the Indus. A Celt from the lower Danube could serve in the mercenary army of a Macedonian king ruling in Egypt, and a Greek philosopher from Cyprus could compare the religions of the Brahmins and the Jews on the basis of first-hand knowledge of both. Kings from Sicily to Tajikistan struggled to meet the challenges of ruling multi-ethnic states, and Greek city-states came together under the earliest federal governments known to history. The scientists of Ptolemaic Alexandria measured the circumference of the earth, while pioneering Greek argonauts explored the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic coast of Africa. Drawing on inscriptions, papyri, coinage, poetry, art, and archaeology Peter Thonemann opens up the history and culture of the vast HellenisticTrade ReviewA beautiful little jewel [of a book]... which impressively manages to pack in an immense amount of evidence and issues, presented in a lucid and stimulating way. * Kostas Vlassopoulos, Greece & Rome *A fine entry-level study of the Hellenistic Age ... Highly recommended. * Choice *A thoroughly enjoyable short book and serves as an excellent introduction to the Hellenistic age. * Conor P. Trainor, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Those looking to find a concise and stimulating introduction to the Hellenistic world need look no further than this excellent pocket-sized volume. * Mark Thorne, The Classical Journal *Peter Thonemann's short, straightforward, but sharply written introductory volume, The Hellenistic Age, exemplifies a different trend, a miniature encapsulation of a complex world. * Carol Atack, Times Literary Supplement *In displaying his enthusiasm for the diversity of the Hellenistic world and the achievements funded by its monarchies, Thonemann rightly underlines the brutality of conflicts that spread far beyond the Mediterranean. * Carol Atack, Times Literary Supplement *Pocket-sized, highly engaging and packed full of varied and fascinating information the perfect introduction to an enthralling era. * Lucia Marchini, Minerva *Peter Thonemann's introduction to arguably one of the most fascinating of all epochs of human history may be very short but it is also very brilliant: wide-ranging, sharply focused, and deeply illuminating. * Paul Cartledge *most usefully, in a work that aims to inspire further investigation among sixth formers, undergraduates and interested general readers, there is an eclectic range of books and articles cited as further reading for each chapter. In a small compass Thonemann successfully evokes the great variety and complexity of Hellenistic civilisation * Claire Gruzelier, Classics for All *Table of ContentsPREFACE; FURTHER READING; INDEX
£13.49
Oxford University Press Taken at the Flood The Roman Conquest of Greece
Book SynopsisThe Romans first set military foot on Greek soil in 229 BCE; only sixty or so years later it was all over, and shortly thereafter Greece became one of the first provinces of the emerging Roman Empire. It was an incredible journey - a swift, brutal, and determined conquest of the land to whose art, philosophy, and culture the Romans owed so much. Rome found the eastern Mediterranean divided, in an unstable balance of power, between three great kingdoms - the three Hellenistic kingdoms that had survived and flourished after the wars of Alexander the Great''s Successors: Macedon, Egypt, and Syria. Internal troubles took Egypt more or less out of the picture, but the other two were reduced by Rome. Having established itself, by its defeat of Carthage, as the sole superpower in the western Mediterranean, Rome then systematically went about doing the same in the east, until the entire Mediterranean was under her control. Apart from the thrilling military action, the story of the Roman conqueTrade ReviewThe story Waterfield tells is complex, but he tells it well. * Peter Jones, BBC History *This sorry story is told with great verve and pace by Waterfield. * Literary Review *Table of ContentsPreface Prelude: Clouds in the West 1: Rome Turns East 2: The Illyrian Wars 3: Barbarians, Go Home! 4: King Philip of Macedon 5: The Freedom of the Greeks 6: The Road to Thermopylae 7: The Periphery Expands 8: Remote Control 9: Perseus' Choice 10: The End of Macedon 11: Imperium Romanum 12: The Greek World after Pydna Key Dates Glossary Notes Bibliography Index
£11.69
Oxford University Press The Spartans A Very Short Introduction Very Short
Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The myths surrounding Sparta are as old as the city itself. Even in antiquity, Sparta was a unique society, and considered an enigma. The Spartans who fought for freedom against the Persians called themselves ''equals'' or peers, but their equality was reliant on the ruthless exploitation of the indigenous population known as helots. The Spartans'' often bizarre rules and practices have the capacity to horrify as much they do to fascinate us today. Athenian writers were intrigued and appalled in equal measure by a society where weak or disabled babies were said to have been examined carefully by state officials before being dumped off the edge of a cliff. Even today their lurid stories have shaped our image of Sparta; a society in which cowards were forced to shave off half their beards, to dress differently from their peers, and who were ultimately shunned to the extent that suicide seemed preferable. The legend of Sparta was even perpetuated by later Spartans, who ran a thriving tourist industry that exaggerated the famed brutality of their ancestors.This Very Short Introduction separates myth from reality to reveal the best--and the worst--of the Spartans. Andrew Bayliss explores key aspects of Spartan society, including their civic structure, their day-to-day lifestyle, and traditions such as the krypteia, a brutal rite of passage where teenagers were sent into the countryside and ordered to eliminate the biggest and most dangerous helots. Alongside this, Bayliss also sheds light on the many admirable qualities of ancient Sparta, such as their state-run education system, or the fact that this society was almost unparalleled in the pre-modern world for the rights given to Spartan women.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewWith a succinctness worthy of his subjects - whose 'linguistic austerity' inspired the word 'laconic' - Bayliss distils extensive research to offer an engaging, lucid insight into this unique society. * Madeleine Finney, The Mail on Sunday *A new history of these extraordinary and often terrifying people, which is both scholarly and highly entertaining. * Christopher Hart, Mail Online *The Spartans will prove of value not only to the layman interested in learning something about this most famous ancient warrior culture, but also the seasoned student of the subject. * A. A. Nofi, New York Military Affairs *With deceptive ease, [Bayliss] guides his readers not just across well-trodden ground but sometimes to unexpected vantage points from where he can challenge orthodox views... The Spartans punches above its weight, and with 14 black-and-white illustrations (including two maps), references, suggestions for further reading and an index, it's a knockout. Anyone interested in Sparta should read it, and every school library should own it. * David Stuttard, Classics for All *Throughout the book, Bayliss never shouts. Yet, in his quiet, succinct way, he has produced a book that can with some justice claim, 'This is Sparta.' * Alastair Brans, Australian Book Review *Table of Contents1: Introduction: the legend of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae 2: Sparta's civic structure 3: Raising a Spartan 4: The Spartan lifestyle 5: Helots and perioikoi 6: Spartan women 7: The Spartan mirage and normalising Sparta 8: The modern reception of Sparta Further reading Index
£9.49
Oxford University Press The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe
Book SynopsisThe Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe provides the first comprehensive, geographically extensive, thematic overview of the European Neolithic - from Iberia to Russia and from Norway to Malta - offering both a general introduction and a clear exploration of key issues and current debates surrounding evidence and interpretation.Trade ReviewThe Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe represents an important contribution to world literature. * Jaromír Bene and Tereza Majerovicová, IANSA: Interdisciplinaria archaeologica *The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe is a great scholarly achievement and a valuable offering essential to everyone interested in the archaeology of the European Neolithic. * Evita Kalogiropoulou, European Journal of Archaeology *Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction 1: Chris Fowler, Jan Harding, and Daniela Hofmann: Defining the 'Neolithic in Europe': Diverse and Contemporaneous Communities, c. 6500-2500 BC Part II: Mobility, Change, and Interaction at the Large Scale 2: Tony Brown, Geoff Bailey, and Dave Passmore: Environments and Landscape Change Movement of Plants, Animals, Ideas, and People 3: Joannes Müller: South-East Europe 4: Jean Guilaine: The Neolithization of Mediterranean Europe: Mobility and Interactions from the Near East to the Iberian Peninsula 5: Wolfram Schier: Central and Eastern Europe 6: Anne Tresset: Moving Animals and Plants in the Early Neolithic of North-Western Europe 7: Stephen Shennan: Language, Genes, and Cultural Interaction Sequences of Cultural Interaction and Cultural Change 8: John Chapman: South-East Europe 9: Caroline Malone: The Neolithic in Mediterranean Europe 10: Detlef Gronenborn and Pavel Dolukhanov DR: Central and Eastern Europe 11: Nick Thorpe: Northern and Western Europe Part III: Neolithic Worlds and Neolithic Lifeways Houses, Habitation, and Community 12: Pál Raczky: Tells and Settlements in South-East Europe 13: Demetra Papaconstantinou: Domestic Space in the Mediterranean 14: Jonathan Last: Longhouse Lifestyles in the Central European Neolithic 15: Francesco Menotti: Lakeside Dwellings of the Circum-Alpine Region 16: Anick Coudart: Households and Communities in Neolithic France 17: Kenneth Brophy: Houses, Halls, and Occuptation in Britain and Ireland 18: Mats Larsson: Places of Settlement in Southern Scandanavia Subsistence and Social Routine 19: Rich Schulting: Stable Isotopes and Neolithic Subsistence: Pattern and Variation 20: Amy Bogaard: Subsistence Practices and Social Routine in Neolithic Southern Europe 21: László Bartosiewicz and Malcolm Lillie: Subsistence Practices in Central and Eastern Europe 22: Tony Legge DR and Peter Rowley-Conwy: Subsistence Practices in Western and Northern Europe 23: Dimitrij Mleku%z: The Neolithic Year 24: Roy Loveday: Religious Routine and Pilgrimage in the British Isles Materiality and Social Relations 25: Marjorie de Grooth: Invention and European Knapping Traditions 26: Pedro Díaz-del-Río and Mara Capote: Shared Labour and Large Scale Action: European Flint Mining 27: Gabriel Cooney: Stone and Flint Axes in Neolithic Europe 28: Mihael Budja: Pottery of South-East Europe 29: Joachim Pechtl: Linearbandkeramik Pottery and Society 30: Rick Peterson and Johannes Müller: Ceramics and Society in Northern Europe 31: Marc Vander Linden: Bell Beaker Pottery and Society 32: Stratos Nanoglou: A Miniature World: Models and Figurines in South-East Europe 33: John Chapman and Bisserka Gaydarska: Spondylus and Shell Ornaments 34: Tony Axelsson, Morten Ramstad, and Anders Strinnholm: Amber 35: Volker Heyd and Katherine Walker: The First Metalwork and Expressions of Social Power 36: Mark Pearce and Martin Bartelheim: Early Metallurgy in Iberia and the Western Mediterranean 37: Ben Roberts and Catherine Frieman: Early Metallurgy in Western and Northern Europe 38: Duncan Garrow: Deposition in Pits 39: Arkadiusz Marciniak and Joshua Pollard: Animals and Social Relations Monuments, Rock Art, and Cosmology 40: Jörg Petrasch: Central European Enclosures 41: Robin Skeates: Italian Enclosures 42: Niels Andersen: Causewayed Enclosures in Northern and Western Europe 43: Vicki Cummings, Magdalena Midgeley DR, and Chris Scarre: Chambered Tombs and Passage Graves of Northern and Western Europe 44: Sara Fairen-Jiminez: Rock Carvings in Iberia 45: Angelo Fossati: Rock Carvings in South Central Europe 46: Andrew Cochrane, Andrew Jones, and Kalle Sognnes: Rock Carvings in Northern Europe 47: Robin Skeates: Underground Religion in the Central Mediterranean Neolithic 48: Michael Hoskin: A Place in the Cosmos: Monuments and Celestial Bodies Death, Bodies, and Persons 49: Du%san Bori'c: Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in the Neolithic and Early-Middle Copper Ages of South-East Europe 50: John Robb: Burial and Human Body Representations in the Central Mediterranean Neolithic 51: Daniela Hofmann and Jörg Orschiedt: Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in Central Europe 52: Karl-Göran Sjögren: Mortuary Practices, Bodies, and Persons in North-East Europe 53: Chris Fowler and Chris Scarre: Mortuary Practices and Bodily Representations in North-West Europe Part IV: Conclusion: Debates in Neolithic Archaeology 54: Alasdair Whittle: Unexpected Histories? South-East and Central Europe 55: Julian Thomas: What Do We Mean By 'Neolithic Societies'? 56: Kristian Kristiansen: The Decline of the Neolithic and the Rise of the Bronze Age Society
£46.99
Oxford University Press The Oxford History of Britain
Book SynopsisA new edition of this best-selling history of Britain, from Roman times, now updated to cover the first decade of the 21st century.The Oxford History of Britain tells the story of Britain and its people over two thousand years, from the coming of the Roman legions to the present day. Encompassing political, social, economic, and cultural developments throughout the British Isles, the dramatic narrative is taken up in turn by ten leading historians who offer the fruits of the best modern scholarship to the general reader in an authoritative form. A vivid, sometimes surprising picture emerges of a continuous turmoil of change in every period, and the wider social context of political and economic tension is made clear. But consensus, no less than conflict, is a part of the story: in focusing on elements of continuity down the centuries, the authors bring out that special awareness of identity which has been such a distinctive feature of British society. By relating both these factors in the British experience, and by exploring the many ways in which Britain has shaped and been shaped by contact with Europe and the wider world, this landmark work brings the reader face to face with the past, and the foundations of modern British society. This updated new edition (by the original editor) adds great richness by taking the story down from the economic crisis of 2008 to the conflict over Europe at the present day.Table of ContentsForward to the new edition 1: Peter Salway: Roman Britain (c. 55 BC - c. AD 440) 2: John Blair: The Anglo-Saxon Period (c. 440-1066) 3: John Gillingham: The Early Middle Ages (1066-1290) 4: Ralph A. Griffiths: The Later Middle Ages (1290-1485) 5: John Guy: The Tudor Age (1485-1603) 6: John Morrill: The Stuarts (1603-1688) 7: Paul Langford: The Eighteenth Century (1688-1789) 8: Christopher Harvie: Revolution and the Rule of Law (1789-1851) 9: H. C. G. Matthew: The Liberal Age (1851-1914) 10: Kenneth O. Morgan: The Twentieth Century (1914-2000) 11: Kenneth O. Morgan: A New Millennium (2000-2008) 12: From Crash to Brexit (2008-2020) Further Reading Chronology Genealogies of Royal Lines Prime Ministers 1721-2019 Index Foreword to the new edition 1: Peter Salway: Roman Britain (c.55 BC - c. AD 440) 2: John Blair: The Anglo-Saxon Period (c. 440-1066) 3: John Gillingham: The Early Middle Ages (1066-1290) 4: Ralph A. Griffiths: The Later Middle Ages (1290-1485) 5: John Guy: The Tudor Age (1485-1603) 6: John Morrill: The Stuarts (1603-1688) 7: Paul Langford: The Eighteenth Century (1688-1789) 8: Christopher Harvie: Revolution and the Rule of Law (1789-1851) 9: H. C. G. Matthew: The Liberal Age (1851-1914) 10: Kenneth O. Morgan: The Twentieth Century (1914-2000) Kenneth O. Morgan: Epilogue (2000-2010) Further Reading Chronology Genealogies of Royal Lines Prime Ministers 1721-2010 Index
£13.49
Oxford University Press Epigrams
Book SynopsisThis new, parallel-text prose translation of a generous selection of Martial's witty and satiric epigrams pulls no punches and matches the boldness of the originals. They bring Imperial Rome vividly to life. The edition establishes Martial's originality as a literary author and includes a full introduction and notes.Trade ReviewMartial is an epigrammatist of unmatched range and brilliance. Treating life, society and human foibles with coruscating wit, he mixes vicious abuse, frequently sexual, of individuals with biting satire on human weakness and lyrical reflections on Rome, friendship and country life. In his extremely useful edition Gideon Nisbet selects over 300 of his subject's c. 1600 poems, doing full justice to Martial's range. * Peter Jones, Classics for All *This translation is offering not only a reasonably comprehensive view of Martial's literary universe, but also a pleasant experience. Gideon Nisbet's version of Martial's Rome and Martial's world is enjoyable and lively. * Carmen Fenechiu, Journal of Ancient History and Archeology *
£10.44
Oxford University Press The Jewish War
Book SynopsisIn AD 70 the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman forces after a 6 month siege, the world-famous temple burnt to the ground. This was the disastrous outcome of a Jewish revolt against Roman domination beginning in AD 66 with high hopes and early success, but soon became mired in factional conflict, at its most extreme within Jerusalem itself.Trade ReviewThis paperback is now the best choice for anyone who wishes to read through the most impactful text of western antiquity, outside the Bible, in English... This accessible Josephus will both satisfy and stimulate the considerable interest in this author. * Steve Mason, Expository Times *Hammond's fluent, colloquial translation does considerable justice to Josephus' fastpaced, scandal-filled narrative... This new translation brings the modern reader closer to Josephus and equips us to understand him. * The Tablet *The great strength of this excellent addition to the Oxford World's Classics series lies in the way that a flowing translation is supported by an introduction, copious notes, maps and a first class expanded index, which enable the readers to find their way through a maze of similar sounding individual, family and place names. * Classics for All *Table of ContentsIntroduction Select Bibliiography Chronology Maps The Jewish Wars Notes Index
£11.69
Oxford University Press Egypt Greece and Rome
Book SynopsisEgypt, Greece, and Rome is regarded as one of the best general histories of the ancient world, having sold more than 80,000 copies in its first two editions. It is written for the general reader and the student coming to the subject for the first time and provides a reliable and highly accessible point of entry to the period. Beginning with the early Middle Eastern civilizations of Sumer, and continuing right through to the Islamic invasions and the birth of modern Europe after the collapse of the Roman empire, the book ranges beyond political history to cover art and architecture, philosophy, literature, society, and economy. A wide range of maps, illustrations, and photographs complements the text.This third edition has been extensively revised to appeal to the general reader with several chapters completely rewritten and a great deal of new material added, including a new selection of images.Trade ReviewCharles Freeman is my favourite universal historian of the ancient world, which he interprets in the broadest geographical and temporal senses ... This new edition of Egypt, Greece, and Rome cannot be recommended too highly as the one-stop shop for all historically curious travellers in these eternally and endlessly fascinating lands. * Professor Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University *Freeman's survey of the ancient world is a remarkable achievement ... The book is written in a clear and approachable style ideally suited to the target audience, which is defined as the general reader and students in need of a foundation text to guide them into the study of the great and important cultures of antiquity. This new edition will certainly ensure that Freeman's study will continue to hold its place as a classic introduction to the ancient world in all its aspects. * Professor Alan B. Lloyd, President of the Egypt Exploration Society *This admirably ambitious work provides a very useful introduction to three of the great civilizations of the Ancient World: Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Charles Freeman should be applauded for having taken on this gargantuan task. * Professor Richard Miles, University of Sydney *Charles Freeman's work on updating this, the third edition of Egypt, Greece and Rome, has ensured this book continues to be a must-read, offering clear insights into the latest thinking and discoveries about the ancient Mediterranean world in an engaging and thought-provoking manner. * Dr Michael Scott, University of Warwick *an enormously ambitious book ... The text is approachable and readable. It can be used both for sustained study as well as for idle browsing and dipping into. It is informative, succinct. There are no tedious digressions or woolly bits. It offers an opinion where an opinion is useful but does not dogmatically press an agenda. For the general reader, it is difficult to imagine how it could have been better done. * Annabel Barber, Blue Guides *Freeman is to be commended for the scope and detail of the work ... [it] is beautifully illustrated and written in clear and clever prose. Freeman writes with the authority not only of a historian, but also an archaeologist ... and a traveler who has trod the well-worn paths of our ancient forebears. His rigorous approach ensures that the book will continue to be an authoritative survey of the history and culture of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. * Carrie L. Sulosky Weaver, The Classical Journal Online *Table of ContentsDEDICATION; FOREWORD TO THE THIRD EDITION; AUTHOR'S PREFACE; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; LIST OF PLATES; LIST OF MAPS; LIST OF FIGURES; WHAT TO READ NEXT; DATE CHART; LIST OF EVENTS; INDEX
£39.89
Oxford University Press Taken at the Flood
Book SynopsisThe Romans first set military foot on Greek soil in 229 BCE; only sixty or so years later it was all over, and shortly thereafter Greece became one of the first provinces of the emerging Roman Empire. It was an incredible journey - a swift, brutal, and determined conquest of the land to whose art, philosophy, and culture the Romans owed so much. Rome found the eastern Mediterranean divided, in an unstable balance of power, between three great kingdoms - the three Hellenistic kingdoms that had survived and flourished after the wars of Alexander the Great''s Successors: Macedon, Egypt, and Syria. Internal troubles took Egypt more or less out of the picture, but the other two were reduced by Rome. Having established itself, by its defeat of Carthage, as the sole superpower in the western Mediterranean, Rome then systematically went about doing the same in the east, until the entire Mediterranean was under her control. Apart from the thrilling military action, the story of the Roman conquest of Greece is central to the story of Rome itself and the empire it created. As Robin Waterfield shows, the Romans developed a highly sophisticated method of dominance by remote control over the Greeks of the eastern Mediterranean - the cheap option of using authority and diplomacy to keep order rather than standing armies. And it is a story that raises a number of fascinating questions about Rome, her empire, and her civilization. For instance, to what extent was the Roman conquest a planned and deliberate policy? What was it about Roman culture that gave it such a will for conquest? And what was the effect on Roman intellectual and artistic culture, on their very identity, of their entanglement with an older Greek civilization, which the Romans themselves recognized as supreme?Trade ReviewThe story Waterfield tells is complex, but he tells it well. * Peter Jones, BBC History *This sorry story is told with great verve and pace by Waterfield. * Literary Review *Table of ContentsPreface ; Prelude: Clouds in the West ; 1. Rome Turns East ; 2. The Illyrian Wars ; 3. Barbarians, Go Home! ; 4. King Philip of Macedon ; 5. The Freedom of the Greeks ; 6. The Road to Thermopylae ; 7. The Periphery Expands ; 8. Remote Control ; 9. Perseus' Choice ; 10. The End of Macedon ; 11. Imperium Romanum ; 12. The Greek World after Pydna ; Key Dates ; Glossary ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index
£20.69
Oxford University Press The Life and Death of Ancient Cities
Book SynopsisThe human race is on a 10,000 year urban adventure. Our ancestors wandered the planet or lived scattered in villages, yet by the end of this century almost all of us will live in cities. But that journey has not been a smooth one and urban civilizations have risen and fallen many times in history. The ruins of many of them still enchant us.This book tells the story of the rise and fall of ancient cities from the end of the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Middle Ages. It is a tale of war and politics, pestilence and famine, triumph and tragedy, by turns both fabulous and squalid. Its focus is on the ancient Mediterranean: Greeks and Romans at the centre, but Phoenicians and Etruscans, Persians, Gauls, and Egyptians all play a part. The story begins with the Greek discovery of much more ancient urban civilizations in Egypt and the Near East, and charts the gradual spread of urbanism to the Atlantic and then the North Sea in the centuries that followed.The ancient Mediterranean, where Trade ReviewSelected as a 2020 Book of the Year in The Times Literary SupplementA magisterial survey of ancient cities... "The Life and Death of Ancient Cities" is a big history that leaves aside some of those big comparative questions, preferring to draw out the contingent and the particular in its vivid portraits. Mr. Woolf makes for an authoritative, readable and thought-provoking guide through a few thousand years of our life as urban animals. * Kyle Harper, The Wall Street Journal *Fascinating and challenging... an impressive sweep of a book. * Charlotte Higgins, The Guardian *Greg Woolf reminds us of how vulnerable urban life has often been to plague, invasion and economic collapse. * Harry Mount, The Spectator *As I hope will be obvious, this is ever such a good book. Woolf has an enviable knack for getting across complex ideas in a deft and stylish way, without any sacrifice of precision... Whatever one thinks of the evolutionary underpinning of life and death, no one has ever made a more compelling case for seeing cities as part of the natural history of our species. * Peter Thonemann, Times Literary Supplement *A general history that manages to escape both the superficiality and the cretinous populism to which the genre is prone... From hydraulic despotism as the driver of urbanism to civilisation-ending vulcanism at Santorini, Woolf dismembers a lot of sacred cows. And, in a surely conscious paradox, he ventures a master hypothesis of his own: an evolutionary approach to urbanism. We are, Woolf contends, urban apes. * London Review of Books *An impressive overview of trends in urban histories and will have an impact outside the field of archaeology and ancient history, underlining the centrality of these disciplines to the humanities and social sciences in general, as well as to a wider audience. It is certainly worth the long read to let oneself be carried through urban moments from the Levantine and Mediterranean prehistory into Late Antiquity and beyond. It is a hugely enjoyable read that reminds us that cities and settlements are creations of, and tools for, humans, creating possibilities and unforeseen hindrances in our lives. * Journal of Roman Studies *This is a fine single-volume study of the ebb and flow of the European civilisations that built cities both large and small. * Sun News Tucson *If you have any interest in its subject, you won't regret the investment of time and money. * John Wilson, The American Conservative *Greg Woolf is a lively and learned guide to ancient cities... Woolf's book contains many brilliant insights and is a major contribution to the history of the Mediterranean. * David Abulafia, Literary Review *A deeply researched and ambitious "natural history" of the origins and growth of urbanism. * Andrew Robinson, Nature *An engaging and comprehensive read... Woolf provides an interesting discussion on how humans are suited to city life, and also offers some thought-provoking considerations on the current rate of globalisation that we're experiencing today This book should appeal to those who want to discover another perspective on the history of the Mediterranean or, indeed, the ancient world. * All About History *Woolf's The Life and Death of Ancient Cities: A Natural History is an engaging and richly detailed account that effectively tears down misconceptions about the ancient city and replaces them with a more diverse, more believable, and, ultimately, more interesting tale of kaleidoscopic urban experimentation across the ancient Mediterranean world. * Kathryn Grossman, The Metropole *This worthy book contains multitudes, and as interesting and certainly as instructive as Professor Woolf's studies of urbanization are the not-few cases of deurbanization that he is able to explore, most conspicuously the (possible causes of the) decline or rather transformation of the late Roman antique world. * Paul Cartledge, The New Criterion *This is a first-class publication that threads its way seamlessly through a complex topic across vast regions and time-spans. It is also accessibly written and highly recommended. * Mark Merrony, Antiqvvs *This is an important study which should stand alongside the tours de force of Fernand Braudel and David Abulafia. * Sir Michael Fallon, Classics for All *The Life and Death of Ancient Cities joins a shelf full of enlightening new fun reads on understanding our beginnings in the ancient world. * Robert S. Davis, New York Journal of Books *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements PART 1: AN URBAN ANIMAL 1: To the City 2: Urban Apes 3: Settling Down 4: Uruk 5: First Cities 6: Cities of Bronze PART 11: AN URBAN MEDITERRANEAN 7: The First Mediterranean Cities 8: Mariners and Chieftains 9: Western Pioneers 10: A Greek Lake 11: Networking the Mediterranean 12: Cities, States, and Kings PART 111: IMPERIAL URBANISMS 13: City and Empire 14: Europe Awakes 15: Cities of Marble 16: Founding New Cities 17: Ruling Through Cities 18: The Ecology of Roman Urbanism PART IV: DE-URBANIZATION 19: The Megalopoleis 20: Postclassical Afterword Further Reading Timeline Notes Bibliography Index
£20.24
Oxford University Press Scribes and Scholars
Book SynopsisOne of the remarkable facts about the history of Western culture is that we are still in a position to read large amounts of the literature produced in classical Greece and Rome despite the fact that for at least a millennium and a half all copies had to be produced by hand and were subject to the hazards of fire, flood, and war. This book explains how the texts survived and gives an account of the reasons why it was thought worthwhile to spend the necessary effort to preserve them for future generations.In the second edition a section of notes was included, and a new chapter was added to deal with some aspects of scholarship since the Renaissance. In the third edition (1991), the authors responded to the urgent need to take account of the very large number of discoveries in this rapidly advancing field of knowledge by substantially revising or enlarging certain sections. The last two decades have seen further advances, and this revised edition is designed to take account of them.Trade Review'For the third edition the authors have not only brought the bibliographical notes up to date but also made extensive amendments and additions, both small and large, throughout the text.' James Diggle, Queens' College, Cambridge, The Classical Review'This is a very fine book indeed. The text is written with admirable lucidity, wit and charm. The book itself is a clearly printed and stout paperback, well worth the reommended retail price of $44.95, and of course, as befits a volume produced by the Oxford University Press on this topic above all, the text is flawless. Clearly I would recommend Scribes and Scholars as a valuable acquisition for a school library which could be consulted with profit by senior students ... this book, with its overwhelming proof of the centrality of Classics in the western tradition, is essential reading.' M. Dyson, University of Queensland, Ancient History, 1992, No. 2'This enlarged version remains a valuable resource for both graduate student and scholar. Scribes and Scholars is a book which has done much good and will continue to do so.' E. Christian Kopff, University of Colorado, Classical Bulletin (1992)'The third edition of this superb work has been carefully revised to reflect advances in classical scholarship since publication of the previous edition. The work is indispensable for classical students who have not read the previous edition, and recommended for those who want recent information on an essential subject.' Gerald O'Sullivan, Stockton State College, Classical WorldTable of ContentsPREFACE; ABBREVIATIONS; NOTES; INDEX OF MSS; GENERAL INDEX; NOTES TO THE PLATES; PLATES
£39.89
Oxford University Press What Makes Civilization
Book SynopsisThe targeted destruction of ancient sites and monuments in the Middle East provokes widespread outrage in the West. But what is our connection to the ancient Near East? In this updated edition of What Makes Civilization? archaeologist David Wengrow investigates the origins of farming, writing, and cities in ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Egypt, and explores the connections between these two civilizations. It is the story of how people first created kingdoms and monuments to the gods and, just as importantly, how they pioneered everyday practices that we might now take for granted, such as familiar ways of cooking food and keeping the house and body clean. Wengrow asks why these ancient cultures, where so many features of modern life originated, have come to symbolize the remote and the exotic. Today, perhaps more than ever, he argues, the beleaguered cultural heritage of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia stands as a warning for the future. A warning of the sacrifices people will tolerate to preserve their chosen form of life; of the potential for unfettered expansion that exists within any cultural tradition; and of blood perhaps yet to be spilled, on the altar of a misguided notion of civilization.Trade ReviewFor any student studying the question of what civilisation actually is this is valuable reading. * John Bulwer, Euroclassica *Convincingly concludes that the parallel development of Mesopotamia and Egypt demonstrates the deep attachment of human societies to the concepts they live by, and the inequalities they are prepared to endure in order to preserve those guiding principles. * Nature *What Makes Civilization? [...] is expertly grounded, thoughtfully written and discreetly radical in its findings. * Dominic Green, Minerva01/01/2019 *What Makes Civilization? is well written for a student or educated lay-person audience...when the past is being employed to understand the present or predict the future of human societies, archaeologists must be part of the discussion. * Current Anthropology *This book promises a lot and delivers even more...It guides readers into the heart of the sources of civilization. * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institue *Provocative....stimulating... * Steven Snape, History Today *Lively and insightful work. * Geoff Ward, Western Daily Press *Table of ContentsPART ONE: THE CAULDRON OF CIVILIZATION; PART TWO: FORGETTING THE OLD REGIME
£14.24
Taylor & Francis Ltd Ancient Women Writers of Greece and Rome
Book SynopsisWinner of CAMWS'' 2023 Bolchazy Pedagogy Award.Ancient Women Writers of Greece and Rome features the extant writings of major female authors from the Greco-Roman world, brought together for the first time in a single volume, in both their original languages and translated into English with accompanying commentaries.The most cost-effective and comprehensive way to study the women writers of Greece and Rome, this book provides original texts, accessible text-commentaries, and detailed English translations of the works of ancient female poets and authors such as Sappho and Sulpicia. It takes a student-focused approach, discussing texts alongside new and original English translations and highlighting the rich, diverse scholarship on ancient women writers to specialists and non-specialists alike. The perspectives of women in the ancient world are still relevant and of interest today, as issues of gender and racial (in)equality remain ever-prTrade Review"The volume at hand is truly singular...this is the first such edition to bring together the original Greek and Latin passages with commentaries and translations for each poem or fragment. Such a text is perfectly suited for language pedagogy at either the intermediate or advanced level and would also make a wonderful supplement to any course on women in antiquity, ancient poetry, marginality, gendered voices, or the like." - Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction, Part I: Greece, 1. Sappho, 2. Corinna, 3. Erinna, 4. Moero, 5. Nossis, 6. Anyte, 7. Praxilla, Part II : Rome, 8. Melinno, 9. Sulpicia, 10. Sulpicia Caleni, 11. Claudia Severa, 12. An Inscription from Pompeii, 13. Terentia, 14. Colossus of Memnon, Appendix A: Introduction to Ancient Greek Dialects, Appendix B: Introduction to Ancient Meter, Appendix C: "The Newest Sappho", Greek to English Glossary, Latin to English Glossary.
£35.99
Taylor & Francis Disability in Antiquity
Book SynopsisThis volume is a major contribution to the field of disability history in the ancient world. Contributions from leading international scholars examine deformity and disability from a variety of historical, sociological and theoretical perspectives, as represented in various media. The volume is not confined to a narrow view of âantiquityâ but includes a large number of pieces on ancient western Asia that provide a broad and comparative view of the topic and enable scholars to see this important topic in the round.Disability in Antiquity is the first multidisciplinary volume to truly map out and explore the topic of disability in the ancient world and create new avenues of thought and research.Trade Review"After two millennia the voices of some of the most silent people of antiquity are finally being heard. This volume opens up a world previously all but unknown to us. It is an important collection of essays, in terms of both content and approach, that every ancient historian and classicist, as well as anyone interested in the history of disability, needs to read." - Tim Parkin, University of Manchester, UK"Christian Laes and the contributors to this volume emancipate the disabled in antiquity, not only in the Greek and Roman world, but also in the Near, Middle and Far East. They show them in their social and cultural context and in comparative perspective, making visible the invisible."- Manfred Horstmanshoff, Leiden University, The Netherlands"...the volume’s strength is the breadth of material that has been selected for inclusion ... the volume serves as a fitting starting point for a new era in disability history focussing on the ancient Mediterranean."- Jane Draycott, University of Glasgow, UK, Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2017"Disability in Antiquity is a valuable contribution to the recent field of historical disability studies ... The strength of this book lies in its endeavor to be comprehensive and comparative: collating a wide range of materials from different eras and cultures provides the reader with a holistic understanding of the topic at hand ... this book is an excellent addition to any scholarly library and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of disability. Readers are left not just with a thorough understanding of the topic but also an invitation for future research, as the authors put forth compelling and insightful questions to continue the conversation regarding disability in antiquity."- Heidi De Baerdemaeker-Poole, The Waterford School, USA, The Classical Journal 2018"This collection, richly diverse, holds much of use for the future work in the field. The bibliographies at the end of each chapter are extensive and current and care has been taken by the editor to locate the individual studies in the context of the history of disability studies as a whole."- Patricia Clark, University of Victoria, Canada, H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences OnlineTable of Contents Preface and Acknowledgements Note on the Bibliography List of Contributors Introduction: Disability History and the Ancient World. Past, Present and Future - Christian Laes Disability and Infirmitas in the Ancient World: Demographic and Biological facts in the longue durée - April Pudsey The Ancient (Near) East Disabilities from Head to Toe in Hittite Civilisation - Richard Beal Mesopotamia and Israel - Edgar Kellenberger Ancient Persia and Silent Disability - Omar Coloru Egyptian Medicine and Disabilities: from Pharaonic to Graeco-Roman Egypt - Rosalie David India: Demystifying Disability in Antiquity - M. Miles Disability in Ancient China - Olivia Milburn The Greek World The Greek vocabulary of disabilities - Evelyn Samama Ability and Disability in Classical Athenian Oratory - Martha Lynn Rose Disabilities in Comedy and Tragedy - Robert Garland Legal (and Customary?) Approaches to the Disabled in Ancient Greece - Matthew Dillon The Hellenistic Turn in Bodily Representations: Venting Anxiety in Terracotta Figurines - Alexandre Mitchell Plutarch's 'Philosophy' of Disability: Human after All - Michiel Meeusen The Roman World Roman Perfect bodies. The Stoic View - Bert Gevaert Foul and Fair Bodies, Minds, and Poetry in Roman Satire - Sarah Bond and T.H.M. Gellar-Goad The 'Other' Romans: Deformed Bodies in the Visual Arts of Rome - Lisa Trentin Mobility Impairment in the Sanctuaries of Early Roman Italy - Emma-Jayne Graham Mental Disability? Galen on Mental Health - Chiara Thumiger Madness and Mad Patients According to Caelius Aurelianus - Danielle Gourevitch Disability in the Roman Digest - Peter Toohey The Late Ancient World Hysterical Women? Gender and Disability in Early Christian Narrative – Anna Rebecca Solevåg Augustine's Sermons and Disabilities - Martin Claes and Anthony Dupont Infirmitas in Monastic Rules - Jenni Kuuliala The Coptic and Ethiopic Tradition on Disabilities - Carol Downer The Disability Within: Sexual Desire as Disability in Syriac Christianity - John Martens The Disabled in the Byzantine Empire - Stephanos Efthymiadis What Difference did Islam Make? Disease and Disability in Early Medieval North Africa - Matthew Gaumer Impotent Husbands, Eunuchs and Flawed Women in Early Islamic Law - Hocine Benkheira Disability in Rabbinic Judaism - Lennart Lehmhaus and Julia Watts Belser The endurance of tradition Then and now. Canonical law on disabilities - Irina Metzler The Imperfect body in Nazi Germany: Ancient Concepts, Modern Technologies - Toon Van Houdt Bibliography Index
£43.99