Ancient history Books

Book SynopsisA unique re-interpretation of the city of ancient Rome and its empire, using the tools offered by the latest information technology and graphic design.Trade Review'Packed with stylish graphics, charts and diagrams, providing the reader with a clear and interesting, but also detailed, understanding of how Roman society operated' - Military History Matters'Here’s your chance to see the world of the Roman Empire through the magic of graphic design … A hugely impressive effort and makes fascinating reading' - The ArmourerTable of ContentsIntroduction I. Territories and populations of the empire II. To rule, to worship & provide III. Roman military might Bibliography

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Book SynopsisPortrays Alexander as both a complex personality and a single-minded general, a man capable of such diverse expediencies as patricide or the massacre of civilians. In this title, the author describes his Alexander as the most brilliant (and ambitious) field commander in history.Trade Review"History leaps off the page in this passionate narrative." * Publisher's Weekly *"[The book] drives forward, clarified by Green's easy command of the material and saturated with his sense of that gorgeous, raging, brilliant time." * Kirkus Reviews *Table of ContentsForeword Preface to the 2013 Reprint Preface to the 1991 Reprint Preface and Acknowledgements List of Maps and Battle Plans Key to Abbreviations Table of Dates 1 Philip of Macedon 2 The Gardens of Midas 3 From a View to a Death 4 The Keys of the Kingdom 5 The Captain-General 6 The Road to lssus 7 Intimations of Immortality 8 The Lord of Asia 9 The Quest for Ocean 10 How Many Miles to Babylon? Appendix: Propaganda at the Granicus Notes and References Sources of Information Genealogical Table Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This carefully researched book provides a thorough analysis . . . [as well as] a new perspective on the study of Muhammad and makes a significant contribution to the scholarly literature. Recommended." * CHOICE *"This book should be required reading for any scholar or graduate student of early Islam or Late Antiquity." * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments The Caliphs, 632–809 Introduction: The Making of the Historical Muhammad PART I. BEFORE THE SIRAH-MAGHAZI LITERATURE 1. The Earliest Evidence Three Early Non-Muslim Testimonies to Muhammad Revisiting the Doctrina Iacobi The “Keys to Paradise” in Late Antique Religious Discourse The “Keys to Paradise” in Early Islamic Preaching The Doctrina Iacobi and the Historical Muhammad 2. Muhammad the Merchant The Earliest Depictions of Muhammad as a Merchant Muhammad’s Occupation in the Hadīth and Sīrah-Maghāzī Literature Muhammad as a Trader in Arabic Sources Muhammad and the Monk The Merchants of Mecca PART II. THE BEGINNINGS OF HTE SIRAH-MAGHAZI LITERATURE 3. The Beginnings of the Corpus The Umayyads and the Beginnings of the Sīrah-Maghāzī Tradition `Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān and `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr 4. The Letters of `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr The Chains of Transmission for `Urwah’s Letters A Translation of the Letters Attributed to `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr Letter 1. From the Persecutions in Mecca to the Hijrah to Yathrib Letter 2. Khadījah’s death and the Prophet’s marriage to `A'ishah Letter 3. The Battle of Badr Letter 4. On al-Hudaybiyah, a Gloss on Q. Mumtahinah 60:10–12 Letter 5. The Conquest of Mecca and al-Tāʾif Letter 6. On the Hums Letter 7. `A'ishah’s Accusers Letter 8. On Khuwaylah, the wife of Aws ibn al-Sāmit, a Gloss on Q. Mujādalah 58:1–4 Letter 9. On the Prophet’s Marriage to a Sister of al-Ash`ath ibn Qays 5. The Court Impulse Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī and the Umayyads The Corpus of Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī Ibn Ishāq and the Abbasids The Corpus of Ibn Ishāq PART III. LOCATING THE SIRAH-MAGHAZI LITERATURE IN LATE ANTIQUITY 6. Prophecy and Empires of Faith Prophecy and the Rhetoric of Empire The Vision of Heraclius Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī’s Christian Source Translatio Imperii in the Early Sīrah-Maghāzī Literature 7. Muhammad and Cædmon Cædmon’s Call and The Iqraʾ Narrative From Muhammad’s Call to Cædmon’s Call Mechanisms of Narrative Influence The Iqra' Narrative—Early, but not Historical Excursus: Alternative Accounts of Muhammad’s First Revelation Epilogue: The Future of the Historical Muhammad Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis'Monumental . . . A wonderful book.' Peter Frankopan'Magisterial . . . remarkable.' Guardian'Erudite and highly readable . . . An authoritative guide to the countless ways in which Greek words and ideas have shaped the modern world.' Financial TimesThe Greeks is a story which takes us from the archaeological treasures of the Bronze Age Aegean and myths of gods and heroes, to the politics of the European Union today. It is a story of inventions, such as the alphabet, philosophy and science, but also of reinvention: of cultures which merged and multiplied, and adapted to catastrophic change. It is the epic, revelatory history of the Greek-speaking people and their global impact told as never before.

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Book SynopsisThe legacy of ancient Greece and Rome has been imitated, resisted, misunderstood, and reworked by every culture that followed. In this volume, some five hundred articles by a wide range of scholars investigate the afterlife of this rich heritage in the fields of literature, philosophy, art, architecture, history, politics, religion, and science.Trade ReviewOver a thousand pages in length, with some five hundred articles surveying the survival, transmission, and reception of the cultures of Greek and Roman antiquity, The Classical Tradition is a low-cost Wunderkammer, a vast cabinet of curiosities… The Classical Tradition should rightly evoke…gratitude. This is a book whose long, learned, and witty essay on Rome could stand alone as a surprisingly comprehensive guide to that city’s ancient relics, but that also has time for entries on Armenian Hellenism, Hunayn ibn-Ishaāq, and Gandhara; carpe diem, deus ex machina, and the translatio imperii; the Society of Dilettanti, the Grand Tour, and Fascism. It is possible to get pleasantly lost in these pages, as in the internal courtyards of Pompeii, and not emerge for hours. -- Stephen Greenblatt and Joseph Leo Koerner * New York Review of Books *A heady, hefty new single-volume reference… This is a browser’s paradise… While Greece and Rome are no longer the foundation of education, classical scholarship has never been richer. -- Steve Coates * New York Times Book Review *Entries of commendable clarity and range include those on Homer, on pastoral, on Catullus, and on the Argonauts. This is a valuable reference work, especially for those new to the classical world. -- Victoria Moul * Times Literary Supplement *The Classical Tradition is a guidebook of great erudition that is notably well written and unexpectedly compelling. It definitely is not another of those solemn introductions to ‘the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome.’ Instead it is a lively compendium of the manifold ways in which the enduring creations of the classical tradition, and the Greek and Latin classics, have been imitated, adulated, denounced and misunderstood—or understood all too well—over the past two millennia… Each article brings some unexpected insight or little known fact into the discussion, to illuminating effect… The scholarship is impeccable, but there is a donnish drollery in many of the articles… [A] marvelous guide. -- Eric Ormsby * Wall Street Journal *Now here is a fabulous book—and a bargain to boot. Harvard has produced this gigantic volume, packed with color plates and essays by some of the greatest scholars alive, for the price of a couple of hardback thrillers. Better still, while The Classical Tradition may look like a work of reference, it’s actually one of the best bedside books you could ask for. I know because I’ve been browsing around in it with immense pleasure… Certainly anyone even mildly interested in the Western cultural heritage will find The Classical Tradition a necessary purchase… [It] shows us how deeply the stories, iconic figures and ideas of antiquity succor our imaginations and still suffuse the world we live in. -- Michael Dirda * Washington Post *[The Classical Tradition’s] catalogue of contributors is a who’s who of classical scholarship and includes some of the best known scholars writing for an educated non-specialist public, such as Ingrid Rowland, Simon Goldhill, Mary Beard and Glen Bowersock… [The editors] have sourced not so much anodyne entries on set-piece subjects—the staple of any encyclopedia—as stories brightly told that move through time to relate, for example, the achievements of the Roman poet Horace as they were seen in the ancient world, followed by an assessment of his immediate influence on Latin poetry, and his considerable impact on subsequent poets from Petrarch to Joseph Brodsky, with a slight pause over the case of Byron, who loathed Horace after their encounters in school… The publication of this Harvard guide not so much to the classical past as to the uses we have made of it—its various metamorphoses—is in itself a cultural event. Consider it one among many markers of a contemporary re-attachment to the classical past. -- Luke Slattery * Australian Literary Review *If, as some classicists say, our minds, bodies, government, law, medicine, arts, and fill-in-the-blank are unintelligible without an understanding of the Greco-Roman heritage, then do not waste another minute in ignorance and read this massive work, or at least selections of it, with urgency. A team of distinguished scholars—rivaling the number of warriors in the Battle of Thermopylae—dispenses knowledge and opinions on every imaginable topic under the Classical sun, connecting us to our ancient bloodline. -- Christopher Benson * First Things *Eclectic rather than exhaustive, the compendium is less an encyclopedia than a buffet, in alphabetical order, of topics and glosses. There is, fortunately, no ideological consistency or purpose. The harvesting academics bring home a bumper crop to remind and instruct the reader of how the Classics are still central to the civilized intelligence; food for thought and primers of the imagination. -- Frederic Raphael * Literary Review *Anthony Grafton’s entry on Historiography is as elegant and learned as everything he does. So elegant and learned, in fact, that I wanted to read each and every essay he had written in The Classical Tradition… Being lost in this book can be invigorating. -- Brendan Boyle * New Criterion *Make no mistake, The Classical Tradition is exceedingly delightful… An esoteric tool for the scholar on the face of it, The Classical Tradition turns out to be a guide for living here, now, in the 21st century as we find it. -- Morgan Meis * The Smart Set *A stunningly wonderful compilation… Massive in length and unimpeachable in scholarship, it nonetheless manages to be endlessly absorbing, and often quietly entertaining into the bargain… I’ve pored over this book like a madman ever since setting hands on it and I’ve devoured enough to be certain that it’s a masterpiece of concision, knowledge, judgment and dedication. It’s clearly going to be a companion for life, and all the better for being well-nigh inexhaustible. -- Bradley Winterton * Taipei Times *This absorbing and endlessly browsable compendium, edited by Anthony Grafton, Glenn W. Most, and Salvatore Settis, explores the richness of our classical legacy through scores of essays, alphabetically arranged by subject, that illuminate our past, our present, and probably our future as well. * Barnes and Noble Review *This magnificent compendium explicates the outsized influence Greek and Roman society, literature and myth has had on the medieval and modern European ages that followed, and in turn on the imperial culture exported around the world. The Greek gods and their attributes—from wise Athena and fierce Ares to bibulous Dionysus—are key elements in a worldview we still look back on, at once alien and familiar. A wonder of research and writing that connects both casual browser and scholar to centuries of learning. * Barnes and Noble Review *Whether priced by the pound or the page, this hefty compendium is quite a bargain. Lead editor Grafton…is perhaps the perfect captain for an ambitious work that attempts to capture, as the preface indicates, the ‘reception of Graeco-Roman antiquity in all its dimensions in later cultures.’… More than 150 color images only add to the browsing pleasure. -- B. Juhl * Choice *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewKent Flannery and Joyce Marcus have done a remarkable job in synthesizing the two key disciplines of social anthropology and archaeology, and their book represents a significant advance in our understanding of the evolution of complex societies. -- Peter Turchin * Times Literary Supplement *This is a work of profound importance… [It] yields insights into a multitude of societies in the recent and prehistoric past… Flannery and Marcus’s magnum opus… [This] is a deeply impressive achievement. -- Steven Mithen * London Review of Books *Extraordinarily erudite… It would be an excellent addition to collections on the rise of civilization or on how to use the data gathered by cultural anthropologists and archaeologists to understand broad patterns of social change. Professionals in the field will also benefit from this tour de force by two of archaeology’s most provocative scholars. -- L. L. Johnson * Choice *This provocative work, likely to become an important contribution to the literature of social and political anthropology, will be of interest both to scholars in the field and to anthropology and archaeology enthusiasts seeking understanding of the development and perpetuation of inequality in human societies. -- Elizabeth Salt * Library Journal *The origin of inequality is one of the most basic questions about human societies. We all arose from egalitarian hunter/gatherer ancestors. Why, then, do almost all of us poor peasants now tolerate affluent leaders, whether they are democratically elected presidents or military dictators? In this clear, readable survey, the distinguished archaeologists Kent Flannery and Joyce Marcus extract the answers by comparing the histories of societies over the whole world for the last 10,000 years. This book will become the standard account of long-term political evolution. -- Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel and CollapseBy carefully articulating and integrating archaeological and ethnographic data, Flannery and Marcus present a panoramic view of the development of particular cultures in various parts of the world. Moreover, in selecting case studies the authors have gone beyond the familiar examples so often cited in anthropology textbooks. The Creation of Inequality promises to be a landmark work. -- Robert L. Carneiro, Ph.D., Curator Emeritus and Professor Emeritus, Anthropology, Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural HistoryFlannery and Marcus are two of the most distinguished anthropological archaeologists in the world. The Creation of Inequality distills two lifetimes of work on the origin and evolution of complex societies throughout the ancient world. This work brings much of this together in an eminently readable and fascinating way. -- Charles S. Stanish, Ph.D., Director, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, and Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles

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Book SynopsisThe Anabasis by Xenophon (ca. 430–ca. 354 BC) is an eyewitness account of Greek mercenaries’ challenging “March Up-Country” from Babylon back to the coast of Asia Minor under Xenophon’s guidance in 401 BC.

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Book SynopsisTacitus (ca. AD 55–120) is an essential historian of the early Roman empire. Agricola narrates its subject's career in Britain. Germania is a description of German tribes as known to the Romans. Dialogus concerns the decline of oratory and education.

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Book SynopsisThe major works by Josephus are History of the Jewish War, from 170 BC to his own time, and Jewish Antiquities, from creation to AD 66. Also by him are an autobiographical Life and a treatise Against Apion.

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Book SynopsisQuintus Smyrnaeus' Posthomerica, composed between the late second and mid-fourth centuries AD, boldly adapts Homeric diction and style to fill in the story of the Trojan expedition between the end of the Iliad and the beginning of the Odyssey. This edition replaces the earlier Loeb Classical Library edition by A. S. Way (1913).

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Book SynopsisAppian (ca. AD 95–161) is a principal source for the history of the Roman Republic. His theme is the process by which Rome achieved her contemporary prosperity, and his method is to trace in individual books the story of each nation’s wars with Rome up through her own civil wars. This Loeb edition replaces the original by Horace White (1912–13).Trade ReviewA superb, nuanced translation…It is not simply that McGing updates the translation to reflect contemporary idiom; he also breathes new life into Appian’s prose on almost every page…This exceptionally well executed Loeb is a welcome resource that will be deeply appreciated by all those interested in Appian and his remarkable Roman History as well as expand his appeal to a new generation of readers. -- Alain M. Gowing * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *I have not read any fictions that have more dramatic tension, philosophy, or narrative curiosities than this history of Appian’s. * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *

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Book SynopsisAppian (ca. AD 95–161) is a principal source for the history of the Roman Republic. His theme is the process by which Rome achieved her contemporary prosperity, and his method is to trace in individual books the story of each nation’s wars with Rome up through her own civil wars. This Loeb edition replaces the original by Horace White (1912–13).Trade ReviewA superb, nuanced translation…It is not simply that McGing updates the translation to reflect contemporary idiom; he also breathes new life into Appian’s prose on almost every page…This exceptionally well executed Loeb is a welcome resource that will be deeply appreciated by all those interested in Appian and his remarkable Roman History as well as expand his appeal to a new generation of readers. -- Alain M. Gowing * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *I have not read any fictions that have more dramatic tension, philosophy, or narrative curiosities than this history of Appian’s. * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *

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Book SynopsisAppian (ca. AD 95–161) is a principal source for the history of the Roman Republic. His theme is the process by which Rome achieved her contemporary prosperity, and his method is to trace in individual books the story of each nation’s wars with Rome up through her own civil wars. This Loeb edition replaces the original by Horace White (1912–13).Trade ReviewA superb, nuanced translation…It is not simply that McGing updates the translation to reflect contemporary idiom; he also breathes new life into Appian’s prose on almost every page…This exceptionally well executed Loeb is a welcome resource that will be deeply appreciated by all those interested in Appian and his remarkable Roman History as well as expand his appeal to a new generation of readers. -- Alain M. Gowing * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *I have not read any fictions that have more dramatic tension, philosophy, or narrative curiosities than this history of Appian’s. * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *

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Book SynopsisAristotle (384–322 BC), the great Greek thinker, researcher, and educator, ranks among the most important and influential figures in the history of philosophy, theology, and science. Rhetoric, probably composed while he was still a member of Plato’s Academy, is the first systematic approach to persuasive public speaking and a classic of its kind.Trade ReviewIf you are lucky enough to be still in school or college and you have not read Rhetoric before, I strongly recommend buying this book and reading it cover-to-cover. * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *The Striker rendering is cleaner, pithy, yet recognizable from the still understandable Frese translation. -- Paul J. Cain * Lutheran Book Review *

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Book SynopsisM. Porcius Cato (234–149 BC) remains legendary for his political and military career, his integrity and austere morality, his literary works, his pithy sayings, and his drive to define and to champion the Roman national character. This edition supplies all testimonia about, and all fragments by or attributed to him.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Medium.com’s Books of the Year 2017""One of The Times Literary Supplement’s Books of the Year 2017""One of the Forbes.com “Great Anthropology and History Books of 2017” (chosen by Kristina Killgrove)""One of The Federalist’s Notable Books for 2017""Honorable Mention for the 2018 PROSE Award in Classics, Association of American Publishers""One of Strategy + Business's Best Business Books in Economics for 2018""One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018""I read a lot of history in my spare time, and as best I can tell modern scholarship is telling us that Rome really was something special. What I learned from Peter Temin, and at greater length from Kyle Harper, was that Rome wasn’t your ordinary pre-industrial economy. . . . Harper notes that Rome was held back in some ways by a heavy burden of disease, an unintentional byproduct of urbanization and trade that a society lacking the germ theory had no way to alleviate. But still, the Romans really did achieve remarkable things on the economic front."---Paul Krugman, New York Times"A work of remarkable erudition and synthesis, Harper’s timely study offers a chilling warning from history of 'the awesome, uncanny power of nature'."---P. D. Smith, The Guardian"Original and ambitious. . . . [Harper] provide[s] a panoramic sweep of the late Roman Empire as interpreted by one historian's incisive, intriguing, inquiring mind."---James Romm, Wall Street Journal"Ingenious, persuasive. . . . Lucidly argued." * Publishers Weekly *"A view of the fall of Rome from a different angle, looking beyond military and social collapse to man's relationship to the environment. There is much to absorb in this significant scholarly achievement, which effectively integrates natural, social, and humanistic sciences." * Kirkus *"An excellent new book. . . . [Harper] has managed a prodigious scholarly output that uses date-driven, twenty-first-century methods to solve enduring problems of ancient history."---Noel Lenski, Times Literary Supplement"[A] sweeping retelling of the rise and fall of an empire, [that] was brought down as much by ‘germs as by Germans.'"---Keith Johnson, Foreign Policy"Harper argues his case brilliantly, with deep scientific research into weather, geology and disease."---Harry Mount, The Spectator"An ambitious and convincing reappraisal of one of the most studied episodes of decline and fall in human history."---Ellie Robins, Los Angeles Review of Books"Beautifully and often wittily written, this is history that has some of the impact of a great work of dystopian science fiction."---Tom Holland, BBC History Magazine"This beautifully written book is ground-breaking stuff, both for its method and content, and one of the most important of the year."---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All"Harper’s focus is resolutely historical, dealing only glancingly with modern climate concerns. But the book’s theme is essentially a timeless one: how big, complex societies handle strain and shocks from factors outside of their control. That gives it some relevance to the challenges we face today. . . . If the Fate of Rome proves anything, it’s that nature always has the last laugh."---Asher Elbein, Earther.com"Harper offers a striking reinterpretation with worrisome implications for the present day. . . . Today, we inhabit a global system with a very similar combination of climatologic disturbances, urbanization, less diverse diets, and globalization. Ancient history reveals the risks we run."---Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs"The Fate of Rome is one of the most immediately readable histories of the year, always investing even the most well-known subjects with the vigor of fresh perspective."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly"A recent book makes a convincing case that we need to be more cognizant of the natural world’s role in all this. The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease and the End of An Empire, by the University of Oklahoma’s Kyle Harper, makes a strong argument for the role of plague and a shifting climate in the confluence of political, economic, and social processes that we label the fall of the Roman Empire."---Patrick Wyman, Deadspin"Drawing on cutting-edge research into ice cores, cave stones, lake deposits, and other sediments, Harper explores the influence of the changing climate on Rome’s history. With a storyteller’s flair, he describes how the climate’s impact was by turns subtle and overwhelming, alternately constructive and destructive, but that the changing climate was ultimately a ‘wild card’ that transcended all the other rules of the game. . . . Harper reveals how the fate of Rome was decided not just by emperors, soldiers, and barbarians, but also by climate instability and pernicious disease."---Lucia Marchini, World Archaeology"[Harper's] aim in The Fate of Rome, however, is to foreground one class of explanations that has hitherto been relatively neglected by historians: the influence of climate and disease. Such explanations are not new, but Harper brings to the table a large body of recent scientific research into the evolution of ancient diseases, disease ecology and historical climate variations. . . . The wealth of new detail Harper offers to support his general theses is the true strength of his book."---Jeffrey Mazo, Survival"Harper . . . has assembled compelling evidence that Rome died mainly from natural causes: pandemic diseases and a temperamental climate. . . . We know far more about both the causes of climate change and the ecology of germs than our ancient ancestors did. Perhaps we have a fighting chance of avoiding Rome’s fate, if we heed the true lessons of its fall."---Madeline Ostrander, Undark Magazine"The Fate of Rome should probably sit on shelves next to Gibbon’s masterwork. In time, one feels, it will be seen every bit as much an essential text."---Andrew Masterson, Cosmos Magazine"Gibbon’s is just one of myriad theories as to why Rome fell after a millennium of unprecedented (and never repeated) strength. [Harper] adds a fascinating theory to the corpus—one that could only be ventured at this particular point in history . . . because his thesis rests entirely on modern science. Harper, an able and often eloquent writer argues, Rome was brought down by two environmental components: pestilence and climate. And when these two worked in concert, things really got bad."---Tony Jones, Christian Century"This is an exciting book that provides a fresh look at a perennial topic, the fall of the Roman Empire, in sparkling prose accessible to all economic historians. . . . Others interested in plagues will find time lines and stories to ground the biology in its Roman context. And anyone who is attempting to use the fall of the Roman Empire as an example in contemporary life should read this book before expounding one or another outmoded theory of the fall of the Roman Empire."---Peter Temin, EH.net"Harper has produced a wonderful case study that demands a general rethinking of how we view the decline and fall of the Roman Empire."---Williamson Murray, The Strategy Bridge"[T]he author takes pains not to descend into the kind of reductive or utterly contingent account of the Roman experience that eliminates human agency from the story. Instead Harper furnishes a richly detailed account of the environment in which—and with which—Romans and their enemies contended."---W. Jeffrey Tatum, Quarterly Review of Biology"I recommend The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire by Kyle Harper. Given all of the other threats we face we thankfully don’t have to deal with the added dual challenges of climate change or new pandemics—right?"---William F. Wechsler, Atlantic Council"The Fate of Rome is the book every scholar wants to write once during his or her career. . . . In the end, The Fate of Rome is nothing short of monumental. . . . An important work need not be an excellent one—this is both."---Carson Bay, H-Net Reviews"This is an important book . . . . [Harper] should be congratulated on his attempt to create closer connections between traditional visions of Roman imperial history and the emerging scientific evidence regarding past populations and their environments."---Adam Izdebski, Environment and History"The Fate of Rome is engaging and accessible for readers of all stripes. Historians will appreciate the fuller picture gained from incorporating nonhuman forces into our understanding of the past . . . . Its story will also resonate with those interested in climate change, empire, and science."---John Bowlus, Energy Reporters

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of BookAuthority’s Three Best New Robotics Audiobooks To Read in 2019"

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Book SynopsisExplores the relationship between food, religion and the ever-widening gap between the tables of the rich and the poor. This book has been thoughtfully adapted for the modern kitchen, whilst retaining the true essence of dining in medieval Britain. It is illustrated with scenes of food, feasting and cooking from paintings, tapestries and drawings.

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Book SynopsisFlint Knapping is a journey of archaeological discovery through the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

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Book SynopsisProfessor Nur Masalha is a Palestinian writer, historian and academic. He is currently a member of the Centre for Palestine Studies, SOAS, University of London. He is editor of the Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies. His books include: Expulsion of the Palestinians (1992); A Land Without a People (1997); The Politics of Denial (2003); The Bible and Zionism (Zed 2007); The Palestine Nakba (Zed 2012); and An Oral History of the Palestinian Nakba (with Nahla Abdo, Zed 2018).Trade ReviewNur Masalha has produced an impressive work that challenges those who are trying to erase the Palestinians from history. * International Socialism *The attention to detail, as well as the rigorous explanation is impeccable. Every reading, or re-reading, of this book, will provoke new contemplation. * Middle Eastern Monitor *A sharp, powerfully understated denunciation of Israel’s founding mythology. Masalha’s narratives provide ballast and backstory to the contemporary claims of the dispossessed. * Publishers’ Weekly *Masalha has done an extraordinary job, collating evidence from an abundance of rich sources, to give us a stunning narrative substantiating these identities. * Socialist Review *The most comprehensive English language history of Palestine to date. This book is a painstakingly researched and well-documented deconstruction of the myths too many Zionists and their western apologists have convinced the world to be factual history. * Counterpunch *Masalha has now admirably unearthed this forgotten Palestine. He settles securely and authoritatively into a narrative that commands respect and is not impaired by the passion behind it ... Masalha’s confidence that all will not be extinguished offers hope in the face of a still-uncertain future. He has written his history to encourage the survivors and to enlighten those who sympathise with them. He strives to keep alight the flame of Palestinian culture that, despite every attempt to snuff it out, still burns brightly in the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and in the world he never left behind. * New York Times Review of Books *A work of broad and impressive scholarship. It fills a critical gap in our knowledge of Palestinian history and provides a long overdue corrective to traditional histories. * Ghada Karmi, author of Return: A Palestinian Memoir *This book by Nur Masalha is the fullest and richest text he has produced to date, bringing together his decades of work as a historian to produce a master narrative on Palestine. * Haim Bresheeth, SOAS, University of London *A significant contribution to the restoration of the history of ancient Palestine, written by a prolific indigenous historian of international repute. Brilliantly explicating the relationship between history and colonial ideology in Palestine, with this book Masalha puts Palestinian history back on track. * Hamdan Taha, archaeologist and former Deputy Minister for Tourism and Antiquities, Palestine *An amazing book, long overdue. A tour de force which demystifies the distortions and fabrications around Palestine and the people living in it. * Ilan Pappé, author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine *A masterpiece of history writing. It serves to set the record straight, methodically and rigorously debunking the myth that Palestine is a new concept. * Mazin Qumsiyeh, Founder and Director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History *This erudite, comprehensive study of Palestine explodes many myths. Essential reading for a proper understanding of the efforts to deny the deep historical rootedness of this name, and of its indigenous people. * Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University *Masalha’s meticulous and multifaceted coverage of the history of Palestine from the late Bronze Age to modern times is essential reading for all who hope to understand its people’s irrepressible struggle against occupation and exile. * Rosemary Sayigh, author of The Palestinians: From Peasants to Revolutionaries *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Philistines and Philistia as a Distinct Geo-political Entity: Late Bronze Age to 500 BC 2. The Conception of Palestine in Classical Antiquity and During the Hellenistic Empires (500?135 BC) 3. From Philistia to Provincia ‘Syria Palaestina’ (135 AD?390 AD): The Administrative Province of Roman Palestine 4. The (Three in One) Provincia Palaestina: The Three Administrative Provinces of Byzantine Palestine (4th?Early 7th Centuries AD) 5. Arab Christian Palestine: The Pre-Islamic Arab Kings, Bishops and Poets and Tribes of Provincia Palaestina (3rd?Early 7th Centuries AD) 6. The Arab Province of Jund Filastin (638?1099 AD): Continuities, Adaption and Transformation of Palestine under Islam 7. Between Egypt and al-Sham: Palestine during the Ayyubid, Mamluk and Early Ottoman Periods 8. Palestinian Statehood in the 18th Century: Early Modernities and Practical Sovereignty in Palestine 9. Being Palestine, Becoming Palestine: Rediscovery and New Representations of Modern Palestine and their Impact on Palestinian National Identity 10. Settler-colonialism and Disinheriting the Palestinians: The Appropriation of Palestinian Place Names by the Israeli State

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Book SynopsisAn introduction for students, teachers, and lay readers to the delights of exploring the world of ancient Greece.Trade ReviewWell-written and exceptionally well-illustrated.... An invaluable guidebook for people who want to visit Greece and understand what it is they are seeing. * Times Literary Supplement *An excellent book which should find a ready audience among teachers and students as the standard handbook for classes in Greek archaeology. * Classical Outlook *Biers' book is an excellent and comprehensive introduction to the subject; this new edition retains its original virtues of reliability, clarity and readability, and adds to its already generous quota of illustrations. It should continue to be a standard textbook for years to come. -- Ruth Westgate * Classical Bulletin *For a history of the art of sculpture, painting, and architecture of Classical Greece and her immediate ancestors, The Archaeology of Greece is an excellent choice. * Archaeology Newsletter *Teachers, students, and travelers should be grateful to author and press for the timely production of a well-balanced, informative, and stimulating introduction. * Archaeology *William Biers' first edition of this book served well a generation of scholars and lay people alike as a standard introduction. A second edition of this valuable work is, therefore, most welcomed.... The Archaeology of Greece is the best general introduction to the subject. Biers' command of the subject, his engaging writing style, and the wealth of illustrations make this work in its second edition a joy to read and use. -- Thomas V. Brisco * Southwestern Journal of Theology *Table of ContentsPreface Preface to the Second Edition Abbreviations1. Archaeology in Greece 2. The Minoans 3. The Mycenaeans 4. The Dark Ages 5. The Geometric Period 6. The Orientalizing Period 7. The Archaic Period 8. The Fifth Century 9. The Fourth Century 10. The Hellenistic Age EpilogueSuggestions for Further Reading Select Bibliography Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"It is hard to overstate the attractions of this translation. In a rhythm sinewy and flexible, with language that is precise, lyrical and fresh, Lombardo's Iliad pulses with all the power and luminosity of the Greek. He shows extraordinary sensitivity to the images and aural effects of the ancient poem. There are brilliant touches on every page. . . . Altogether this is as good as Homer gets in English." —Richard P. Martin, Princeton University"The most daring, rapid and colloquial translation of Homer's Iliad that I know. [Lombardo's] taut and punchy verse conveys admirably and accurately the excitement and desperation of the battle, the urgency of the commanders, the occasional flashes of humor, the passion of Homer's narrative and the vivid and subtle humanity of his characters." —Richard Janko, University College, London"Lombardo's Iliad should be required for every History of Civilization class in America!" —David R. Wilson, Brigham Young University"[R]emarkably true to the centrality of performance in Homer, the varied pacing and tone, the clarity, speed, narrative drive, and moments of breathtaking beauty." —Rachel Hadas, Rutgers University"Homer has been well served in recent years by good translators. But this reviewer predicts that the dominant translation for the 21st century will be this masterful version by Stanley Lombardo. . . . In her extremely useful Introduction, Murnaghan lucidly summarizes and makes available for the student and general reader the results of complex scholarship on Homer, and she offers sensitive guidance for reading the Iliad as a work that documents the triumph of the human spirit and not merely as a war poem." —Leon Golden, CHOICE"Accessible as Lombardo's translation is, it is rendered even more so by the superb Introduction by Sheila Murnaghan, which provides a rich but lucid discussion of the classical context of the epic. This handsome, superbly done Iliad will be enjoyed by everyone. Highly recommended." —T. F. Merrill, Library Journal

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Book SynopsisThis translation with notes is primarily for classroom use. It aims to be true to the basic meaning of the text and tries to bring across some of the beauty of the poetry as well as the rhetorical power of the dialogue and speeches.Trade ReviewThis is a very useful edition, excellent for classroom purposes. The translation is clear and lively, and several students commented on how much they enjoyed it. The introduction provides an excellent overview of the issues in the play, as well as of earlier scholarship, making it a good resource for more advanced classes. The cover photo is an added bonus and provided the starting point for stimulating class discussion. --James B. Rives, York UniversityAn excellent translation which captures Bacchae's combination of colloquial and lyric language. The Notes and Introduction are also very helpful. --Mary-Kay Gamel, University of California, Santa Cruz

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Book SynopsisPeter Meineck and Paul Woodruff's collaboration on this new translation combines the strengths that have recently distinguished both as translators of Greek tragedy: expert knowledge of the Greek and of the needs of the teaching classicist, intimate knowledge of theatre, and an excellent ear for the spoken word. Their Oedipus Tyrannus features foot-of-the-page notes, an Introduction, stage directions and a translation characterized by its clarity, accuracy, and power.Trade ReviewA clear, vigorous, spare, actable translation, and with it, excellent apparatus (Intro., notes, bibliography); all in a slim and affordable volume. I will use when I next teach Oedipus. Hackett is an invaluable resource!--Rachel Hadas, Rutgers UniversityI have enjoyed all of the recent Hackett editions of translations of Greek literature and "Oedipus Tyrannus” is certainly no exception. Meineck and Woodruff got things just right, from employing "Tyrannus” instead of "Rex” in the title (as has become traditional, though it lends an erroneous sense to the play from the outset) to Woodruff’s very fine and accessible Introduction to the suspenseful, poetic and powerful rendering of the play itself. Meineck’s theatrical sensibility and knowledge are evident, yet the text never becomes too "stagey” nor wanders far from the Greek. I will definitely use this text along with other terrific Hackett editions in my courses.--Lisa Rengs George, Arizona State UniversityAn excellent translation. . . . Paul Woodruff’s Introduction, written for a general audience, is clear and well-informed.--Herman Van Looy, L'Antiquité Classique

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Book SynopsisSelections from both the Iliad and the Odyssey, made with an eye for those episodes that figure most prominently in the study of mythology.Trade Review"A good idea—its utility far outweighs qualms purists have about students not reading every last item in the catalogue of ships. The translation is vigorous and readable." —Andrew Ford, Princeton University"Not only does one get an excellent translation of both Homer's Iliad and Odyssey under one cover, but the selections included are infinitely better and longer than what one normally gets in anthologies of Greek literature. For courses in which entire texts cannot be used, this is by far the best choice available today." —Kostas Myrsiades, Westchester University"The Essential Homer fills a long-felt need for an edition that offers a sizable selection of the books and passages most likely to be used in undergraduate courses. It's a wonderful help." —Richard P. Martin, Stanford University"This is a wonderful translation—readable, lively, preserves the essential spirit. Students get caught up in it. The abridgment is a good text for general classes." —Nicolle Hirschfeld, California State University, Long Beach"A fine poetic translation that today's students can understand. The selections are very well chosen for a course in which time limitations prevent reading the whole of either epic." —Lillian Doherty, University of Maryland

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Book SynopsisThis volume offers the fruits of Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff''s dynamic collaboration on the plays of Sophocles'' Theban cycle, presenting the translators'' Oedipus Tyrannus (2000) along with Woodruff''s Antigone (2001) and a muscular new Oedipus at Colonus by Meineck. Grippingly readable, all three translations combine fidelity to the Greek with concision, clarity, and powerful, hard-edged speech. Each play features foot-of-the-page notes, stage directions, and line numbers to the Greek. Woodruff''s Introduction discusses the playwright, Athenian theatre and performance, the composition of the plays, and the plots and characters of each; it also offers thoughtful reflections on major critical interpretations of these plays.

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Book SynopsisContains the English translations of Apollodorus' "Library" and Hyginus' "Fabulae" - the two important surviving 'handbooks' of classical mythography. This work discusses the issues of authorship, aim, and influence. It also includes an index of people and geographic locations, and an index of authors and works cited by the mythographers.Trade ReviewTo refer to this volume as just a translation is misleading, because Smith and Trzaskoma have provided much more, most notably the best short introduction to ancient mythography--and these particular authors--available in English. . . . The translations themselves are clear and accurate. [An] admirable volume. Smith and Trzaskoma are to be commended. --Kris Fletcher, Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewEvery student and scholar of Greek mythology and the mythographic tradition will want to own this book, and every library should have it on the shelf. Smith and Trzaskoma have produced an indispensable volume that is easy to use and understand. They have invested a tremendous amount of time and scholarship to make this a valuable resource for traditionalists and non-traditionalists alike. Even the general reader can benefit from their judicious essays, thoughtful translations, and concise textual notes. Teachers of mythology will welcome this handbook for its readability and applicability to general mythology books currently in use. Everything about this work will make it the standard handbook for years to come. --Paul Properzio, The Classical JournalThese two translations are excellent, finding a good balance of accuracy and readability. . . . the Apollodorus, which has a few relatively recent competitors, adopts a style that will be much more welcome to readers than other renderings currently available. The translation of the Fabulae will be especially welcome for teaching, since it is difficult to find this in a readable English version. The General Introduction strikes a balance--both informed and informal--that will appeal to instructors and students. There is certainly nowhere else one can go to find such a succinct yet thorough discussion of these major Greek mythographers. . . the discussion remains readable, focused, and pleasantly informal. The maps and genealogical charts are excellent and useful. . . these charts create something truly useful for student readers. --Daniel W. Berman, Pennsylvania State University

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Book SynopsisAn abridgement of Stanley Lombardo's translation of the "Odyssey". It offers more than half of the epic, including all of its best-known episodes and finest poetry, while providing concise summaries for omitted books and passages.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing over 130 colour maps of ancient physical and human landscapes spanning Britain to India and deep into the Sahara, this atlas is a compact kaleidoscope of peoples, migrations, empires, strife, cultures, cities and travels from Greece's Bronze Age to Rome's fall in the West.This revised edition of the Atlas of Classical History equips readers with a clear visual grasp of the spatial dimension, a vital aspect for understanding history. Users gain insight into the formative roles of physical landscape seas, rivers, mountains, deserts in Mediterranean peoples' development. The maps in all their variety of scope, scale and colour offer an absorbing means to track the growth of states on the ground, especially their relationships, conflicts, urbanization, communications and cultures. Each map is enriched by readily identifiable symbols and concise accompanying texts, as well as recommendations for further reading. With its vast geographical sweep in a compact formTable of ContentsMaps; Battles, Cities, Regions, Shrines to around 300 BCE: Locator; Egypt and the Near East, 1200-500 BCE; Troy: Citadel; Troy: Lower Town; Neolithic and Bronze Age Greece and Aegean; Neolithic and Bronze Age Crete; Neolithic and Bronze Age Cyprus; Knossos; Mycenae: Citadel; Mycenae Outside the Citadel; Homer’s World; Mainland Greece in Homer’s Epics; Iron Age Greece; Greek Colonization, 800-500 BCE; Archaic Greece; Persian Empire, 550-330 BCE; Persepolis; Marathon, 490 BCE; Persian Wars; Thermopylae, 480 BCE: Ephialtes’ Route; Artemision, 480 BCE; Salamis, 480 BCE; Plataea, 479 BCE; Greece and the Aegean (Hellespont inset); Classical Greece; Cimmerian Bosphorus; Olympia; Attica; Athens; Classical Athens (5th and 4th Centuries BCE); Roman Athens; Delphi; Sparta; Miletus; Priene; Halicarnassus; Akragas; Greek and Punic Sicily; Athenian Empire; Greek Dialects around 450 BCE; Peloponnesian War, 431-404 BCE (Sicily inset); Pylos/Sphacteria, 425 BCE; Syracuse (and Athenian Siege, 415-413 BCE); Explorers; Anabasis (Spring 400 to Winter 400/399 BCE); Leuctra, 371 BCE; Second Athenian League; Chaeronea, 338 BCE; Growth of Macedonian Power, 359-336 BCE; Alexander’s Campaigns, 334-323 BCE; Granicus River, 334 BCE; Issus, 333 BCE; Tyre, 332 BCE; Gaugamela, 331 BCE; Hydaspes River, 326 BCE; Alexandria Oxiana (Ai Khanoum); Alexandria; Hellenistic World: Kingdoms; Hellenistic World: Aegean; Hellenistic World: Asia Minor; Hellenistic World: Syria-Egypt; Pergamum; Delos City; Delos Centre; Delos Island; Etruria and Etruscan Expansion; Early Italy and its Neighbours; Peoples of Italy, and their Languages to the First Century CE; Latium, 600-300 BCE; Campania; Roman Expansion in Italy to 241 BCE; Cosa; Rome by 300 BCE; Roman Colonization in Italy to the Time of Augustus (Campania inset); Second Punic War (First Punic War inset); Cannae, 216 BCE; Zama, 202 BCE; Roman Campaigns in the Iberian Peninsula, 218-133 BCE; Numantia: Roman Siege, 133 BCE; Numantia: Region; Rome in the Late Republic; Rome’s Empire around 60 BCE; Roman Campaigns, 58-30 BCE; Actium, 31 BCE; Augusta Praetoria (Aosta); Italy from Alps to Campania (including Corsica); Italy from Apulia to Bruttium; Sicily and Sardinia; Rome’s Empire and Beyond: Locator; Rome at the Death of Augustus, 14 CE; Environs of Imperial Rome; Ostia; Portus; Second Battle of Cremona, 69 CE; Pompeii; Herculaneum; Italian Towns with Alimentary Schemes; Rome at the Death of Trajan, 117 CE; Rome’s Empire around 60 CE; Britain; Hadrian’s Wall; Antonine Wall; Iberian Peninsula; Vipasca; Thamugadi (Timgad); Africa; Lepcis Magna; Africa Proconsularis and Numidia; Cyrene; Lutetia Parisiorum (Paris); Gaul; Germany; Rhine-Danube Limes, 40-260 CE; Danube-Black Sea; Crete; Greece; Cyprus; Aphrodisias; Asia Minor; Paul’s Journeys; Syria-Persian Gulf; Antioch (Syria); Dura; Jerusalem/Aelia Capitolina, 2nd-3rd Centuries CE; Jerusalem on Madaba Map; Judaea; Masada (and Roman Siege, 73 CE); Egypt; Arabia; India; Rome’s Empire around 211 CE; Circuit of the Roman Empire by Aurelius Gaius, 285-299 CE; Etesian Winds and Sea Currents; Sea Routes in Diocletian’s Edict on Prices; Rome at the Death of Constantine, 337 CE; Split; Constantinople; Rome’s Empire around 314 CE; Christianity by the Early Fourth Century; Roman World on Two Portable Sundials; Barbarian Invasions of the Roman Empire, 370-500 CE; Roman Empire and Successor Kingdoms around 530 CE; Further Reading; Gazetteer.

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Book SynopsisThis analysis of the evidence shows that the end of the Roman era and birth of Anglo-Saxon rule was a drawn out process - much of the nuances has been lost over time. This insight into a neglected time in Britain's history offers an important re-evaluation of the period.

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Book SynopsisInside the Roman Legions aims to tell the story of the Roman soldier through a holistic, empathetic examination of what the experience of military service in the Middle Republic was really like. It traces real examples of soldiers described in the ancient sources to reveal how they travelled, how they were organized and what campaign objectives they faced. Specifically, the author follows the ordinary soldier Spurius Ligustinus, whose life is related by the historian Livy, as an example, detailing the experiences of his career. The book begins by discussing the young future soldier's background and what military values were conveyed to him through the prevailing culture of the time. It then follows him through a range of potential experiences, examining camp conditions and training with various types of weapons and armour, and proceeds to take the reader through the experience of fighting in a pitched battle step by step. It also addresses experiences that only some soldiers would have

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Holland, who co-hosts the podcast The Rest Is History, is at his best when having fun with Rome''s bloody history'' The Times ''A book for lovers of traditional, grand sweep narrative history'' Sunday TimesThe definitive history of Rome''s golden age - antiquity''s ultimate superpower at the pinnacle of its greatnessThe Pax Romana has long been revered as a golden age. At its peak, the Roman Empire stretched from Scotland to Arabia, and contained perhaps a quarter of humanity. It was the wealthiest and most formidable state the world had yet seen.Beginning in 69AD, a year that saw four Caesars in succession rule the empire, and ending some seven decades later with the death of Hadrian, Pax presents a dazzling history of Rome at the height of its power. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland portrays the Roman EmpiTrade ReviewHolland, who co-hosts the podcast The Rest Is History, is at his best when having fun with Rome's bloody history. He has a novelist's vibrant writing style and turns a good phrase. Familiar elements of this period, such as the destruction of Pompeii, still feel fresh in his retelling and he avoids the temptation of so many joyless modern classicists to moralise about what rotters these Romans were with their slavery and their bloodshed and their lack of a proper safeguarding mission statement. He judges them purely by their own values -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *This is not an underexamined period of history, but Holland handles his material (his sources are primarily Roman: Pliny, Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio) with rigour and elan. He has a compelling narrative style and an eye for diverting detail. This is a book for lovers of traditional, grand sweep narrative history -- Gavanndra Hodge * Sunday Times *For all the years that have separated the publication of each book in his trilogy, Holland is a surprisingly consistent writer, one whose style you could recognise at a glance. There may be less back-stabbing and court intrigue in this book than in Rubicon and Dynasty; but in allowing us to tread the further reaches of empire through the eyes of the men holding the reins, Pax provides a deeper and more complex vista on Rome... a masterful blend of subtle politics and carnal colour -- Daisy Dunn * Sunday Telegraph *A sweeping, colourful history of Rome at its swaggering, superpower zenith by The Rest is History podcaster and bestselling author. Hail Caesar! Hail Tom Holland! -- Robbie Millen * The Times *A triumph... Holland has a talent for drawing out the character and concerns of the age, whilst neither omitting nor being overwhelmed by the facts and dates. His account of the eruption of Vesuvius is dramatic, moving and rivals the set-pieces of the classical historians * Independent *Holland is a master of immediacy... [a] fascinating time, skilfully sparked into life * Spectator *Holland's superb storytelling takes us right into this era as viewed from every standpoint, offering fresh insights into well-worn history * Observer *Masterful and engaging... The idea of death as the foundation of life, chaos as the foundation of order, war as the foundation of peace, is central to this outstanding book * Aspects of History *Pax is a superb conclusion to Holland's trilogy. There's no other historian who can bring the ancient world before the reader in all its sights, sounds and smells, its pomp, magnificence and martial glory, its strivings and sufferings and horror. Riveting from first page to last -- Christopher Hart * Daily Mail *A rich and fascinating period of history requires a companionable guide. Holland's erudite and irresistibly readable account amounts to a marvellous vademecum -- Llewelyn Morgan * History Today *The span of conflicts Mr Holland deals with in Pax, from Britain to modern Iran, showcases the breadth of his learning... One looks forward to many future deep dives with this remarkably gifted historian * Wall Street Journal *As ever, it is a pleasure to trail after Tom Holland, a loquacious, ebullient guide... full of Hollandesque phrasemaking that can both delight his readers and imprint history on our dull brains * Irish Examiner *A lucid account... Holland's feel for the lived experience of antiquity is one of the best features of the book * New York Times Book Review *Holland has an eye for an evocative anecdote. The chapter opening with the pen*s of a 90-year-old man being inspected in a court of law is a masterpiece. And his prose is superb. In one poetic passage he describes 'smoke drifting from the roofs of tenant farms; vineyards and orchards laden down with succulent fruit; herds of cattle lowing softly in the deepening twilight'. Rarely has the distant past seemed so vividly alive * Financial Times *A magnificent, richly detailed and always fluently readable book. He modulates the pace of his narrative excellently and I have read nothing which gives such a detailed and compelling account of the political and administrative life of the provinces and their relations with the imperial government. A better history for the general reader could not have been written * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisWolkow have produced an accurate and elegant translation accompanied by rich commentary.Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionThe Orphic HymnsOrpheus to Mousaios1. To Hekate2. To Prothyraia3. To Night4. To Sky5. To Ether6. To Protogonos7. To the Stars8. To the Sun9. To Selene10. To Physis11. To Pan12. To Herakles13. To Kronos14. To Rhea15. To Zeus16. To Hera17. To Poseidon18. To Plouton19. To Zeus the Thunderbolt20. To Astrapaios Zeus21. To the Clouds22. To the Sea23. To Nereus24. To the Nereids25. To Proteus26. To Earth27. To the Mother of the Gods28. To Hermes29. Hymn to Persephone30. To Dionysos31. Hymn to the Kouretes32. To Athene33. To Nike34. To Apollon35. To Leto36. To Artemis37. To the Titans38. To the Kouretes39. To Korbas40. To Eleusinian Demeter41. To Mother Antaia42. To Mise43. To the Seasons44. To Semele45. Hymn to Dionysos Bassareus and Triennial46. To Liknites47. To Perikionios48. To Sabazios49. To Hipta50. To Lysios Lenaios51. To the Nymphs52. To the God of Triennal Feasts53. To the God of Annual Feasts54. To Silenos Satyros and Bacchae55. To Aphrodite56. To Adonis57. To Chthonic Hermes58. To Eros59. To the Fates60. To the Graces61. Hymn to Nemesis62. To Dike63. To Justice64. Hymn to Nomos65. To Ares66. To Hephaistos67. To Asklepios68. To Hygeia69. To the Erinyes70. To the Eumenides71. To Melinoe72. To Tyche73. To Daimon74. To Leukothea75. To Palaimon76. To the Muses77. To Mnemosyne78. To Dawn79. To Themis80. To Boreas81. To Zephyros82. To Notos83. To Okeanos84. To Hestia85. To Sleep86. To Dream87. To DeathNotesSelect BibliographyIndex NominumIndex Locorum

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology /Historical background /Organization of the Late Roman Navy /Warships and boats /Fighting on the sea: Roman naval tactics during the Late Empire /Employment in war /Glossary /Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Roman centurion, holding the legionaries steady before the barbarian horde and then leading them forward to victory, was the heroic exemplar of the Roman world. This was thanks to the Marian reforms, which saw the centurion, although inferior in military rank and social class, superseding the tribune as the legion''s most important officer. This period of reform in the Roman Army is often overlooked, but the invincible armies that Julius Caesar led into Gaul were the refined products of 50 years of military reforms. Using specially commissioned artwork and detailed battle reports, this new study examines the Roman legionary soldier at this crucial time in the history of the Roman Republic from its domination by Marius and Sulla to the beginning of the rise of Julius Caesar.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Recruitment Training Appearance Equipment Conditions of service Belief and belonging On Campaign The experience of battle Aftermath Glossary Further reading, websites etc Index

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Book SynopsisDrawing on 30 years of scholarship, this is a unique, richly illustrated history of the Ancient Assyrian Army and Empire. For the greater part of the period from the end of the 10th century to the 7th century BC, the Ancient Near East was dominated by the dynamic military power of Assyria. This book examines the empire that is now acknowledged as the first ''world'' empire, and thus progenitor of all others. Fully illustrated in colour throughout, with photographs of artefacts, drawings and maps, it focuses on the Assyrian Army, the instrument that secured such immense conquests, now regarded by historians as being the most effective of pre-classical times. It was not only responsible for the creation of history''s first independent cavalry arm, but also for the development of siege weapons later used by both Greece and Rome.There is a great deal of visual evidence showing how this army evolved over three centuries. During the rediscovery and excavation of thTrade ReviewHealy’s book will become the go-to volume for anyone wanting to explore the military history of Assyria, with plenty of other more general insights into Assyrian history. * History of War *Packed full of archaeological images, pictures, illustrations and maps showing how this army was dressed, its equipment and weaponry and the strategies it used. It brings the Assyrian empire back to life for the reader. * Army Rumour Service *The Ancient Assyrians is a must-read for all interested in military history, ancient history or the captivating world of the Assyrians in general. With its comprehensive coverage, stunning visuals and engaging storytelling, Healy’s book stands as a definitive resource on this remarkable civilisation. * Aspects of History *Table of ContentsPreface Part One: The Empire Chapter One: Introduction Chapter Two: Assyria, 934–745 BC Chapter Three: Assyria, 745–720 BC Chapter Four: Sargon II, 721–705 BC Chapter Five: Sennacherib, 704–681 BC Chapter Six: Esarhaddon, 680–669 BC Chapter Seven: Ashurbanipal, 668–?627 BC Chapter Eight: The End of the Assyrian Empire, 627–612 BC Part Two: The Army Chapter Nine: 'The Invincible Weapon' Chapter Ten: Aspects of the Neo-Assyrian War Machine Chapter Eleven: The Assyrian Army at War Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExplores the critical battle of Carrhae, a fascinating tale of treachery, tactics, and topography in which Rome experienced one of its most humiliating defeats.The Battle of Carrhae is from a heady moment in Roman history that of the clever carve-up of power between the ''First Triumvirate'' of Caius Iulius Caesar, Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Marcus Licinius Crassus (the Roman general who had famously put down the Spartacan revolt). It is a fascinating tale of treachery, tactics, and topography in which Rome experienced one of its most humiliating defeats at the hands of the Parthians, not far from a trade-route town hunkered down on the fringes of the arid wastes of northern Mesopotamia, sending shock waves through the Roman power structure. In this work, classical historian Dr Nic Fields draws out the crucial psychological and political factors (including Crassus'' lust for military glory and popular acclaim) that played a key role in this brutal battle. DesTrade ReviewThe author has produced a thoroughly researched profile of this humiliating defeat of one of the Triumvirate and the loss of most of a Roman army. He combines a knowledge of the classical sources (as usual, few in number and reliability) with a grasp of the military issues at both strategic and tactical level. -- Chris Jarvis * Miniature Wargames *Complemented by excellent illustrations and maps plus photographs where appropriate I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent book. * Amy Rumour Service *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN OPPOSING COMMANDERS Marcus Licinius Crassus Surena OPPOSING FORCES Crassus’ army Surena’s army THE BACKGROUND TO WAR Departing Rome The setting THE BATTLE OF CARRHAE Into Parthia The day of battle The Roman retreat The death of Crassus The reasons why AFTERMATH Cicero in Cilicia Bloodshed at home Roman renegade Marcus Antonius’ adventure Augustus the avenger ABBREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book SynopsisFully illustrated, this study investigates the origins, evolution and use of the mail and scale armour worn by the soldiers and gladiators of Imperial Rome.Less glamorous than the Roman Army''s instantly recognizable plate armour but much more versatile, mail and scale armour were used by both legionaries and auxiliaries throughout Rome''s history. Developed by the Celts and quickly adopted by the Romans, mail armour was easy to make and required little maintenance. Scale was a much older form of armour, originating in the Near East during the second millennium BC. As with mail, it was used by both auxiliaries and legionaries, but like plate armour, it was much more fragile than mail. Both types of armour were also used by gladiators (principally as arm defences).New discoveries in both mail and scale, as well as in hybrid forms that mixed the two, mean that much more is now known about the development of these types of defence during the Roman period, their eTable of ContentsIntroduction Mail Armour Scale Armour Lamellar Armour Manufacture and Decoration Mail and Scale Armour in Use Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe first dedicated examination of Alexander the Great''s final battle and acknowledged tactical masterpiece. In the years that followed Alexander the Great''s victory at Gaugamela on 1 October 331 BC, his Macedonian and Greek army fought a truly ''Herculean'' series of campaigns in what is today Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. But it was in the Indus Valley, on the banks of the Hydaspes River (known today as the Jhelum) in 326 BC that Alexander would fight his last major battle against King Poros. Using detailed maps and 3D diagrams, this beautifully illustrated work shows how Alexander used feints and deception to transport a select force from his army across the swollen River Hydaspes without attracting the enemy''s attention, allowing his troops the crucial element of surprise. Battlescene artworks and photographs reveal the fascinating array of forces that clashed in the battle, including Indian war elephants and chariots, and horse arcTrade ReviewI particularly enjoyed finding out more on the Indian side of the campaign. * Wargames Illustrated *Table of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN Literary sources CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Alexander Poros OPPOSING FORCES Alexander’s army Poros’ army THE BATTLE OF THE HYDASPES The crossing The battle Analysis AFTERMATH ABBREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book SynopsisThis engrossing book pits the legionaries of Imperial Rome against their Germanic and Sarmatian opponents in the 2nd century AD.Shortly after Marcus Aurelius came to power in AD 161, the Roman Empire was racked by a series of military crises. While unrest in Britain and a new war with Parthia were swiftly dealt with, the invasion of Roman territory by the Chatti and Chauci peoples heralded a resurgent threat from the empire's European neighbours. Soon the Marcomanni and the Quadi, as well as the Dacians and the Sarmatian Iazyges, would attack the Romans in a series of savage conflicts that continued until AD 175 and would see the first invasion of Roman Italy since the beginning of the 1st century BC.In this book, the two sides' objectives, weapons and equipment and fighting styles are assessed and compared in the context of three featured battles: Carnuntum (170), where a Roman legion was vanquished and Italy invaded; the Battle on the Ice' (172), where the RTable of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Carnuntum, AD 170 The Battle on the Ice, AD 172 The Miracle of the Rain, AD 174 Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe first dedicated, illustrated study of the events of the Second Punic War in Iberia, which served as a launch pad for the Carthaginian invasion of Rome.Iberia was one of three crucial theatres of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome. Hannibal of Carthage's siege of Saguntum in 219 BC triggered a conflict that led to immense human and material losses on both sides, pitting his brother Hasdrubal against the Republican Roman armies seeking to gain control of the peninsula. Then, in 208 BC, the famous Roman general Scipio Africanus defeated Hasdrubal at Baecula, forcing Hasdrubal's army out of Iberia and on to its eventual annihilation at the Metaurus. In this work, military historian Mir Bahmanyar brings to life the key personalities and events of this important theatre of the war, and explains why the Roman victory at Baecula led to a strategic shift and Carthage's eventual defeat. It covers Scipio Africanus' brilliant victory at Ilipa

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Book SynopsisGives a clear narrative for 18 selected battles and sieges from the Classical Greek period.

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