Ancient history Books

Book SynopsisNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE KANSAS CITY STARFrom Anthony Everitt, the bestselling author of acclaimed biographies of Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian, comes a riveting, magisterial account of Rome and its remarkable ascent from an obscure agrarian backwater to the greatest empire the world has ever known.   Emerging as a market town from a cluster of hill villages in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., Rome grew to become the ancient world’s preeminent power. Everitt fashions the story of Rome’s rise to glory into an erudite page-turner filled with lasting lessons for our time. He chronicles the clash between patricians and plebeians that defined the politics of the Republic. He shows how Rome’s shrewd strategy of offering citizenship to her defeated subjects was instrumental in expanding the reach of her burgeoning empire. And he outlines the corrosion of constitutional norms that accompanied Rome&rsq

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Book SynopsisA magisterial account of how a tiny city-state in ancient Greece became history’s most influential civilization, from the bestselling author of acclaimed biographies of Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian  Filled with tales of adventure and astounding reversals of fortune, The Rise of Athens celebrates the city-state that transformed the world—from the democratic revolution that marked its beginning, through the city’s political and cultural golden age, to its decline into the ancient equivalent of a modern-day university town.   Anthony Everitt constructs his history with unforgettable portraits of the talented, tricky, ambitious, and unscrupulous Athenians who fueled the city’s rise: Themistocles, the brilliant naval strategist who led the Greeks to a decisive victory over their Persian enemies; Pericles, arguably the greatest Athenian statesman of them all; and the wily Alcibiades, who changed his political allegiance several times during the course of the Peloponnesian War—and died in a hail of assassins’ arrows. Here also are riveting you-are-there accounts of the milestone battles that defined the Hellenic world: Thermopylae, Marathon, and Salamis among them. An unparalleled storyteller, Everitt combines erudite, thoughtful historical analysis with stirring narrative set pieces that capture the colorful, dramatic, and exciting world of ancient Greece.   Although the history of Athens is less well known than that of other world empires, the city-state’s allure would inspire Alexander the Great, the Romans, and even America’s own Founding Fathers. It’s fair to say that the Athenians made possible the world in which we live today. In this peerless new work, Anthony Everitt breathes vivid life into this most ancient story.Praise for The Rise of Athens“[An] invaluable history of a foundational civilization . . . combining impressive scholarship with involving narration.”—Booklist “Compelling . . . a comprehensive and entertaining account of one of the most transformative societies in Western history . . . Everitt recounts the high points of Greek history with flair and aplomb.”—Shelf Awareness “Highly readable . . . Everitt keeps the action moving.”—Kirkus Reviews Praise for Anthony Everitt’s The Rise of Rome “Rome’s history abounds with remarkable figures. . . . Everitt writes for the informed and the uninformed general reader alike, in a brisk, conversational style, with a modern attitude of skepticism and realism.”—The Dallas Morning News “[A] lively and readable account . . . Roman history has an uncanny ability to resonate with contemporary events.”—Maclean’s “Elegant, swift and faultless as an introduction to his subject.”—The Spectator “An engrossing history of a relentlessly pugnacious city’s 500-year rise to empire.”—Kirkus Reviews “Fascinating history and a great read.”—Chicago Sun-Times

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Book SynopsisTheir History and Theology

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Book SynopsisTurning to three sources - historical, archaeological, and mythological, this title provides a multifaceted study of Himiko and ancient Japanese society.Trade ReviewGiven the author's long and distinguished career in the archaeological study of Japan, a retrospective summary of the archaeology alone is a significant event. Add to this his very thorough examination of textual sources, and the result is a truly unique, multifaceted study of ancient Japanese society. - Walter Edwards, Tenri University ""Using a balanced combination of archaeology and historical texts, Professor Kidder gives a marvelously rich portrait of life in Yayoi Japan."" - Mark Hudson, University of Tsukuba

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Book SynopsisThe author draws on textual readings, archaeological and historical data, and epigraphy to determine what may be known about the Israelite religions during the Iron Age (1200 - 586 BCE). The evidence is synthesized within the structure of an Israelite worldview and ethos.Trade Review'... the most ambitious, the most sophisticated, the most important study of ancient Israelite religions ever undertaken.' Professor William G. Dever, University of Arizona; '... thorough, up-to-date.... No comparable work is as methodologically sophisticated... clearly written, rich with illustration and example.' Professor Bill Propp, University of California at San Diego; 'Zevit's work is learned and suggestive, often brilliant, in its relation both to humanistic studies in general and to detailed phenomena and texts in particular.' The Times Literary Supplement; 'This book is a formidable tour de force, a magnum opus.' Journal of Hebrew ScripturesTable of Contents1. Surveying Paths: An Essay about Humanities, Religion, History, and Israelite Religions; 2. Of Cult Places and of Israelites; 3. Architecture Parlante: Israelite Cult Places; 4. Tangible Belief: The Material and Textual Aspects of Cultic Artefacts; 5. Writ on Rock - Script on Stone; 6. Israelite Religions in Israelian and Judahite Historiography and Historiosophy; 7. Israelite Mantic Religions in Literary, Social, and Historical Contexts; 8. Visions of a Foreign Land: Israelite Religions through Enemy Eyes; 9. The Names of Israelite Gods; 10. Israelite Religions: A Parallactic Synthesis; Appendix: Khirbet Beit Lei: The Main Inscriptions

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA fresh and insightful account of the origin of ancient temples and the role played by sacred sites in raising human consciousness.Can a temple transform an ordinary person into an extraordinary being?Ancient texts refer to temples as living beings, intermediaries between matter and spirit that serve to transform people “into gods, into bright stars.”They also describe a global flood in 9703 BC, and how groups of survivors — Seven Sages, Shining Ones, Followers of Horus — set out to “rebuild the former mansions of the gods” by creating a vast, interconnected network of power places upon the Earth’s energy hotspots. And the temples that rose from them would serve future generations whenever they lost their spiritual compass. What’s more, science has now discovered these portals are still working.Based on solid evidence, this original work uncovers the origin of sacred sites, the seven laws that transform ordinary locations into portals, how the measurable energy in ancient temples induces altered states of consciousness, and why we seek out these mysterious places.From Stonehenge and the sacred sites of Egypt, to India, the Americas, Pacific islands and the Far East, best-selling author Freddy Silva takes you on a 17,000-year journey of levitating stones, underwater ‘cities of knowledge’, 15-foot tall gods and the secret esoteric groups who kept this single-minded vision alive throughout recent history.Their aim? The transformation of every person on Earth.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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