Ancient history Books

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Book SynopsisIs there anything more mysterious than a piece of fabric covering something? Since the author of this book started noticing classical images with its young figures holding a veil while working in Pompeii, the study of this iconography has become his passion. This volume will focus only on Ancient Greece, but it explores a fascinating topic with strong connexions in current societies. The book will delve into the iconography of the veil gesture, but will also explore other topics closely related to it from an anthropological perspective. SPANISH DESCRIPTION: La Historia del Arte se ha entendido en muchas ocasiones como el estudio de los temas que se representan con cierta pericia en distintos formatos y que, por consenso, consideramos “arte”. Este libro nace, en parte, con la intención de dar una vuelta de tuerca a esta concepción de los estudios histórico-artísticos y comenzar a plantearlos como un estudio de abajo a arriba, de los motivos, no de los temas. De este modo, partiremos de un pequeño gesto, aquel que realizan las mujeres griegas para cubrirse o descubrirse con el velo, y lo analizaremos en profundidad como indicador arqueológico de una cultura del pasado. El gesto del velo lleva implícito un juego de ambivalencias que le hace moverse entre el pudor o “aidós” y el erotismo o “peitho”, es este tira y afloja en el que nos moveremos a lo largo de todo el libro el que nos ayudará a entender mejor la historia del arte griego pero también la sociedad griega y, en especial, la figura de la mujer en esa sociedad. Este recorrido de cerca de mil años entre el siglo XII y el II a.C. nos permitirá abordar también otros temas como la relación entre arte y realidad, la importancia del velo en la sociedad contemporánea o la validez de las teorías del análisis iconográfico tradicionales. Espero que este libro, más allá de ayudar al lector a entender el uso del velo y su representación en el arte griego, permita también clarificar la relación entre historia del arte, arqueología e historia, y la necesidad de que estas disciplinas se entiendan para hacernos comprender mejor nuestro pasado.

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Book SynopsisXenophon's Hellenica is a historical account of the events in Greece and the Greek world from 411 BC to 362 BC. It begins with the fall of Athens in the Peloponnesian War and covers the rise of Sparta, the war with Persia, and the power struggles among the Greek city-states. The first four books of the Hellenica cover the period of the Peloponnesian War and the subsequent peace negotiations. The remaining books cover the rise of Spartan power and the decline of Athens, as well as the battles fought between various Greek city-states. Throughout the work, Xenophon presents a pro-Spartan viewpoint, portraying them as the defenders of Greek culture and civilization. He also emphasizes the importance of piety, obedience to the law, and the virtues of the Greek city-state system. Overall, Hellenica provides a valuable historical account of the turbulent period of Greek history in the fourth century BC, with insights into the political, social, and cultural factors that shaped the ancient Greek world.

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Book SynopsisPresents the first detailed assessment in 40 years of the chronological, cultural, economic and social relations in the central Balkans from the beginning of the 3rd to the middle of the 2nd millennium BC, presenting much new information on absolute dating, tin and copper isotope analyses, and unpublished excavations of Bronze Age sites.

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Book Synopsis"Burstein’s The Essential Greek Historians is an excellent collection of texts representing the development of historiography in the ancient Greek world. Each text is presented in an engaging and readable translation, with an insightful introduction exploring the purposes behind its composition, the significance of its contribution to the growth of historiography as a literary genre, and the context in which its author thought and wrote. These texts include not only familiar favorites like Herodotus and Thucydides, but also sources such as The Parian Marble and Memnon’s History of Heracleia, which give a broader and richer view of the ways in which Greeks engaged with history. In one economical volume, Burstein has created an indispensable introduction to the historical thought of the ancient Greeks. No student of Greek historiography should be without it." —Erik Jensen, Salem State UniversityIncludes an introduction, maps, and selections from Herodotus' The Histories, Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, Xenophon's The Hellenica, Aristotle's The Constitution of Athens, The Parian Marble, Polybius' The Histories, Memnon's History of Heracleia, Plutarch's Life of Alexander. See the full Table of Contents on the www.hackettpublishing.com book title page.Trade Review"How best to introduce students and general readers to the foundational works of ancient Greek historiography? Is it better to assign the entirety of one or two major authors, or to provide a broader sampling of excerpted material from many writers? At last, Stanley Burstein has resolved the dilemma. His new compendium, The Essential Greek Historians, offers the most effective and efficient solution so far. The key is multi-layered contextualization. The book begins with an Introduction to Greek historiography that is rich, readable, and reliable. It distills a master teacher’s lifetime of study into the one essay every student should read on the subject. "Each one of the eight works to be sampled here is discussed in relation to the others, taking us from Herodotus and his precursors to Plutarch. Then, each excerpt is further contextualized within its own work. Explanatory notes provide additional connective tissue, leaving readers with the sense—and satisfaction—of encountering and absorbing the entire foundational text. This book, the kind of problem-fixing tool every teacher needs today, will become required reading in ancient history courses. For those outside academia who are self-instructors in ancient studies, this is the place to begin your exploration of the ancient Greeks."—Frank Holt, University of Houston"With The Essential Greek Historians, Stanley M. Burstein delivers an updated anthology of ancient Greek historical authors from Herodotus to Plutarch, a span of over 500 years. The selected passages are well chosen and accompanied by editorial comments from an eminent historian of the ancient world. The inclusion of some 'non-canonical' historical works (the Aristotelian Constitution of Athens, The Parian Marble, and Memnon of Heraclea) significantly broadens the scope while maintaining a focus on the Greeks' attitude toward the past. The volume will be very useful for courses in Greek history and will replace Finley's venerable anthology."—Christopher Baron, University of Notre Dame"With up-to-date translations of a wide range of ancient historical writing and student-friendly supplementary materials, Burstein’s The Essential Greek Historians should be warmly welcomed by students and teachers alike. It is an ideal introduction to ancient Greek historiography."—Bill Beck, Indiana University"As a teaching tool [this book] is outstanding, moving beyond the traditional reading list into sources and topics that students should encounter as they explore Greek history, but rarely do. This volume should be essential reading in every undergraduate survey of Greek history." —Duane W. Roller, The Ohio State University, in The Classical Outlook

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Book SynopsisCaesar''s war machine clashes with the fearsome tribes of Gaul, forever changing the character of the region and laying the groundwork for the rise of the Roman Empire.In the manner of many Roman generals, Caesar would write his domestic political ambitions in the blood and treasure of foreign lands. His governorship of Cisalpine Gaul gave him the opportunity to demonstrate the greatness of his character to the people of Rome through the subjugation of those outside Rome''s borders. The fact that the main account of the subsequent wars in Gaul was written by Caesar himself by far the most detailed history of the subject, with new reports issued annually for the eager audience at home is no accident.The Roman Army of the late Republic had long been in the process of structural and change, moving towards the all-volunteer permanent standing force that would for centuries be the bulwark of the coming Empire. Well-armed and armored, this professional army was traTable of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Bibracte, 28 June 58 BC The Sabis, 13 August 57 BC Alesia, Ausugst-October 52 BC Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRome – Urbs Roma: city of patricians and plebeians, emperors and gladiators, slaves and concubines – was the epicentre of a far-flung imperium whose cultural legacy is incalculable. How a tiny settlement, founded by desperate adventurers beside the banks of the River Tiber, came to rule vast tracts of territory across the face of the known world is one of the more improbable stories of antiquity. The epic scale of the Colosseum; majestically columned temples; formidable legionaries marching in burnished steel breastplates; and capricious Caesars clad in purple robes who thought themselves gods: all these images speak of a grandeur that continues to be associated with this most celebrated of ancient capitals. The glory of Rome is further underlined by enduring monuments like Hadrian’s Wall, holding the line as it did against ferocious Pictish barbarians thought to be from Hyperborea: the mythic Land Beyond the North Wind. This book vividly recounts the rags-to-riches story of Rome’s unlikely triumph. Perhaps the most famous example in history of modest beginnings rising to greatness, Rome’s empire was never static or uniform. Over the centuries, under the ‘boundless grandeur of the Roman peace’ (as the Elder Pliny put it), imperial law, civilisation and language vigorously interacted with and influenced local cultures across western and central Europe and North Africa. Provincial subjects were made Roman citizens, generals and senators. In AD 98 Trajan became the first of many Romans from outside Italy to assume supreme power as Emperor. Poets, philosophers, historians and legalists – and many others besides – all participated in the brilliant intellectual constellation secured by the pax Romana. However, as Dexter Hoyos reveals, the empire was not won cheaply or fast, and did not always succeed. The Carthaginian general Hannibal came close to destroying it. Arminius freed Germania by brutally annihilating three irreplaceable legions in the Teutoburg Forest – a disaster that broke Augustus’ heart. And the Romans themselves, in expanding their empire, were often ruthless. Caesar boasted of killing a million enemy fighters in his Gallic Wars, while the accusation of a Caledonian lord became proverbial: they make a desert and call it peace. Yet at the same time the Romans strove to impose moral and legal principles for directing their subjects as much as themselves, and laid down standards of government that are still valid today. Rome Victorious is a masterful new treatment of the rise of Rome – from the viewpoints both of the city itself and the people it came to rule and make its own.Trade ReviewDexter Hoyos has written a remarkably efficient and wonderfully lucid account of the Roman Empire from its beginnings in the third century BC to the height of its power in the third century AD. Combining narrative with thematic discussion throughout, Professor Hoyos shows readers how the empire functioned and enables them to see what set the Roman Empire apart from other empires. This is a book that anyone interested in how political and social power are created and exercised, in any age, will find welcome. Although able to draw upon a truly impressive command of modern scholarship, and equally impressive command of ancient evidence of all sorts and periods, Professor Hoyos never loses sight of the lived experience of the Roman world. His lucid analysis allows readers to grasp the complexity of the Roman world, while his clear prose and unpretentious style makes this a book that anyone interested in history can and will enjoy. -- David Potter, Professor of Greek and Latin, University of Michigan, USAHow did Rome acquire her mighty empire? What drove the Romans in the pursuit of war? And what was the experience of the provinces under Roman rule? Hoyos proves himself a steady and engaging guide as he charts Rome’s meteoric rise, as well as the resistance she met along the way. -- Kathryn Tempest, Senior Lecturer in Latin Literature and Roman History, Roehampton University, UK{B.D] Hoyos … has achieved a rich account of the rise of the Roman empire, both chronologically and thematically. [Rome Victorious] offers an excellent introduction to and overview of the subject. His lucid style also makes this a highly enjoyable read. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Engaging, densely informed and gripping account of Roman power, Hoyos, a widely acknowledged authority on Roman imperialism, has written a strong and easily accessible introduction to the Roman empire. * The Classical Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Rome and Her Imperialism 1. Rome before Empire: Hegemony over Italy 2. Mediterranean Hegemony and the First Provinces 3. The Provinces of the Republic 4. The Political Impoverishment of the Imperial Republic 5. Augustus: The Greatest Imperialist 6. Imperial Takings and Leavings AD 14–212 7. The New Romans 8. Governing and Misgoverning 9. Judging the Empire: Romans and Others 10. Resistance 11. How Roman Was the Roman Empire? Conclusions The Ancient Sources Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive look at ancient sculptures, wall paintings, vases, and more depicting the elderly in Greek and Roman society

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Book SynopsisArt and architecture are mirrors of a society. They reflect the state of its values, especially in times of crisis or transition. Upon this premise Paul Zanker builds an interpretation of Augustan art as a visual language that both expressed and furthered the transformation of Roman society during the rule of Augustus Caesar.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[This book] should be read by anyone interested in the history of the emotions, the power of storytelling, the history of biblical exegesis, the history of Christian spirituality, church history or the world of late antique Byzantium." * Classical Review *"Leyerle’s book represents a convincing and definitive analysis of Chrysostom’s thought about the emotions, and of the practical application of emotional and cognitive strategies in his programme of moral reform.... Accessible and a pleasure to read!" * Journal of Early Christian History *"Leyerle’s analysis of Chrysostom’s affective strategy, homiletic program, and philosophical antecedents yields profound insights. The book is a wonderful contribution to Chrysostomic studies and the history of emotions, showing how Christianity harnessed the power of narrative, rhetoric, and feeling to navigate the spiritual universe of the faithful in late antiquity." * Journal of Early Christian Studies *"The present book is to be fully recommended to an academic audience of historians of late antiquity, theologians, and religious studies scholars, as well as to those who still uphold the educational value of uncomfortable situations." * ASDIWAL *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction. The Narrative Shape of Emotion Chrysostom's Program Plan of the Study 1. Anger The Origin of Rage Quelling Anger Anger’s Imperative Conclusion Inscribing the Lesson: David and Saul 2. Grief The Sadness of Things Envy, Malice, and Indignation Grieving over the Dead, the Sick, and the Barren Lamenting Personal Debility Mourning Sin Conclusion A Case Study in Surmounting Sadness: Job 3. Fear The Disciplinary Force of Fear Fear as a Bridle Fear as a Goad The Social Benefits of Fear Fear as a Deliberative State Conclusion The Advantages of Fear: Cain 4. Chrysostom's Goal: Stimulating Zeal Rhathymia Arousing Aversion Awe Shame Disgust Inspiring Emulation Conclusion Imitating Zeal: The Samaritan Woman Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Mongols are universally known as conquerors, but they were more than that: influential thinkers, politicians, engineers, and merchants. Challenging the view that nomads are peripheral to history, The Horde reveals the complex empire the Mongols built and traces its enduring imprint on politics and society in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.Trade ReviewOutstanding, original, and revolutionary. Favereau subjects the Mongols to a much-needed re-evaluation, showing how they were able not only to conquer but to control a vast empire. A remarkable book. -- Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk RoadsThe Mongols have been ill-served by history, the victims of an unfortunate mixture of prejudice and perplexity…The Horde flourished, in Favereau’s fresh, persuasive telling, precisely because it was not the one-trick homicidal rabble of legend. * Wall Street Journal *In medieval European times, the Mongols ruled a vast area of the Eurasian landmass stretching as far to the west as modern Ukraine. Favereau, a French specialist on nomadic empires, achieves the exceptional feat of writing about this era in a way that is accessible to general readers as well as scholarly. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Fascinating…The Mongols were a sophisticated people with an impressive talent for government and a sensitive relationship with the natural world…An impressively researched and intelligently reasoned book that will be welcomed by historians of the Mongol Empire. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *A major achievement: it is thorough, accurate and complex, yet also accessible to a broad readership. Her blow-by-blow account of Mongol life and politics as one ruler falls and another rises is the most complete we have. Even better, the book is not solely focused on the Mongols. Favereau is an integrative historian committed to showing how the Horde influenced other peoples and shaped world history…Readers will enjoy the richness and clarity of The Horde. -- Timothy Brook * Literary Review *The first book to be devoted exclusively to the Golden Horde. It is at once a microhistory, dense with regional politics and war, and a survey of the Horde’s wider influence. -- Colin Thubron * New York Review of Books *A wonderful book…Suffice to say that in their politics, administration, family lives and, yes, their warfare, the Mongols were far more complicated than we think. -- Stephen L. Carter * Bloomberg Opinion *Favereau’s narrative is extremely rich in ethnographic detail and descriptions of succession battles, military campaigns, and internecine warfare. Favereau seeks to exonerate the Horde, which in her view is too often portrayed as merely a plundering force. -- Maria Lipman * Foreign Affairs *Eye-opening…A meaningful corrective to popular misconceptions about Mongols’ role in world history. * Publishers Weekly *Rather than being the murderous mob depicted in film and popular history, the Mongol horde, this book reveals, was a complex Euro-Asian culture…[Favereau] dispels the myth that it was just a rampaging mass of warriors; it possessed great governing skills, was adept at social relationships, and remained a major force on the Eurasian landmass until it began to withdraw eastward after the Black Death. * Kirkus Reviews *Although it had no permanent settlements and farmlands, the Horde was an advanced civilization as well as a formidable military power. Its leaders, all literate, ran a well-organized communications network that kept its far-flung population in constant touch…Reading The Horde is like immersing oneself in a sprawling epic. -- Christopher Moore * Literary Review of Canada *In The Horde, an ambitiously revisionist account of the Mongol Empire, Favereau presents the thirteenth- and fourteenth-century conquerors of the steppe as sophisticated stewards of globalism, rulers who practiced remarkable tolerance, and stimulated far-reaching economic growth. -- Dinyar Patel * Scroll *It is far too often forgotten that Asia’s nomadic empires, from the Sogdians and Huns through the Parthians and Seljuks, were key drivers of greater Asia’s rich cultural diversity. This extraordinary book vividly details how the nomadic Mongols operated the largest empire of the premodern world, through practices that continue to shape today’s world. -- Parag Khanna, author of The Future Is AsianTerrific—a really important reassessment of the origins of one of the great empires in history. -- Peter Frankopan * The Spectator *[An] ambitious book with a huge range. It presents this world in its full complexity. It’s an incredibly compelling read and it changes the way you see the world. -- Paul Lay * Five Books *A deeply compelling, sympathetic, and highly engaging account of how the Horde was created and of its lasting impact on the evolution of what we now call ‘globalization.’ Favereau’s book will transform our understanding of world history. -- Anthony Pagden, author of Worlds at WarFavereau’s detailed and objective account of the Mongol conquest and rule of Russia rescues the era from dark neglect and prejudice to reveal its powerful positive and negative influences in shaping modern Eurasia. This highly readable and deeply informed work fills in one of history’s important missing chapters. -- Jack Weatherford, author of Genghis Khan and the Quest for GodCombining material and textual sources, Favereau has written the best book on the Jochid Khanate: the first to see events resolutely from a Jochid perspective, without foreclosing on the vast contexts that bind the history of the Horde to that of Eurasia and the world. -- Felipe Fernández-Armesto, author of PathfindersIn this riveting book, Favereau shows how the most enduring descendants of Chinggis Khan’s Mongol imperium—the Western or ‘Golden’ Horde—fashioned an exceptionally resilient imperial system with far-reaching influence in western Eurasia. She has challenged us to think afresh about how mobility and empire can be fused into dynamic political and cultural forms. -- John Darwin, author of After TamerlaneThe Horde is not the first history to challenge the depiction of the Mongol Empire as governed solely by ruthless conquerors and plunderers, but it is the most nuanced and comprehensive history. -- Francis P. Sempa * New York Journal of Books *An exciting new addition to a rich pool of contemporary scholarship in the field. -- Madhumita Mazumdar * The Telegraph (India) *A book that has profound ramifications for our understanding of European and Eurasian history…Irrefutably enthrones the Mongol Empire as one of the great drivers of global history. -- Emily Couch * Moscow Times *

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Book SynopsisHarvard Studies in Classical Philology, Volume 112 includes Olga Levaniouk, The Dreams of Barcin and Penelope; Paul K. Hosle, Bacchylides' Theseus and Vergil's Aristaeus; Vayos Liapis, Arion and the Dolphin: Apollo Delphinios and Maritime Networks in Herodotus; and other new essays on Greek and Roman Classics.

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Book SynopsisVolume II of the Loeb Hippocrates presents eight works by or attributed to the “Father of Medicine” that illustrate the value of medical theory and clinical methods, and propose a new model of medical education. Included are Prognostic, Regimen in Acute Diseases, The Sacred Disease, The Art, Breaths, Law, Decorum, and Dentition.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Mayor’s cabinet of curiosities conveys admirably her sense of the wonder, complexity, and engrossing strangeness of the ancient Greco-Roman world, as well as the richness and diversity of the many ages that followed."---James Romm, Wall Street Journal"Covering much more than just myths and monsters, this book also contains information about ancient science and mirages, and everything from tourism to tattoos. . . . This book has a little something for everyone." * Library Journal *"This is an eminently informative book, for readers of all ages. . . . Mayor is able to give a sense of wonder to her inquiries and, without losing rigor, she brings it back to the academic world. In this sense, the book more than fulfils its objectives: we have found pleasure in reading it." * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *"An interesting gallimaufry of 50 short essays that seek to extract nuggets of truth from mythology, legends, and folklore." * Choice Reviews *"A good bedstand book, for dipping into at will for a bite-sized diversion."---Janet Brennan Croft, Mythlore"In this hugely entertaining new anthology of historical curiosities we reap the benefits of Mayor’s willingness to burrow into the dusty corners of history and to pick up on myths and stories other historians tend to slide past without stopping."---Terry Potter, Letterpress Project"This delightful collection of 50 mini-essays by Stanford University research scholar Adrienne Mayor answers some of the most fascinating questions readers wouldn’t otherwise have thought to ask themselves about classical folklore and the history of science. . . . Mayor’s inquisitive spirit animates the answers she provides." * Christian Century *"Mayor has a vast store of knowledge and is a masterful storyteller. Her latest work is a delightful feast for curious minds."---Diana Bentley, Minerva Magazine"Informative and vastly entertaining."---Anita Guerrini, History Today"A delightful compendium that will provoke fresh scholarship and draw new readers to the study of folklore, myth, and culture."---Timothy J. Burbery, Folklore

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Book SynopsisThe dramatic story of the last stand of a group of Jewish rebels who held out against the Roman Empire, as revealed by the archaeology of its famous siteTwo thousand years ago, 967 Jewish men, women, and childrenthe last holdouts of the revolt against Rome following the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Second Templereportedly took their own lives rather than surrender to the Roman army. This dramatic event, which took place on top of Masada, a barren and windswept mountain overlooking the Dead Sea, spawned a powerful story of Jewish resistance that came to symbolize the embattled modern State of Israel. Incorporating the latest findings, Jodi Magness, an archaeologist who has excavated at Masada, explains what happened thereand what it has come to mean since. Featuring numerous illustrations, this is an engaging exploration of an ancient story that continues to grip the imagination today.Trade Review"Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in History""Magness’s conversational style will inform and entertain both the general and specialist reader…After reading the book you’ll want to book a trip to see it for yourself."---Lindsay Powell, Ancient History"Beautifully produced…A wonderful presentation to supplement the huge literature on the archaeology of Masada."---Eric M. Meyers, Dead Sea Discoveries

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Saller’s book is truly interesting in many ways. Not only does it do justice to the existence of a reflection on economy in Western antiquity and to its few points of convergence with modern economic thought, but [it] also . . . raises a question that goes beyond antiquity: that of the conditions that make long-term economic growth and development possible, with a particular interest in cultural causes."---Etienne Helmer, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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Book SynopsisTranslations of four major works of ancient Greek literature which treat the life and thought of Socrates, focusing particularly on his trial and defense and on the charges against him.Table of ContentsTranslators' NoteIntroduction The Modem Rejection of Reason The Socratic Alternative Plato's Euthyphro Plato's Apology of Socrates Plato's Crito Aristophanes' CloudsPlato's EuthyphroPlato's Apology of SocratesPlato's CritoAristophanes' CloudsSelected Bibliography

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Book SynopsisPresents some of the key figures and their arguments across three major periods of interest in the development of using associations as a model for understanding early Christ groups. A new introduction orients the reader to the important contributions of each essay.Table of Contents Introducing the Conversation, by Richard S. Ascough Part One: Initiating the Conversation (1866-1927) 1 St. Paul and the Pagan Guilds (1927), by Thomas Wilson 2 Religious Legislation of the Period (1905), by Ernest Renan 3 Bishops and Deacons (1881), by Edwin Hatch 4 Christianity and the Collegia (1906), E. G. Hardy 5 Edwin Hatch, Churches, and Collegia (1993), by John S. Kloppenborg 6 On the Exegetical Interest in Ancient Associations in the 19th and 20th Centures (2006), by Thomas Schmeller Part Two: Reanimating the Conversation (1960-1984) 7 Unofficial Associations: Koinonia (1960), by E. A. Judge 8 Patrons and Officers in Club and Church (1977), by William L. Countryman 9 Christianity as a Burial Society (1984), by Robert L. Wilken 10 A Hellenistic Cult Group and the New Testament Churches (1981), by S. C. Barton and G. H. R. Horsley 11 The Formation of the Ekklēsia (1983), by Wayne A. Meeks Part Three: Moving the Conversation Forward (1999-2013) 12 Paul's House Churches and the Cultic Associations (1999), by James Harrison 13 Voluntary Associations and the Formation of Pauline Churches: Overcoming the Objections (2006), by Richard S. Ascough 14 Roman Legislation on Associations and Christian Communities (2002), by Markus Öhler 15 Christ-Bearers and Fellow-Initiates: Local Cultural Life and Christian Identity in Ignatius' Letters (2003), by Philip A. Harland 16 Membership Practices in Pauline Christ Groups (2013), by John S. Kloppenborg

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Book SynopsisDuring the third millennium BC, the huge geographical area stretching between the Mediterranean in the west and the Indus Valley in the east witnessed the rise of a commercial network of unmatched proportions and intensity, within which the Persian Gulf for long periods functioned as a central node. In this book, Laursen and Steinkeller examine the nature of cultural and commercial contacts between Babylonia, the Gulf region, and Indus Civilization. Focusing on the third and early second millennia BC, and using both archaeological data and the evidence of ancient written sources, their study offers an up-to-date synthetic picture of the history of interactions across this vast region. In addition to giving detailed characterizations and evaluations of contacts in various periods, the book also treats a number of important related issues, such as the presence of Amorites in the Gulf (in particular, their role in the rise of the Tilmun center on Bahrain Island); the alleged existence of Meluhhan commercial outposts in Babylonia; and the role that the seaport of Gu’abba played in Babylonia’s interactions with the Gulf region and southeastern Iran.Table of ContentsPreface1. Introduction: Working PremiseConfronting and Combining Archaeology and TextsSome Methodological Considerations2. The Prehistoric Foundation (ca. 6000–2650 BC)3. The Pre-Sargonic Period (ca. 2650–2350 BC)ArchaeologyTexts4. The Sargonic Period (ca. 2350–2200 BC)ArchaeologyTexts5. Makkan and Tilmun between ca. 2200 and ca. 2100 BC6. The Ur III Period (ca. 2100–2000 BC)ArchaeologyTextsThe Role of Amorites in Tilmun and Makkan7. The Post-Ur III Period (2000–1800 BC)ArchaeologyTexts8. The Role of Guʾabba as Babylonia’s Main Seaport and a Major Textile Production Center8.1. Guʾabba, the Seaport8.2. Guʾabba, the Town8.2.1 The Shipyard8.2.2 The Caravanserai8.2.3. The Weaving EstablishmentExcursus: The Textile Industry at Ur9. Contacts between Babylonia and Meluhha in the Late Third Millennium9.1. A Meluhhan Settlement in Southern Babylonia?9.2. Contacts between Babylonia and Meluhha10. ConclusionAppendix 1. The Ur III and Isin Texts Bearing on the Gulf TradeAppendix 2. The Seaworthy Ships of Babylonia, the "Makkan Ships," and the Cylinder Seals of the "Big Ships" Personnel from Failaka and Bahrain1. Big Ships and Big Ship Captains2. Ships of Makkan3. Boat Construction4. The Cylinder Seals Owned by the Personnel of "Big Ships" from Failaka and BahrainAppendix 3. The Babylonian Burial Jar in the Gulf CountriesBibliographic AbbreviationsBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Crown Games were the apex of competition in ancient Greece. Along with prestigious athletic contests in honor of Zeus at Olympia, they comprised the Pythian Games for Apollo at Delphi, the Isthmian Games for Poseidon, and the Neman Games, sacred to Zeus. For over nine hundred years, the Greeks celebrated these athletic and religious festivals, a rare point of cultural unity amid the fierce regional independence of the numerous Greek city-states and kingdoms.The Crown Games of Ancient Greece examines these festivals in the context of the ancient Greek world, a vast and sprawling cultural region that stretched from modern Spain to the Black Sea and North Africa. Illuminating the unique history and features of the celebrations, David Lunt delves into the development of the contest sites as sanctuaries and the Panhellenic competitions that gave them their distinctive character. While literary sources have long been the mainstay for understanding the evolution of the Crown Games and ancient Greek athletics, archaeological excavations have significantly augmented contemporary understandings of the events. Drawing on this research, Lunt brings deeper context to these gatherings, which were not only athletics competitions but also occasions for musical contests, dramatic performances, religious ceremonies, and diplomatic summits—as well as raucous partying. Taken as a circuit, the Crown Games offer a more nuanced view of ancient Greek culture than do the well-known Olympian Games on their own. With this comprehensive examination of the Crown Games, Lunt provides a new perspective on how the ancient Greeks competed and collaborated both as individuals and as city-states.

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Book SynopsisAncient consolatory writings offer us a window onto alien forms of loss and grief, as experienced in a world where death happened, in most cases, much earlier and with less reliable warning than in developed countries today. Here, eight original studies explore the topic of bereavement in consolatory writings from ancient Greece, Rome, early medieval and Arabic society. David Scourfield examines consolation as a genre; James Chong-Gossard treats consolation in Greek tragedy, and the rejection of comfort; Han Baltussen studies the purpose and impact of Cicero's curious 'Consolation to Himself ' on the loss of his daughter. Marcus Wilson proposes a new interpretation of Seneca's consolatory writings; George Boys-Stones studies the Consolatio ad Apollonium as 'therapy for the dead'; David Konstan reflects on Lucian's Of Mourning and the consolation tradition. For later Antiquity and reception, Josef Lossl treats continuity and transformation of ancient Consolatio in Augustine of Hippo, while Peter Adamson addresses Arabic ethics and the limits of philosophical consolation. The collection offers unexpected results: consolation itself is on occasion rejected, philosophy deliberately marginalised, while much emerges which is unique and personal to the ancient individuals involved.Trade Review...these essays will act as enlightening guides to further scholarship on the consolation. They will also be important references for scholars studying the role of emotion in ancient ethics, Greek and Roman mourning practices, lamentation and mourning in Greek and Latin tragedy, and, not least, ancient philosophy and its later reception. -- Clifford A. Robinson Bryn Mawr Classical Review October 2013

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Book SynopsisTaking as its point of departure the astounding longevity and ubiquity in our culture of so many themes, genres, visual forms and personalities from the ancient Greek and Roman world, this volume focuses on popular receptions of Classical Antiquity. In doing so, it will explore specific receptions that make immediate sense in a present' and among large, popular audiences. In particular, it will focus on three main themes: the reception of Classical Antiquity in Danish popular culture, in popular European music, as well as the popular reception of individual lives in both antiquity and later periods.

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Book SynopsisThis brief but highly informative book presents an outline of Greek religion in the classical period. After surveying its main characteristics, it offers a clear and innovative view of the great gods and heroes as well as their sanctuaries and also the main myths, rituals and mysteries: from Athena to Zeus, from sacrifice to the puritan Orphics, from the Indo-European roots to the influence of the ancient Near East. The approach pays attention to the sociological, anthropological, and psychological aspects of Greek religion and also to the gender roles. By paying attention to the often modern origin of many of the notions employed in the analysis of Greek religion, it illustrates the difference between Greek polytheism and the place of religion in modern Western society. This second edition has been updated to account for the latest developments, and its bibliography makes this book very useful for students and teachers alike.Trade Review'a clear and innovative view of the great gods and heroes … this book is very useful for students and teachers alike … Bremmer has written a very good book on Greek religion.' Mark Beumer, Kleio-HistoriaTable of ContentsI. Preface to first edition Jan N. Bremmer; II. Preface to second edition Jan N. Bremmer; III. List of abbreviations; IV. List of illustrations; 1. Introduction: General Characteristics; 2. Gods; 3. Sanctuaries; 4. Ritual; 5. Mythology; 6. Gender; 7. Transformations; Appendix: The genesis of Greek religion; Bibliography; General index; Index of passages.

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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 SynopsisA “splendid” (The Wall Street Journal) account of one of history’s most important and yet little-known wars, the campaign culminating in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, whose outcome determined the future of the Roman Empire.Following Caesar’s assassination and Mark Antony’s defeat of the conspirators who killed Caesar, two powerful men remained in Rome—Antony and Caesar’s chosen heir, young Octavian, the future Augustus. When Antony fell in love with the most powerful woman in the world, Egypt’s ruler Cleopatra, and thwarted Octavian’s ambition to rule the empire, another civil war broke out. In 31 BC one of the largest naval battles in the ancient world took place—more than 600 ships, almost 200,000 men, and one woman—the Battle of Actium. Octavian prevailed over Antony and Cleopatra, who subsequently killed themselves. The Battle of Actium had great consequences for the empire. Had Antony and Cleopatra won, the empire’s capital might have moved from Rome to Alexandria, Cleopatra’s capital, and Latin might have become the empire’s second language after Greek, which was spoken throughout the eastern Mediterranean, including Egypt. In this “superbly recounted” (The National Review) history, Barry Strauss, ancient history authority, describes this consequential battle with the drama and expertise that it deserves. The War That Made the Roman Empire is essential history that features three of the greatest figures of the ancient world.Trade Review“Actium was one of the most important battles in history, and Barry Strauss brings this stunning maritime collision vividly to life.” -- Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret) 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and author of Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans"The victory at Actium, Mr. Strauss argues in this splendid book, allowed Augustus to build an empire that lasted for nearly 500 years. The price was the destruction of the man who dared to oppose him, along with the woman for whom he had risked everything." -- Arthur Herman * The Wall Street Journal *"Barry Strauss has the rare ability of being able to bring ancient history to life in a way that is both profoundly learned and highly readable. . . . [Although ] most readers will know the outcome of one of history’s most famous battles, Strauss somehow manages to maintain the suspense and tension until its end. . . . Superbly recounted." -- Andrew Roberts * The National Review *“[Strauss] is both a first-rate scholar who knows and understands his subject thoroughly and a fluent communicator. . . . A splendid account of those dramatic events and people who may not have been all that nice but were certainly never dull.” -- Adrian Goldsworthy * The New Criterion *"A master historian of the ancient world’s wars turns his attention to the battle that laid the foundations for the Roman Empire. . . . Few historians can bring such a battle alive better than Strauss. . . . It must now be considered the most up-to-date history of its subject." * Kirkus Reviews *"A grandiose love affair, doomed lovers, a trio of titanic rivals, deadly political intrigue, culminating in a seismic battle at sea—historian Barry Strauss is the perfect narrator for this epic episode in ancient empire-building." -- Adrienne Mayor, author of Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology"Barry Strauss pulls off the historian’s hat trick with his new book, The War That Made the Roman Empire. One, he tells the amazing true story as it truly happened; two, he brings the true historical characters vividly to life; and three, he puts it all within the Big Picture and tells us what it means. You feel as if you’re present at the events as they unfold, yet at the same time you’re getting the global contour and context of this drama as it affects, and has affected, our own time. The War That Made the Roman Empire is Strauss at the top of his game." -- Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of Gates of Fire and A Man at Arms

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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 SynopsisLogical, lucid, and direct, Technological Slavery radically reinvigorates and reforms the intellectual foundations of an age-old and resurgent world-view: "Progress" is a myth. Wild nature and humanity are fundamentally incompatible with technological growth. In Technological Slavery, Kaczynski argues that: (i) the unfolding human and environmental crises are the direct, inevitable result of technology itself; (ii) many of the stresses endured in contemporary life are not normal to the human condition, but unique to technological conditions; (iii) wilderness and human life close to nature are realistic and supreme ideals; and, (iv) a revolution to eliminate modern technology and attain these ideals is necessary and far more achievable than would first appear. Drawing on a broad range of disciplines, Kaczynski weaves together a set of visionary social theories to form a revolutionary perspective on the dynamics of history and the evolution of societies. The result is a comprehensive challenge to the fundamental values and assumptions of the modern technology-driven world, pinning the cause of the rapidly unfolding catastrophe on technology itself, while offering a realistic hope for ultimate recovery. Note: Theodore John Kaczynski does not receive any remuneration for this book.Trade Review"He is clearly a Luddite, but simply saying this does not dismiss his argument... As difficult as it is for me to acknowledge, I saw some merit in the reasoning in [Kaczynski's writing]." Bill Joy, founder of Sun Microsystems, Wired Magazine"There is nothing in [ISAIF] that looks at all like the work of a madman. The language is clear, precise and calm. The argument is subtle and carefully developed, lacking anything even faintly resembling the wild claims or irrational speculation that a lunatic might produce." James Q. Wilson, Ph.D., former president of the American Political Science Association"Kaczynski understands what those of us more fully participating in the technological system are unable to fully appreciate: that technological society is beyond rational human control and will result in cataclysmic harm. What he presents is a sound moral argument with what should be eye-opening historical social illustrations that are, together, too numerous to refute." Jai Galliott, Ph.D., School of Engineering and Information Technology, UNSW Canberra"His work, despite his deeds, deserves a place alongside Brave New World , by Aldous Huxley, and 1984 , by George Orwell." Dr. Keith Ablow, Fox News"I recommend that you read this compelling perspective on how we can frame our struggles in a technological society." The Tech , MIT's oldest and largest newspaper" Anti-Tech Revolution is a true milestone in thinking about technology. It is a well-researched, well-written, and thoroughly-documented work dedicated to undermining the technological system before its worst consequences become reality. Nothing else like it exists. All those concerned with the future of humanity and the planet would do well to study it carefully." Prof. David Skrbina, University of Michigan, Dearborn"There are more than a few people who feel that society's rush toward a technological future will lead to disaster . . . This is very highly recommended." Midwest Book Review"In this thoughtful book, Dr. Kaczynski provides a blueprint for the radical anti-technology movement. If you want to stop AI before it's too late, this may be your best bet." Dylan Evans, Ph.D., author, The Utopia Experiment

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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 SynopsisTrade ReviewBestselling physicist Carlo Rovelli argues in this enjoyable and provocative little book that a little-known Greek philosopher invented the idea of the cosmos -- Tim Adams * Observer *Carlo Rovelli’s Anaximander is a knockout: there’s nobody like Rovelli for bridging the Two Cultures, and I was enlarged by his lucid, optimistic account, full of fascinating historical nuggets, of what scientists do and why it’s exciting -- Sam Leith * TLS , Best Books of the Year *Rovelli is a very good scientist and a very good writer. He explains some of the most conceptually difficult and densest areas of physics lightly and breezily. Here, he tells the story of an ancient thinker who had a revolutionary idea about the Earth's place in the cosmos -- Tom Whipple * The Times *Anaximander is a delight and so is this book -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *As Rovelli's fans will expect, this book is excellent. It is never less than engaging, and enviably compendious -- Tim Smith-Laing * The Telegraph *A celebration of the scientific spirit of inquiry and the remarkable achievements of one man more than 2,500 years ago -- John Sellars * TLS *A bold and persuasive case that this ancient Greek philosopher scientist was the founder of critical thinking -- Adam Rutherford * Start the Week, BBC Radio 4 *This is seriously astounding. So lucid, so imaginative, so subtle, and so large in scope. It's like the best primer you can imagine for the non-scientist on why what you think you know about Ptolemy and Copernicus, or Popper and Kuhn, is not quite right -- Sam Leith * Twitter *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This translation is more consistent in its terminology, is more faithful to the textual features of the 1744 text, and provides significantly greater (and clearer) annotation than previous translations."—Charles Sullivan, University of Dallas“The footnotes acquaint the Anglophone reader with perhaps the very best of contemporary Vico scholars.”—Nancy Struever, Johns Hopkins University"This third translation of the main work of Italian philosophy into English presents important advantages with regard to the earlier ones. It is philologically faithful, philosophically competent, and eminently readable."—Vittorio Hosle, author of Vico’s New Science of the Intersubjective World"Finally, the barrier posed by Vico’s formidably difficult baroque prose is overcome. He can now be understood and recognized as indispensably key to the perennial future of the humanities."—William Franke, author of The Revelation of Imagination"This translation is agilely faithful to Vico’s idiosyncratic prose; and while prior translations provide scant resources to aid the reader, this one contains copious annotations as well as a magisterial introduction."—Stuart D. Warner, Roosevelt University

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