Ancient history Books
Oxford University Press Inc Rome Strategy of Empire
Book Synopsis
£16.99
Quercus Publishing Celts, The - Search for a Civilisation
Book SynopsisTV tie-in to major new BBC series revealing a new history of the Celts and their international legacy today.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of evocative scientific storytelling * Brian Cox *
£8.79
Orion Publishing Co The Missing Thread
Book Synopsis''A brilliant concept, executed with enviable elegance'' Lucy Worsley''A gem of a book. Thanks to Daisy Dunn''s elegant and lively retelling of history, the women of the ancient world are restored to the centre of the story of classical antiquity. It was a joy to read.'' Peter FrankopanSpanning 3,000 years, from the birth of Minoan Crete to the death of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in Rome, a magisterial new history of the ancient world told, for the very first time, through women. For centuries, men have been writing histories of antiquity filled with warlords, emperors and kings. But when it comes to incorporating women aside from Cleopatra and Boudica, writers have been more comfortable describing mythical heroines than real ones. While Penelope and Helen of Troy live on in the imagination, their real-life counterparts have been relegated to the margins. In The Missing Thread, Daisy Dunn inverts this tradition and puts the women of history at the centre of the narrative.These pages present Enheduanna, the earliest named author, the poet Sappho and Telesilla, who defended her city from attack. Here is Artemisia, sole female commander in the Graeco-Persian Wars, and Cynisca, the first female victor at the Olympic Games. Cleopatra may be the more famous, but Fulvia, Mark Antony''s wife, fought a war on his behalf. Many other women remain nameless but integral. Through new examination of the sources combined with vivid storytelling Daisy Dunn shows us the ancient world through fresh eyes, and introduces us to an incredible cast of ancient women, weavers of an entire world.
£11.69
Cornell University Press The Archaeology of Greece
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
£24.69
Profile Books Ltd Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2008 'The world's most controversial classicist debunks our movie-style myths about the Roman town with meticulous scholarship and propulsive energy' Laura Silverman, Daily Mail The ruins of Pompeii, buried by an explosion of Vesuvius in 79 CE, offer the best evidence we have of everyday life in the Roman empire. This remarkable book rises to the challenge of making sense of those remains, as well as exploding many myths: the very date of the eruption, probably a few months later than usually thought; or the hygiene of the baths which must have been hotbeds of germs; or the legendary number of brothels, most likely only one; or the massive death count, maybe less than ten per cent of the population. An extraordinary and involving portrait of an ancient town, its life and its continuing re-discovery, by Britain's favourite classicist.Trade ReviewThis marvellous book won the Wolfson History Prize and is a model of subtle but accessible writing about the past -- Judith Rice * Guardian *Classicist Mary Beard has had a great time rooting about that ghostly place, and she has brought it quite splendidly back to life. -- Nicholas Bagnall * Sunday Telegraph *To the vast field of Pompeiiana she brings the human touch... this absorbing, inquisitive and affectionate account of Pompeii is a model of its kind. Beard has caught the quick of what was and, in our lives today, remains the same. -- Ross Leckie * The Times *Very readable and excellently researched... Beard's clear-sighted and accessible style makes this a compelling look into history. -- Alexander Larman * Observer *If you want to know what really happened in the last days of the petrified city, Beard's meticulous reconstruction will fill you in, scraping away many of your preconceptions as it goes, while her evocative writing will transport you back. * Guardian *The world's most controversial classicist debunks our movie-style myths about the Roman town with meticulous scholarship and propulsive energy ... scrutinising and animated in equal measure. -- Laura Silverman * Daily Mail *A brilliant portrait ... this meticulous, vivid study of life in the town rightly and resolutely focuses on the living city. -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Papyrus: THE MILLION-COPY GLOBAL BESTSELLER
Book SynopsisThe bestselling phenomenon - an enthralling 6,000-year journey through the history of books and readingA FINANCIAL TIMES, ECONOMIST AND MAIL ON SUNDAY BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZE 2023'Outstanding, universal and unique' NEW YORK TIMES'A literary phenomenon.' TLS'Masterly.' ECONOMIST'Mindboggling' TELEGRAPHLong before books were mass-produced, scrolls hand copied on reeds pulled from the Nile were the treasures of the ancient world. Emperors and Pharaohs were so determined to possess them that they dispatched emissaries to the edges of the earth to bring them back.In Papyrus, celebrated classicist Irene Vallejo traces the dramatic history of the book and the fight for its survival. This is the story of the book's journey from oral tradition to scrolls to codices, and how that transition laid the very foundation of Western culture. And it is a story full of heroic adventures, bloodshed and megalomania - from the battlefields of Alexander the Great and the palaces of Cleopatra to the libraries of war-torn Sarajevo and Oxford.An international bestseller, Papyrus brings the ancient world to life and celebrates the enduring power of the written word.Trade ReviewA literary phenomenon . . . didactic and daring . . . elegant and richly digressive. * Times Literary Supplement *'Outstanding, universal and unique' * New York Times *[A] bestselling phenomenon... Irene Vallejo recounts the birth of literary culture in the ancient world while interweaving dynamic, thrilling tales that underscore and celebrate the power of words to change the world. * Financial Times, Books of the Year *A mindboggling history of the earliest books... Vallejo is a novelist and she has a storyteller's ability to animate her subjects... and the story she tells is impressively rip-roaring. She draws a six-thousand-year line from the clay tablets of Mesopotamia to the e-reader tablets of today and leaves her readers inspired, invigorated and sincerely grateful for the invention of the book.' * Henry Eliot, Daily Telegraph *Packed with fascinating insights into literacy in the ancient world... Vallejo is a diligent scholar, excelling with her accounts of the human experience of books in the era. * i news *Irene Vallejo, a Spanish journalist and scholar, has a writer's passion for books and a classicist's fascination with the way they came to be. She is also imaginative, lively and contemporary. In her hands written texts are not only a sensual pleasure, but living and frequently disruptive... Ms Vallejo has a notable talent for evoking ancient scenes. Her description, for example, of the poet Martial returning to Spain from Rome, near the end of the book, is masterly. * Economist *This prize-winning Spanish title has a classy jacket and impressive heft, which is only fitting really, since it celebrates the book as an object. More enticingly still, novelist and essayist Vallejo enlivens history with imagination and personal anecdote as she traces the book's lineage from scrolls made of aquatic plant pith to codices and tablets, digressing to show how its development is interwoven with the development of western civilisation. Is Papyrus available as an ebook? Yes, but I'll bet any reader drawn to it is going to want to save up for the hardcover. * Observer *In this generous, sprawling work... Vallejo sets out to provide a panoramic survey of how books shaped not just the ancient world but ours too. While she pays due attention to the physicality of the book... Vallejo is equally interested in what goes on inside its covers. And also, more importantly, what goes on inside a reader when they take up a volume and embark on an imaginative and intellectual dance that might just change their life. As much as a history of books, Papyrus is also a history of reading. * Guardian *An excellent, illuminating celebration... Vallejo's vigorous celebration of book culture excels at illuminating the ancient world through contemporary references - including to Margaret Atwood, Bob Dylan and Taxi Driver - and draws revealing parallels between antiquity and today.' * The Irish Times *[A] masterpiece . . . I am absolutely sure that it will continue to be read when its readers today are already in the afterlife. * Mario Vargas Llosa *
£11.04
Transworld Mythica
Book SynopsisDr Emily Hauser is an award-winning classicist and historian and the author of an acclaimed trilogy of novels retelling the stories of women of Greek myth, For the Most Beautiful, For the Winner and For the Immortal. She read Classics at Cambridge, where she received a double first with distinction and won the Chancellor's Medal for Classical Proficiency. She has a PhD in Classics from Yale, and was a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. She is now a Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter, and teaches and researches on women's writing, ancient and modern. Her recent publications include How Women Became Poets: A Gender History of Greek Literature and a book for younger readers - Ancient Love Stories, illustrated by Sander Berg.Emily Hauser lives in Exeter.
£999.99
Amberley Publishing The Roman Empire in 100 Haikus
Book SynopsisWith a hundred haikus, each accompanied by a wonderful full-page illustration and enlightening commentary, this book is perfect for those looking for a more poetic exploration of the Roman Empire.Trade Review‘Anyone seeking a truly original take on the Roman Empire will find much to enjoy here.’ -- World-Archaeology.com
£11.69
Fircone Books Ltd The Hillforts of Iron Age Wales
Book Synopsis
£18.00
Thames & Hudson Ltd Ancient Egyptian Magic
Book SynopsisAn entertaining introduction to the ways ancient Egyptians practised magic in their daily lives.Trade Review'Lively and engaging … gives an insightful glimpse of what preyed on ancient Egyptian minds' - Minerva'Enchanting stuff' - BBC History RevealedTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. Magic Words • 2. Princes, Priests and Sorcerers • 3. Dealing with the Dead • 4. A Magical Menagerie • 5. When the Snake Bites… • 6. Love, Sex, Babies • 7. Predicting the Future • 8. Magical Thinking
£13.49
British Museum Press Cuneiform
Book SynopsisA unique and accessible insight into the world's oldest writing system, revealing how ancient inscriptions lead to a new way of thinking about the past.
£9.49
Princeton University Press After 1177 B.C.
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£14.24
Egypt Exploration Society Ancient Egypt in 50 Discoveries
Book SynopsisThe history of ancient Egypt through 50 artefacts discovered during excavations by the EES since its founding in 1882. Readers will travel through three millennia of Egypt's history from the Early Dynastic to the Graeco-Roman Period uncovering the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians by investigating everyday items, as well as elite objects.
£23.75
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Greek to GCSE Part 2
Book SynopsisFirst written in response to a JACT survey of over 100 schools, and now endorsed by OCR, this textbook has become a standard resource for students in the UK and for readers across the world who are looking for a clear and thorough introduction to the language of the ancient Greeks. Revised throughout and enhanced by coloured artwork and text features, this edition will support the new OCR specification for Classical Greek (first teaching 2016). Part 1 covers the basics, whilst Part 2 introduces a wider range of grammatical forms and constructions, with a vocabulary of 435 words and reading material from Socrates and the Sophists to the world of myth, and finally to extended passages of lightly adapted Herodotus. Practice passages, exam papers and revision sentences for GCSE complete Part 2, which has a reference section covering the whole course. Written by a long-time school teacher and examiner, this two-part course is based on experience of what pupils find difficult, concentratinTrade ReviewRepresent[s] a lean, pellucid, and expeditious path to a solid mastery and thorough enjoyment of Greek. Volumes 1 and 2 together will provide a fresh year-long introduction for both college and high school levels and expand the menu of choices available. * New England Classical Journal *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Abbreviations Vocabulary and Glossing Map Chapter 7 (the passive voice; the present passive participle; the passive infinitive; this and that; the imperfect passive; comparison of adjectives and adverbs; relative clauses; irregular 3rd-declension nouns; root aorists; result clauses) Chapter 8 (middle-voice and deponent verbs; the aorist middle and passive; the future middle and passive; the genitive absolute; active verbs with middle-form futures; deponent verbs with passive-form aorists; reflexive pronouns; third person possessives; future infinitives; compound negatives) Chapter 9 (more on irregular 3rd-declension nouns; 3rd-declension adjectives; mixed-declension adjectives; epsilon contraction; augment; compound adjectives and negatives; aorist imperative; more imperatives; indirect command; more infinitives; impersonal verbs; infinitive after verbs) Chapter 10 (the indirect statement; the verb to give; result clauses with infinitive; verbs with alpha contraction; irregular comparatives and superlatives; prepositions; compound verbs; direct and indirect questions) Chapter 11 (present and aorist subjunctive and uses; conditional sentences; present, aorist and future optative and uses) Chapter 12 Practice passages Revision sentences GCSE English - Greek Practice Sentences GCSE Practice Papers Reference Grammar and Revision Guide Glossary of Grammar Terms Vocabulary - English to Greek - Greek to English Index
£15.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Eagle and the Lion
Book Synopsis''Epic history as it is meant to be written!'' Simon Sebag Montefiore''A sweeping and panoramic account of the first great superpower rivalry a definitive account.'' Tom HollandThe Roman empire was like no other. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale.Its only true rival lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over great cities and the trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. This was the region Alexander the Great had swept through, creating a dream of glory and conquest that tantalized Greeks and Romans alike. Tracing seven centuries of conflict between Rome and Persia, Adrian Goldsworthy shows how these two great powers evolved together. Despite their endless clashes, trade between the empires enriched them both, and a mutual respect prevented both Rome and Persia from permanently destroying t
£15.29
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
£27.00
Penguin Books Ltd A Short History of Europe
Book SynopsisDiscover the history of Europe - from the Dark Ages to present day - by the author of the bestselling A Short History of EnglandEurope is an astonishingly successful place. But it would take volumes to tell its story, right? Wrong. From warring peoples to peace, wealth and freedom, Andrew Jenkins distils its evolution into this short, single-volume history.From Greece and Rome, through the French Revolution to the Second World War and modern times. Taking in leaders such as Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Wellington and Angela Merkel.Sharing stories of cultural figures like Aristotle, Shakespeare and Picasso.Jenkins brings together the transformative forces and dominant eras into one chronological tale - all with his insight, colour and authority.Trade ReviewA short, invigorating gallop over two and a half thousand years -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *Simon Jenkins achieves a high ambition: a concise readable history of two millennia of European civilisation from its discernible origins to our present perplexities. In 305 pages! . . . An immensely rewarding book from a gifted writer -- Harold EvansFull of stand-out facts ... absolutely fascinating -- Richard Bacon, BBC Radio 2, on 'A Short History of England'Masterly, perhaps a masterpiece -- Independent, Books of the Year on England's Thousand Best ChurchesJenkins is, like all good guides, more than simply informative: he can be courteous and rude, nostalgic and funny, elegant, convincing and relaxed -- Adam Nicolson on 'England’s Thousand Best Houses' * Evening Standard *Full of the good judgements one might hope for from such a sensible and readable commentator, and they alone are worth perusing for pleasure and food for thought -- Michael Wood on 'A Short History of England' * New Statesman *Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book -- Max Hastings on 'England’s Thousand Best Houses' * Sunday Telegraph *Jenkins has produced the sort of work that not only compacts people and places into manageable form but also has wit and insight enough to bring a sense of freshness even to a knowledgeable history buff * Booklist review *
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd 300000 Kisses
Book SynopsisSteeped in honey, Juventius, your golden eyes, and as sweet too when I press my lips to them - three hundred thousand kisses is not close to enoughFor centuries, evidence of queer love in the ancient world was ignored or suppressed. Even today, only a few, famous narratives are widely known - yet there''s a rich literary tradition of Greek and Roman love that extends far beyond this handful of stories. Here, the poet Seán Hewitt and painter Luke Edward Hall collect together, for the first time, forty of the most exhilarating queer tales in the classical canon and bring them newly to life. A ground-breaking anthology that changes the way we see the ancient world - and invites us to reflect on the puritanism of our own - 300,000 Kisses is a riotous celebration of desire in all its forms.Trade ReviewThis lithe, rich anthology of stunning poetry and beguiling stories of queer love from the ancient world pulses with desire, lust, loss and seduction... Scintillating... An essential addition to any library -- Uli Lenart * Attitude magazine *
£21.25
Helion & Company Leuktra 371 BCE
Book Synopsis
£21.25
Wooden Books Orkney: Megalithic Marvel of the Northern Isles
Book SynopsisWere the Stones of Stenness the world’s first henge and stone circle? Why has Orkney preserved so many Neolithic farmhouses and villages? What was the purpose of the huge buildings on the Ness of Brodgar? In this small book, painter Hector McDonnell introduces the history and the mystery of Orkney. Could the practice of making astronomical stone circles really have started on a small island off the north coast of Scotland, and then been exported to the mainland? WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
£8.18
Penguin Books Ltd The Library of Ancient Wisdom
Book SynopsisThe Library of Ancient Wisdom 'pieces together a vivid portrait of Mesopotamian life from the shattered remnants of the 30,000 or so tablets in Ashurbanipal's library... which not only bring kings and queens to life, but also priests, traders and professional lamenters' - New Scientist'Fascinating and rich in detail provides an excellent survey of Mesopotamian literary classics.. and offers snippets of daily life' - Literary Review The story of the ancient world's most spectacular library, and the civilization that created itWhen a team of Victorian archaeologists dug into a grassy hill in Iraq, they chanced upon one of the oldest and greatest stores of knowledge ever seen: the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, seventh century BCE ruler of a huge swathe of the ancient Middle East known as Mesopotamia. After his death, vengeful rivals burned Ashurbanipal's library to the ground - yet the texts, carved on clay tablets, were baked and preserved by the heat. Buried for millennia, the tablets were written in cuneiform: the first written language in the world. More than half of human history is written in cuneiform, but only a few hundred people on earth can read it. In this captivating new book, Assyriologist Selena Wisnom takes us on an immersive tour of this extraordinary library, bringing ancient Mesopotamia and its people to life. Through it, we encounter a world of astonishing richness, complexity and sophistication. Mesopotamia, she shows, was home to advanced mathematics, astronomy and banking, law and literature. This was a culture absorbed and developed by the ancient Greeks, and whose myths were precursors to Bible stories - in short, a culture without which our lives today would be unrecognizable. The Library of Ancient Wisdom unearths a civilization at once strange and strangely familiar: a land of capricious gods, exorcisms and professional lamenters, whose citizens wrote of jealous rivalries, profound friendships and petty grievances. Through these pages we come face to face with humanity's first civilization: their startling achievements, their daily life, and their struggle to understand our place in the universe.
£999.99
Thames & Hudson Ltd The Great Empires of the Ancient World
Book SynopsisThe compelling story of the worldâs greatest ancient powers.Trade Review'A remarkable achievement … an excellent introduction to an increasingly popular field of study' - Contemporary ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction: New Visions of Ancient Empires by Thomas Harrison • 1. The Empire of New Kingdom Egypt 1539–1069 BC • 2. The Hittite Empire 1650–1200 BC • 3. The Empires of Assyria and Babylonia 900–539 BC • 4. The First Persian Empire 550–330 BC • 5. The Athenian Empire 478–404 BC, 378–338 BC • 6. The Empire of Alexander and his Successors 338–60 BC • 7. The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires c. 247 BC–AD 300 • 8. The Roman Empire 27 BC–AD 476 • 9. The Early Empires of South Asia 323 BC–AD • 10. The Early Empires of China 221 BC–AD 220
£11.69
Profile Books Ltd Civilisations How Do We Look The Eye of Faith
Book Synopsis'The reigning Queen of Classics' Spectator'Mary Beard is the best in the business' Dan Snow'Excellent' Guardian'Enthralling' Sunday TimesBritain's most famous classicist asks: what are civilisations?Central to this huge question are the ways in which we have depicted the human and the divine from prehistory to the present day. And across such iconic creations as Angkor Wat, the Ravenna mosaics and China's terracotta army, one ancient representation of the human body still influences (or distorts) how people in the West see not only their own culture but that of others.From idolatry to iconoclasm, Mary Beard shines her spotlight on the artists who made art, and on those who have used, viewed, or interpreted it - and asked how to look with the eye of faith.
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Far Edges of the Known World
Book SynopsisWhen Ovid was exiled from Rome to a border town on the Black Sea, he despaired at his new bleak and barbarous surroundings. Like many Greeks and Romans, Ovid thought the outer reaches of their world was where civilisation ceased to exist. Our fascination with the Greek and Roman world, and the abundance of writing that we have from it, means that we usually explore the ancient world from this perspective too. Was Ovid's exile really as bad as he claimed? What was it truly like to live on the edges of these empires, on the boundaries of the known world?Thanks to archaeological excavations, we now know that the borders of the empires we consider the heart' of civilisation were in fact thriving, vibrant cultures just not ones we might expect. This is where the boundaries of civilised' and barbarians' began to dissipate; where the rules didn''t always apply; where normally juxtaposed cultures intermarried; and where nomadic tribes built their own cities.Taking us along the sandy caravan routes of Morocco to the freezing winters of the northern Black Sea, from Co-Loa in the Red River valley of Vietnam to the rain-lashed forts south of Hadrian's Wall, Owen Rees explores the powerful empires and diverse peoples in Europe, Asia and Africa beyond the reaches of Greece and Rome. In doing so, he offers us a new, brilliantly rich lens with which to understand the ancient world.
£21.25
Orion Publishing Co Augustus From Revolutionary to Emperor
Book Synopsis''Masterly'' - Robert Harris, author of Imperium ''Essential reading for anyone interested in Ancient Rome'' Independent*****Caesar Augustus schemed and fought his way to absolute power. He became Rome''s first emperor and ruled for forty-four years before dying peacefully in his bed. The system he created would endure for centuries. Yet, despite his exceptional success, he is a difficult man to pin down, and far less well-known than his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. His story is not always edifying: he murdered his opponents, exiled his daughter when she failed to conform and freely made and broke alliances as he climbed ever higher. However, the peace and stability he fostered were real, and under his rule the empire prospered. Adrian Goldsworthy examines the ancient sources to understand the man and his times.Trade ReviewEmbarrassed by his short stature Augustus is said to have worn build-up shoes. He also had a love of crude jokes and poems, which he wrote himself. He was one part of the ultimate power couple. Aged 24 and on the verge of great power he fell in love with the beautiful, clever Livia, who was 20. Both were already married and while Augustus had a daughter, Livia was pregnant by her first husband. Livia and Augustus married three days after she gave birth. Extraordinary ... This vast accomplished book ... is a book to read avidly but also dip into, to enjoy the huge range of characters and the events -- Jenny Selway * DAILY EXPRESS *Goldsworthy admits that pinning Augustus down is a tricky task. But he never allows any aspect of the Augustan project to slip away. The focus shifts easily from Augustus' military might to his love of poetry ... He shines a light on the many contradictions of Augustus' character ... Goldsworthy doesn't hesitate to describe the emperor for what he was: a mass-murderer and then a military dictator. But he reminds us of Augustus' charm and humanity too ... Augustus took the Roman world from civil war to lasting peace and prosperity, and the mechanisms he used to obtain and maintain power were extraordinary. Like Goldsworthy's biography of Julius Caesar, this is essential reading for anyone interested in Ancient Rome -- Natalie Haynes * INDEPENDENT *Goldsworthy's true expertise is as a military historian and this is what really gives his biography its strength and bite: his depiction of Augustus's relationship with his legions is masterly -- Robert Harris * SUNDAY TIMES *This is a very fine story, very skilfully told -- Peter Jones * LITERARY REVIEW *Goldsworthy capably guides us over the rapids of modern scholarship ... Goldsworthy is particularly sound on senatorial power struggles and the use of marriage to cement or break political alliances. Augustus was, incredibly, both brother-in-law and son-in-law of Antony, having previously married the under-age daughter of Antony's first wife -- Nicholas Shakespeare * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Superb, unputdownable and scholarly -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * EVENING STANDARD *Authoritative and always interesting -- John Gray * NEW STATESMAN *Adrian Goldsworthy's portrait is the most trustworthy we are likely to get -- Nicholas Shakespeare * DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Books for Christmas' *Goldsworthy is a master storyteller ... This is the account of the man who remade Rome in his image ... it's a tale that never loses it's appeal -- Miles Russell * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *Goldsworthy has fashioned an engrossing account of this extraordinary man, pointing out his many contradictions; fiercely ambitious but publicly reluctant to accept state triumphs, his power built on the success of his legions but never an outstanding soldier himself, adulterous in the extreme but a determined public supporter of traditional marriage. Augustus has been somewhat neglected in recent years, and Goldsworthy skilfully and painstakingly builds his case for greater prominence using the detail of his daily conduct and administration expertly ... This is an excellent biography, which succeeds in ranking Augustus once more high amongst the great leaders in world history * HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY *Historian and biographer Goldsworthy (Caesar) showcases his deep knowledge of Ancient Rome in this masterful document of a life whose themes still resonate in modern times ... A strong narrative emphasis ties the work together and is enriched by evocative details of Roman life, whether it be bathing practices, voting tendencies, or the contemporary significance of Virgil. Readers may be surprised to find ancient precedents for still-visible cultural phenomena, such as the celebrity status accorded to politicians, public delight in scandal, and leadership "constantly reinforced by... propaganda"... The overall effect that Goldsworthy generates is of meeting a man whose life seems hardly distant from the modern experience * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (USA) *Goldsworthy has made a name for himself writing biographies of the great and the good of the Roman world. A careful scholar, he wears his knowledge lightly and is a skilled narrator and engaging writer. He brings all these attributes to play in his biography of Augustus... Goldworthy's biography demolishes some of the half-truths and tales that dog any successful ruler, and his book also acts as a brilliant history of Rome under Augustus * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *Goldsworthy examines the life of Augustus Caesar, who rose from obscurity to become Rome's first emperor and the most powerful and enduring in the history of the Empire. He killed and manipulated his way to the top, then reinvented himself as 'the father of his country', achieving peace and prosperity * ITALIA! *Adrian Goldsworthy does not hesitate to describe Emperor Augustus as he really was: a mass-murderer and then a military dictator * i NEWSPAPER *A timely biography of Augustus. He was Julius Caesar's adopted son who saw off his rivals and gave to Rome and its colonies a stability and a form of democracy which has a surprising significance to our own weary company of statesmen... 500 pages of solid and often exciting history -- Illtyd Harrington * CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL *Adrian Goldsworthy does justice to the many sides of Augustus's character: devoted husband, ruthless politician, masterly tactician. He makes complex Roman politics digestible with generous illustrations; quotations from the emperor's own writings; a glossary to help with technical terms from Roman law and politics; a list of dramatis personae; helpful end-notes, index and bibliography... The biography mixes vivid anecdotes... with narrative detail of military and political developments. -- Cally Hammond * CHURCH TIMES *Patiently, imaginatively but without recourse to flashy surmise, Goldsworthy offers reappraisals that inspire confidence because of their balance and good sense. Such an elusive man is never going to leap off these pages but he does begin to live and breathe -- Noonie Minogue * THE TABLET *
£14.24
Michael O'Mara Books Ltd 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of
Book SynopsisWalk a day in a Roman’s sandals ... What was it like to live in one of the ancient world’s most powerful and bustling cities – one that was eight times more densely populated than modern day New York? In this entertaining and enlightening guide, bestselling historian Philip Matyszak introduces us to 24 characters who lived and worked there. In each hour of the day we meet a new character – from a senator to a slave girl, a gladiator to an astrologer, watchmen to washerwomen – and discover the fascinating details of their daily lives.
£8.54
Wooden Books Callanish and Other Megalithic Sites of the Outer
Book SynopsisOn the remote north-western Isle of Lewis stands one of the most spectacular megalithic monuments in the world, a stone circle forming part of a huge Celtic Cross, built over four thousand years ago. Behold Callanish! This small book, packed with fine old engravings, is a great new introduction to the 'Stonehenge of the Hebrides' by one of the leading writers and lecturers in the subject. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
£7.49
Thames & Hudson Ltd The Odyssey in 1000 Pieces
Book SynopsisDaisy Dunn is an award-winning author, classicist and cultural critic based in London. She is a leading authority in her field and a regular commentator and columnist, writing for The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph and Literary Review. Good Wives and Warriors are a collaborative duo, also based in London. They divide their time between designing large-scale installations for fine art settings and undertaking illustration commissions from a range of clients, including the BBC, Laurence King and Urban Outfitters.
£19.20
Amberley Publishing Saving Byzantium
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Profile Books Ltd Age of Conquests: The Greek World from Alexander
Book SynopsisThe ancient world that Alexander the Great transformed in his lifetime was transformed once more by his death. The imperial dynasties of his successors incorporated and reorganized the fallen Persian empire, creating a new land empire stretching from the shores of the Mediterranean to as far east as Bactria. In old Greece a fragile balance of power was continually disturbed by wars. Then, from the late third century, the military and diplomatic power of Rome successively defeated and dismantled every one of the post-Alexandrian political structures. The Hellenistic period (c. 323-30 BC) was then one of fragmentation, violent antagonism between large states, and struggles by small polities to retain an illusion of independence. Yet it was also a period of growth, prosperity, and intellectual achievement. A vast network spread of trade, influence and cultural contact, from Italy to Afghanistan and from Russia to Ethiopia, enriching and enlivening centres of wealth, power and intellectual ferment. From Alexander the Great's early days building an empire, via wars with Rome, rampaging pirates, Cleopatra's death and the Jewish diaspora, right up to the death of Hadrian, Chaniotis examines the social structures, economic trends, political upheaval and technological progress of an era that spans five centuries and where, perhaps, modernity began.Trade ReviewA wide-ranging and lively history of the Greek East that offers a rare combination of erudition and accessibility. -- Andrew Erskine, University of EdinburghConveys all the richness and excitement of an extraordinary era in human history -- Tom Harrison, University of St AndrewsAnyone interested in the great cultural achievements of the ancient Greek world will profit greatly from this ambitious book by a leading historian. -- Alain Bresson, author of 'The Making of the Ancient Greek Economy: Institutions, Markets, and Growth in the City-States'Angelos Chaniotis brings the Hellenistic age to life with remarkable learning, mastery of evidence, and sensitivity. His book offers a brilliant picture of the cosmopolitan Greek world and shows why it still matters to us today. -- Phiroze Vasunia, author of 'The Gift of the Nile: Hellenizing Egypt from Aeschylus to Alexander'Angelos Chaniotis conveys all the richness and excitement of an extraordinary era in human history in this new work. The period of Greek history after the death of Alexander is the story of the rise and fall of empires and kingdoms, of a new global Greek world stretching from Cyrenaica to Afghanistan, and of the struggle of the cities of the 'old' Greek world to maintain their position. But it is also a period of intense cultural and scientific creativity, in which rulers were widely worshiped as gods, and where for the first time our sources reveal details of the lives of everyday Greeks and foreigners. There is no one who knows the evidence for the long Hellenistic Age better than Angelos Chaniotis-and in Age of Conquests he brings this canvas to life. -- Tom Harrison, University of St AndrewsThe period that begins with the conquests of Alexander the Great and ends with the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian is one of the most important and tumultuous in world history. Jesus Christ, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Nero are only a few of the figures who lived during this era. Greeks and Greek-speakers played a crucial role during these years and bear witness to a number of astonishing phenomena - the emergence of Christianity, the consolidation of the Roman Empire, the founding of the library in Alexandria, and lasting developments in philosophy, literature, political thought, and technology. Angelos Chaniotis brings the Hellenistic age to life with remarkable learning, mastery of evidence, and sensitivity. His book offers a brilliant picture of the cosmopolitan Greek world and shows why it still matters to us today. -- Phiroze Vasunia, author of 'The Gift of the Nile: Hellenizing Egypt from Aeschylus to Alexander'A valuable read for anyone interested in Greek, Hellenistic, or Roman history * NYMAS Review *This is the most original history of the Hellenistic period to appear ... Excellent -- S. M. Burstein * CHOICE connect *
£13.49
Whittles Publishing The Long Journey
£22.49
Birlinn Ltd Picts
Book Synopsis
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Orcadia: Land, Sea and Stone in Neolithic Orkney
Book SynopsisThe Orcadian archipelago is a museum of archaeological wonders. The Orcadian Neolithic is home to some of the best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe: here we can find evidence of a dynamic society with connections binding Orkney to Ireland, to southern Britain and to continental Europe. Yet there is much that remains unknown about the societies that created these sites. In Orcadia, Mark Edmonds traces the development of the Orcadian Neolithic from the early fourth millennium BC through to the end of the period nearly two thousand years later, using artefacts, architecture and the wider landscape to recreate the lives of Neolithic communities across the region.Trade ReviewA thought-provoking, imaginative exploration of the archeological landscapes of Neolithic Orkney... Edmonds demonstrates so vividly, "a stone is rarely just a stone"' * BBC Countryfile *Edmonds is a visionary who combines intellectual rigour with creative imagination -- Alan Garner
£9.99
Oxford University Press On the Ocean
£21.25
Flame Tree Publishing Greek Ancient Origins: Stories Of People &
Book SynopsisGorgeous Collector's Edition. The period of the first Ancient Greek peoples, the Mycenaean civilization, from the 1700s BCE, through to the Greek Dark Ages and the rise of Classical Antiquity more than a thousand years later is one of profound significance for Western modes of thought. The first cities, works of art, the stories of Olympic Gods and heroic warriors in classical literature find their origins in the traditions of this era. This new book is the perfect companion to Greek Myths & Legends in the same series of beautiful Collector's Editions, and sits alongside the other great cultures of the early world. Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction: authors, myths, tales and history without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new Introduction and a Glossary of Terms or lists of Ancient Leaders.
£10.44
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Histories
Book SynopsisTranslated with Notes by George Rawlinson. With an Introduction by Tom Griffith.Herodotus (c480-c425) is 'The Father of History' and his Histories are the first piece of Western historical writing. They are also the most entertaining. Why did Pheidippides run the 26 miles and 385 yards (or 42.195 kilometres) from Marathon to Athens? And what did he do when he got there? Was the Battle of Salamis fought between sausage-sellers? Which is the oldest language in the world? Why did Leonidas and his 300 Spartans spend the morning before the battle of Thermopylae combing their hair? Why did every Babylonian woman have to sit in the Temple of Aphrodite until a man threw a coin into her lap, and how long was she likely to sit there? And what is the best way to kill a crocodile? This wide-ranging history provides the answers to all these fascinating questions as well as providing many fascinating insights into the Ancient World.
£6.83
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Lost City of the Monkey God
Book SynopsisSince the days of conquistador Hernán Cortés, rumours have circulated about a lost city of immense wealth hidden deep in the Honduran interior. Indigenous tribes speak of ancestors who fled there to escape the Spanish invaders, and warn the legendary city is cursed: to enter it is a death sentence. They call it the Lost City of the Monkey God. In 1940, swashbuckling journalist Theodore Morde returned from the rainforest with hundreds of artefacts and an electrifying story of having found the City – but then committed suicide without revealing its location. Three quarters of a century later, bestselling author Doug Preston joined a team of scientists on a groundbreaking new quest. In 2012 he climbed aboard a single-engine plane carrying a highly advanced, classified technology that could map the terrain under the densest rainforest canopy. In an unexplored valley ringed by steep mountains, that flight revealed the unmistakable image of a sprawling metropolis, tantalizing evidence of not just an undiscovered city but a lost civilization. To confirm the discovery, Preston and the team battled torrential rains, quickmud, plagues of insects, jaguars, and deadly snakes. They emerged from the jungle with proof of the legend... and the curse. They had contracted a horrifying, incurable and sometimes lethal disease. Suspenseful and shocking, filled with history, adventure and dramatic twists of fortune, The Lost City of the Monkey God is the absolutely true, eyewitness account of one of the great discoveries of the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewWhat reader could resist a new book by Douglas Preston called The Lost City of the Monkey God? Not this reader. Preston's book offers rewards for both the mystery fan and the nonfiction aficionado. The Lost City is addictive-fast-paced and riveting, but it's also important. We mustn't repeat the cataclysmic mistakes of the past. Ironically – as The Lost City illustrates – that's exactly what our short-sighted civilization is doing right now -- James PattersonPreston, at great risk to his own life, has produced a thrilling and powerful adventure story -- David Grann, The Lost City of ZRevelatory, chilling, creepy, and alive with deadly snakes and insects bearing incurable disease, it's high adventure at its best and all true -- Erik Larson, author of The Devil in the White CityDeftly balancing swashbuckling action with thoughtful reflections on conservation and the ethics of archaeology * Mail on Sunday, 5 star review *Leaves the reader both impressed and over-awed... An adventure well worth the telling and the 16 pages of colour illustrations add further veracity to the impact' * Country Life *A story that moves from thrilling to sobering, fascinating to downright scary - trademark Preston, in other words, and another winner * Kirkus Reviews *This gripping book follows every step of the journey... It's incredible enough that in this day and age there are still unexplored areas of the planet' * Geographical Magazine *A grippingly told and reassuringly grown-up account of the discovery of an ancient city in Honduras * TLS *Preston at his best. Entirely non-fiction, this reads every bit as excitingly as any of his fiction accounts. Fast paced, thrilling, insightful, with great descriptions of the excitement and dangers of finding a 'lost' city that had not been visited in 500 years. A great account * Buzzfeed. *
£9.49
Thames & Hudson Ltd Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments
Book SynopsisA sweeping new history of the city of Rome, told through its emperors and the monuments they built to make their mark on one of the great capitals of the classical world. What is worse than Nero? What is better than Nero's Baths?' so wrote the poet Martial in the first century AD, demonstrating the power that buildings have on public consciousness. In ancient Rome, who built a monument and why mattered as much as its physical structure. Over centuries and under many different emperors, a small village in Italy was transformed into the crowning glory of an empire. Seeking out the personalities behind the great building projects is key to understanding them. With this firmly in mind, Paul Roberts takes the reader on a tour of ancient Rome, vividly evoking the sights and sounds of the city: from the roar of the crowds at the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum, to the dazzling gleam of the marble- and mosaic-covered baths of Caracalla and Diocletian. He tells this story emperor by emperor, drawing out the political, social and cultural backdrop to the monuments and ultimately the very human motivations that gave rise to their construction and destruction. These fascinating buildings are further brought to life with reconstructions that show how the ancients themselves would have experienced them. When and why were these monuments built? What did they add to the lives of the people who used them? What impact did they have on the shape of the city? Roberts expertly weaves together the latest archaeological research with social and cultural history, to tell the story of the Eternal City, always in some way rising, falling and being rebuilt.
£24.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Roman Britains Missing Legion
Book SynopsisLegio IX Hispana had a long and active history, later founding York from where it guarded the northern frontiers in Britain. But the last evidence for its existence in Britain comes from AD 108. The mystery of their disappearance has inspired debate and imagination for decades. The most popular theory, immortalized in Rosemary Sutcliffe's novel The Eagle of the Ninth, is that the legion was sent to fight the Caledonians in Scotland and wiped out there.But more recent archaeology (including evidence that London was burnt to the ground and dozens of decapitated heads) suggests a crisis, not on the border but in the heart of the province, previously thought to have been peaceful at this time. What if IX Hispana took part in a rebellion, leading to their punishment, disbandment and damnatio memoriae (official erasure from the records)? This proposed Hadrianic War' would then be the real context for Hadrian's visit' in 122 with a whole legion, VI Victrix, which replaced the vanished' IX as
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Greek to GCSE Part 1
Book SynopsisFirst written in response to a JACT survey of over 100 schools, and now endorsed by OCR, this textbook has become a standard resource for students in the UK and for readers across the world who are looking for a clear and thorough introduction to the language of the ancient Greeks. Revised throughout and enhanced by coloured artwork and text features, this edition will support the new OCR specification for Classical Greek (first teaching 2016).Part 1 covers the basics and is self-contained, with its own reference section. It covers the main declensions, a range of active tenses and a vocabulary of 250 Greek words to be learned. Pupil confidence is built up by constant consolidation of the material covered. After the preliminaries, each chapter concentrates on stories with one source or subject: Aesop, Homer''s Odyssey and Alexander the Great, providing an excellent introduction to Greek culture alongside the language study. Written by a long-time school teacher and examiner, thiTrade ReviewRepresent[s] a lean, pellucid, and expeditious path to a solid mastery and thorough enjoyment of Greek. Volumes 1 and 2 together will provide a fresh year-long introduction for both college and high school levels and expand the menu of choices available. * New England Classical Journal *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations Vocabulary and Glossing Maps Chapter 1 (introducing the basics of written Greek; present-tense verbs; nominative and accusative 1st- and 2nd-declension nouns; the definite article; negative forms; prepositions) Chapter 2 (more on 1st- and 2nd-declension nouns; the verb to be; connecting words; time expressions) Chapter 3 (more on 1st- and 2nd-declension nouns; prepositions; sandwich constructions; the imperative; adverbs; the infinitive; adjectives; particles; future and imperfect tenses; questions) Chapter 4 (the aorist tense; gender and declension; compound verbs) Chapter 5 (accents; the third declension; elision; personal pronouns and adjectives; the present participle) Chapter 6 (more on the present participle and definite article; the aorist participle; numerals; more time expressions ; more on personal pronouns and adjectives; the future participle) English - Greek Practice Sentences Reference Grammar Glossary of Grammar Terms Vocabulary - English to Greek - Greek to English Index
£15.19
Flame Tree Publishing Celtic Ancient Origins
Book SynopsisThis fascinating new book covers the ancient history of the Celts, from Ireland to Italy, from France to Greece. A fascinating picture is given of the origins, migrations, allegiances, society and culture, from the Hallstatt Era' to Christianization, as well as the myths, literature and legacy of this wide-ranging group of peoples.
£10.44
Helion & Company The Army of Alexander the Great
Book Synopsis
£23.96
Anness Publishing Pyramids, Temples & Tombs of Ancient Egypt: An
Book Synopsis
£6.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC OCR Ancient History GCSE Component 2
Book SynopsisThis textbook is endorsed by OCR and supports the specification for GCSE Ancient History (first teaching September 2017). It covers the whole of Component 2, both the compulsory longer Period Study and the three optional Depth Studies:Longer Period Study: The Foundations of Rome: From Kingship to Republic, 753440 BC by Paul FowlerDepth Study: Hannibal and the Second Punic War, 218201 BC by Paul FowlerDepth Study: Cleopatra: Rome And Egypt, 6930 BC by James Melville Depth Study: Britannia: From Conquest to Province, AD 43c. 84 by Christopher GrocockHow did reactions to the exploitation of women and the poor make Rome great? How did Rome survive a fourteen-year invasion? Was Cleopatra a great queen? What was the impact of Roman invasion on Britain's diverse and prosperous culture?This book raises these and other key questions. GCSE students and their teachers will explore the foundation of Rome, the rise of its empire, and its interactions with nTable of ContentsIntroduction How to Use This Book Period Study: The Foundations of Rome: From Kingship to Republic, 753–440 BC Depth Study Option 1: Hannibal and the Second Punic War, 218– 201 BC Depth Study Option 2: Cleopatra: Rome and Egypt, 69–30 BC Depth Study Option 3: Britannia: From Conquest to Province, AD 43–c. 84 Glossary Index
£14.24
Amber Books Ltd Pharaohs
Book SynopsisAncient Egypt is one of the great wellsprings of human civilization, first developing around the city of Memphis on the Nile River in the fourth millennium BCE. Egyptian life was centred on a complex system of religious rituals, with the pharaoh (king) seen as a living god among the people. Mighty pyramids, tombs and monuments were built to celebrate the pharaohs, many of which can still be seen in all their grandeur today. Arranged by dynastic period, Pharaohs offers a compact history of the reign of these god- kings, from Menes, who united the north and south kingdoms, to the Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra, who was defeated along with her lover Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) by imperial Rome. Along the way the reader will learn about the Great Pyramid constructed by Khufu, the last of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world; Queen Hatshepsut, a rare female pharaoh whose name means “foremost of noblewomen” and who launched a massive building programme at Luxor; the young pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered intact in the Valley of the Kings, complete with the fabulous trappings of his divine status; and Ramesses II (“the Great”), who is thought to have enslaved the Israelites, built the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel, and defeated the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE) riding his trade-mark chariot. Carefully researched, superbly entertaining and illustrated throughout with more than 180 photographs and artworks, Pharaohs is an accessible history of the kings who ruled Ancient Egypt for more than 4,000 years.Trade Review“Jestice has presented a beautiful, concise book designed to enlighten . . . Pharaohs: The Rulers of Ancient Egypt for over 3000 Years has an engaging narrative for the beginner worthy of its extensive color illustrations.” -- Robert S Davis * New York Journal of Books *Table of ContentsContents:Introduction1: The Great Age of the God Kings Menes: unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt Qa’a: Ruled very long, his tomb is the last one with subsidiary tombs. Neferkasokar: Old Kingdom legends claim that this ruler saved Egypt from a long-lasting drought. Djoser: Commissioned the first Pyramid in Egypt, created by chief architect and scribe Imhotep. Sneferu: Reigned 48 years, giving him enough time to build the Meidum Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. Khufu: Built the Great Pyramid of Giza. Khufu is depicted as a cruel tyrant by ancient Greek authors. Menkaure; A legend claims that his only daughter died due to an illness and Menkaura buried her in a golden coffin in the shape of a cow. Teti: According to Manetho, he was murdered. Neferkare: Possibly the longest reigning monarch of human history with 94 years on the throne.2: Royal Decline & Recovery Qakare: Built a pyramid at Saqqara inscribed with the last known instance of the Pyramid Texts. Sehertawy: First member of the dynasty to claim a Horus name. Tepia: Nominally a Theban nomarch (Tepy-a) but may have ruled independently. Wahankh: Conquered Abydos and its nome. Mentuhtep III: Commanded the first expedition to Punt of the Middle Kingdom Amenemhat: Assassinated by his own guards. Khakaure: Most powerful of the Middle Kingdom pharaohs Sobekkare: the first female pharaoh Senusret III (1878–1839 BC) was a warrior king, leading his troops deep into Nubia, and built a series of massive forts throughout the country to establish Egypt's formal boundaries with the unconquered areas of its territory. Amenemhat III (1860–1815 BC) is considered the last great pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom.3: Reimagining Egypt in a Wider World Second Intermediate Period (c. 1782–1570 BCE) Awybre: Famous for his intact tomb treasure and Ka statue Smenkhkare: marked by two colossal statues Sobekemsaf II: His tomb was robbed and burned during the reign of Ramesses IX. The Seventeenth Dynasty and a war of liberation: The two last kings of this dynasty were Seqenenre Tao and Kamose. Ahmose I completed the conquest and expulsion of the Hyksos from the Nile Delta, restored Theban rule over the whole of Egypt.4: The Age of Egyptian Empire New Kingdom (1570–1069 BCE) Ahmose I: conquered north of Egypt from the Hyksos. Thutmose III: Famous for his territorial expansion into the Levant and Nubia. Under his reign, the Ancient Egyptian Empire was at its greatest extent. Amenhotep III The Magnificent: Father of Akhenaten and grandfather of Tutankhamun. Ruled Egypt at the height of its power. Built many temples and monuments, including his enormous Mortuary Temple. Amenhotep IV: changed the state religion from the polytheistic Ancient Egyptian religion to the Monotheistic Atenism, centered around the worship of the Aten, an image of the sun disc Tutankhamun: He is thought to have taken the throne at around age eight or nine and to have died around age eighteen or nineteen, giving him the nickname "The Boy King." Tutankhamun was a weak ruler suffering from multiple health issues.5: An Age of Decline or Transformation? Ramesses II the Great: C ontinued expanding Egypt's territory until he reached a stalemate with the Hittite Empire at the Battle of Kadesh in 1275 BCE Ramesses III: Fought the Sea Peoples in 1175 BC. Possibly assassinated (Harem conspiracy). Third Intermediate Period (1069–664 BCE) Pasebakhenniut I: Ruled for 40 to 51 years. Famous for his intact tomb at Tanis. Known as "The Silver Pharaoh" due to the magnificent silver coffin he was buried in. Shoshenq I Meriamun: Possibly the biblical Shishaq Piye: King of Nubia; conquered Egypt in his 20th year; full reign at least 24 years, possibly 30 years Late Period (664–525 BCE) Nekau I: Was killed by an invading Kushite force in 664 BC under Tantamani. Wahibre: Fled Egypt after Amasis II (who was a general at the time) declared himself pharaoh following a civil war. Ahmose II: He was the last great ruler of Egypt before the Persian conquest. Psamtik III: Ruled for about six months before being defeated by the Persians in the Battle of Pelusium and subsequently executed for attempting to revolt. Darius III: Upper Egypt returned to Persian control in 335 BC. Nectanebo II was the last native king to rule Egypt. The Persian Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.6: The End of Independent Egypt Aluksindres (Alexander the Great): Macedon conquered Persia and Egypt. Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy IV: Died in unclear circumstances, possibly by fire in the palace or murder. Cleopatra III: Murdered by her own son Ptolemy X. Ptolemy XI: Young son of Ptolemy X Alexander; installed by Sulla; ruled for 80 days before being lynched Cleopatra VII: Ruled jointly with her father Ptolemy XII, her brother Ptolemy XIII, her brother-husband Ptolemy XIV, and her son Ptolemy XV. Committed suicide after the defeat at Actium. Ptolemy XV Caesar: Infant son of Cleopatra VII; aged 3 when proclaimed co-ruler with Cleopatra. Last known ruler of ancient Egypt when Rome took over.Index
£16.99
Wooden Books Stonehenge
Book SynopsisHow do you predict eclipses using Stonehenge? Why were `blue' stones brought all the way from Wales? What is the secret geometry of seven eights? Packed with rare old engravings, clear explanations and exciting new research, this beautiful and enlightening little book for wizards of all ages by renowned author and lecturer Robin Heath will leave you fascinated, educated, amused and amazed. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
£8.18
Princeton University Press The Muqaddimah
Book SynopsisThe Muqaddimah, often translated as "Introduction" or "Prolegomenon," is the most important Islamic history of the premodern world. Written by the great fourteenth-century Arab scholar Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406), this monumental work established the foundations of several fields of knowledge, including the philosophy of history, sociology, ethnography,Trade Review"Ibn Khaldun, the great 14th-century Arab scholar, is the most authoritative and most beguiling of Arabic polymaths... His learning and ideas have an astonishingly modern relevance. His encyclopaedic work is a wonderfully readable mixture of history, sociology, ethnography, economics, science, art, literature, cookery, and medicine."--Iain Finlayson, Times "[The] most remarkable book written during the entire Middle Ages, one of the great intellectual achievements of all time."--Virginia Quarterly Review From review of Princeton's original edition: "[N. J. Dawood] has, by skillful abridgement and deft but unobtrusive editing, produced an attractive and manageable volume, which should make the essential ideas of Ibn Khaldun accessible to a wide circle of readers."--Times Literary Supplement From review of Princeton's original edition: "Undoubtedly the greatest work of its kind that has ever been created by any mind in any time or place ... the most comprehensive and illuminating analysis of how human affairs work that has been made anywhere."--Arnold J. Toynbee, Observer
£18.00
Pan Macmillan The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of
Book SynopsisIn The Darkening Age, Catherine Nixey tells the little-known - and deeply shocking - story of how a militant religion deliberately tried to extinguish the teachings of the Classical world, ushering in unquestioning adherence to the 'one true faith'.The Roman Empire had been generous in embracing and absorbing new creeds. But with the coming of Christianity, everything changed. This new faith, despite preaching peace, was violent, ruthless and intolerant. And once it became the religion of empire, its zealous adherents set about the destruction of the old gods. Their altars were upturned, their temples demolished and their statues hacked to pieces. Books, including great works of philosophy and science, were consigned to the pyre. It was an annihilation.A Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, the Observer, and BBC History MagazineA New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceWinner of the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for NonfictionTrade ReviewThis book uncovers what was lost when Christianity won…. a delightful book about destruction and despair. Nixey combines the authority of a serious academic with the expressive style of a good journalist. She’s not afraid to throw in the odd joke amid sombre tales of desecration. With considerable courage, she challenges the wisdom of history and manages to prevail. Comfortable assumptions about Christian progress come tumbling down. * The Times *Catherine Nixey has written a bold, dazzling and provocative book that challenges ideas about early Christianity and both how – and why – it spread so far and fast in its early days. Nixey is a witty and iconoclastic guide to a world that will be unfamiliar, surprising and troubling to many. -- Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk RoadA searingly passionate book . . . Nixey writes up a storm. Each sentence is rich, textured, evocative, felt . . . Nixey delivers this ballista-bolt of a book with her eyes wide open and in an attempt to bring light as well as heat to the sad story of intellectual monoculture and religious intolerance -- Bettany Hughes * New York Times *Superb -- Richard DawkinsWith passion, wit and thunderous eloquence, Nixey throws everything she has against the bishops, monks and Christian emperors of late antiquity ... ‘The Darkening Agerattles along at a tremendous pace, and Nixey brilliantly evokes all that was lost with the waning of the classical world. * Sunday Times *A book for the 21st century ... Nixey has a great story to tell, and she tells it exceptionally well. As one would expect from a distinguished journalist, every page is full of well-turned phrases that leap from the page ... finely crafted, invigorating ... [The Darkening Age] succeeds brilliantly. -- Tim Whitmarsh * Guardian *As Catherine Nixey points out in her vivid and important new book, the idea of the widespread persecution of Christians is a product of the Church’s marketing and recruitment techniques… Nixey is a funny, lively, readable guide through this dark world of religious oppression. She wisely insists at the start of her book that this account of cultural violence should not be read as an attack on those who are “impelled by their Christian faith to do many, many good things”. It is instead a reminder that “monotheism” (or, one could say, religion in general and Christianity in particular) can be used for “terrible ends”. -- Emily Wilson * New Statesman *Clever, compelling ... Readers raised in the milky Anglican tradition will be surprised to learn of the savagery of the early saints and their sledgehammer-swinging followers ... exceptionally well written. -- Thomas W. Hodgkinson * Spectator *Nixey has done an impressive job of illuminating an important aspect of late-antique Christianity. -- Levi Roach * Literary Review *Engaging and erudite, Catherine Nixey's book offers both a compelling argument and a wonderful eye for vivid detail. It shines a searching spotlight on to some of the murkiest aspects of the early medieval mindset. A triumph. -- Edith Hall, author of The Ancient Greeks: Ten Ways They Shaped the Modern WorldNixey's elegant and ferocious text paints a dark but riveting picture of life at the time of the 'triumph' of Christianity, reminding us not just of the realities of our own past, but also of the sad echoes of that past in our present. -- Dr Michael ScottCaptivating and compulsive, Catherine Nixey's debut challenges our whole understanding of Christianity's earliest years and the medieval society that followed. A remarkable fusion of captivating narrative and acute scholarly judgment, this book marks the debut of a formidable classicist and historian. -- Dan Jones, bestselling author of The PlantagenetsA devastating book, written in vivid, yet playful prose. Catherine Nixey reveals a level of intolerance and anti-intellectualism which which echoes today's headlines but is centuries old. -- Anita AnandPugnacious and energetically written * The Tablet *Sizzling, scintillating -- Book of the Year * Spectator *
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