Ancient history Books

Book SynopsisMore than three thousand years ago a sculptor working in the royal city of Amarna carved a limestone bust of an Egyptian queen. The queen was Nefertiti, consort of the 'heretic pharaoh' Akhenaten. Plastered and painted, Nefertiti's bust depicted an extraordinarily beautiful woman. However, Akhenaten's reign was drawing to an end, and the royal family was soon to be written out of Egypt's official history. Not long after its creation the stone Nefertiti was locked in a storeroom and forgotten. In 1912 the bust was re-discovered and transported to Germany. Initially hidden from the public view, the beautiful queen was eventually displayed in Berlin Museum. Instantly, she became an ancient world celebrity. Egypt has yielded more than its fair share of artistic masterpieces, but no other sculpture has so successfully bridged the gap between the ancient and modern worlds. The timeless beauty of the Nefertiti bust both attracts us and sparks our imagination, but in so doing it obscures our view of the past, shifting attention not only from the other members of the Amarna court, but also from other, equally valid, representations of Nefertiti herself. In this book Joyce Tyldesley explores the creation of a cultural icon, from its ancient origins to its modern context: its discovery, its display, and its dual role as a political pawn and artistic inspiration.Trade ReviewWarm and insightful * History Revealed *Breezily readable -- Ben East * The Observer *This book's narrative crackles into life ... plunges us into an atmosphere thick with mandarin intrigue, gossip, erotic longing and winged eyeliner * Guardian *Tyldesley's strength has always been her storytelling * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'Toner again spins a tale that is enjoyable and informative.' The Times Tour the Roman Empire at its height with Marcus Sidonius Falx and his amanuensis, Dr Jerry Toner. Travelling east, Falx explores the great cultural centre of Athens before trekking into rural Asia (or Turkey as we know it), past the already ancient Luxor monuments in Roman Egypt, and by the Great Library of Alexandria. Travelling west across the breadbasket of the Empire, he journeys through Gaul (France) before crossing to Britannia, where he suffers the worst that provincial life has to offer. Falx provides practical advice on surviving all things travel: from pirates and shipwrecks to bedbugs and lousy food. Even the most sedentary reader will feel they have experienced life in the Empire first-hand.Trade ReviewA quirky, witty jaunt across the Roman world in the 2nd century -- Patrick Kidd * Times *[Marcus Sidonius Falx is] a fascinating creation ... Here we have a chatty, persuasive, and even likeable voice guiding us through the minutiae of a morally repulsive institution * Times Literary Supplement *Falx's text, illuminated by Toner's commentary, is by turns charming, haughty, and brutal * New Yorker *Praise for Jerry Toner and Marcus Sidonius Falx: Thought-provoking and illuminating * FT *Illuminating and packs a punch * Times Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisA unique compilation of more than one thousand concise biographies of those involved in the campaigns of Alexander the Great, and the struggle for power after his death. From leading commanders in Alexander's army to the nobles of the Persian Empire, and the many other individuals he encountered throughout his life and reign, these complete and balanced biographies are drawn from the literary and epigraphic sources of the age. First published in 2006, this version has been expanded and substantially revised to widen the human and political landscape in which Alexander moved. The only work of its kind, this is an essential guide to a fascinating and pivotal historical era, and to one of history's most successful military commanders.

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Book SynopsisA bold reimagining of the life and work of Archimedes of Syracuse.

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Book SynopsisThe gospels and ancient historians agree: Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman imperial prefect in Jerusalem. To this day, Christians of all churches confess that Jesus died 'under Pontius Pilate'. But what exactly does that mean? Within decades of Jesus' death, Christians began suggesting that it was the Judaean authorities who had crucified Jesus--a notion later echoed in the Qur'an. In the third century, one philosopher raised the notion that, although Pilate had condemned Jesus, he'd done so justly; this idea survives in one of the main strands of modern New Testament criticism. So what is the truth of the matter? And what is the history of that truth? David Lloyd Dusenbury reveals Pilate's 'innocence' as not only a neglected theological question, but a recurring theme in the history of European political thought. He argues that Jesus' interrogation by Pilate, and Augustine of Hippo's North African sermon on that trial, led to the concept of secularity and the logic of tolerance emerging in early modern Europe. Without the Roman trial of Jesus, and the arguments over Pilate's innocence, the history of empire--from the first century to the twenty-first--would have been radically different.Trade Review‘David L. Dusenbury’s The Innocence of Pontius Pilate is a model of intelligent, accessible and persuasive scholarship.’'[The Innocence of Pontius Pilate] contributes to a very interesting history of our disputed and entangled conceptions of secular power and spiritual kingdom and the nature and location of political sovereignty.' -- Catholic Herald

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Book SynopsisBy the sixth century of the common era the Roman Empire already had many hundreds of years of accumulated ceremonial embedded in its government, and practical science embodied in its army. The transition from Republic to Imperium and the more hierarchical structure that entailed, and the absorption of Christianity into state processes, had pushed the development of court ceremonial apace, and particularly driven its embodiment and display in ever more opulent regalia. The regalia embraced not only garments of distinctive form and decoration, but also both dress and non-dress accessories. It was crucial in displaying rank and function on an everyday basis, yet was also varied considerably for special occasions. Military dress largely reflected forms current amongst ordinary men, but with an emphasis on functionality, eschewing the excesses of fashion. Detailed literary and artistic sources, archaeology and insights derived from reconstruction and practical experience has gone into creating an incredibly lavish picture of the clothing of the longest-enduring political entity in history.

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

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Book SynopsisRoughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European. But who were the early speakers of this ancient mother tongue, and how did they manage to spread it around the globe? This title reveals how their domestication of horses and use of the wheel spread language.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2010 Book Award, Society for American Archaeology "David W. Anthony argues that we speak English not just because our parents taught it to us but because wild horses used to roam the steppes of central Eurasia, because steppedwellers invented the spoked wheel and because poetry once had real power... Anthony is not the first scholar to make the case that Proto-Indo-European came from this region [Ukraine/Russia], but given the immense array of evidence he presents, he may be the last one who has to... The Horse, the Wheel, and Language brings together the work of historical linguists and archaeologists, researchers who have traditionally been suspicious of each other's methods. [The book] lays out in intricate detail the complicated genealogy of history's most successful language."--Christine Kenneally, The New York Times Book Review "[A]uthoritative ... "--John Noble Wilford, New York Times "A thorough look at the cutting edge of anthropology, Anthony's book is a fascinating look into the origins of modern man."--Publishers Weekly (Online Reviews Annex) "In the age of Borat it may come as a surprise to learn that the grasslands between Ukraine and Kazakhstan were once regarded as an early crucible of civilisation. This idea is revisited in a major new study by David Anthony."--Times Higher Education "Starting with a history of research on Proto-Indo-Europeans and exploring how this field for obvious reasons assumed an ethno-political dimension early on, leading PIE scholar Anthony moves on to established facts ... then shifts his focus to the interrelation of the three essential elements of horse, chariot, and language and how the first and second provided the means for the spread of Indo-European languages from India to Ireland. The bulk of the book contains the factual evidence, mainly archaeological, to support this argument. But a strength of the book is its rich historical linguistic approach. The combination of the two provides a remarkable work that should appeal to everyone with an interest not just in Indo-Europeans, but in the history of humanity in general."--K. Abdi, Dartmouth College, for CHOICE "David Anthony's book is a masterpiece. A professor of anthropology, Anthony brings together archaeology, linguistics, and rare knowledge of Russian scholarship and the history of climate change to recast our understanding of the formation of early human society."--Martin Walker, Wilson Quarterly "The Horse, the Wheel, and Language brings together the work of historical linguists and archaeologists, researchers who have traditionally been suspicious of each other's methods. Though parts of the book will be penetrable only by scholars, it lays out in intricate detail the complicated genealogy of history's most successful language."--Christine Kenneally, International Herald Tribune "The Horse, the Wheel and Language maps the early geography of the Russian steppes to re-create the lost world of Indo-European culture that is as fascinating as any mystery novel."--Arthur Krim, Geographical Reviews "In its integration of language and archaeology, this book represents an outstanding synthesis of what today can be known with some certainty about the origin and early history of the Indo-European languages. In my view, it supersedes all previous attempts on the subject."--Kristian Kristiansen, Antiquity "A key book."--David Keys, IndependentTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi PART ONE: Language and Archaeology 1 Chapter One: The Promise and Politics of the Mother Tongue 3 Ancestors 3 Linguists and Chauvinists 6 The Lure of the Mother Tongue 11 A New Solution for an Old Problem 15 Language Extinction and Thought 19 Chapter Two: How to Reconstruct a Dead Language 21 Language Change and Time 22 Phonology: How to Reconstruct a Dead Sound 24 The Lexicon: How to Reconstruct Dead Meanings 32 Syntax and Morphology: The Shape of a Dead Language 36 Conclusion: Raising a Language from the Dead 38 Chapter Three: Language and Time 1: The Last Speakers of Proto-Indo-European 39 The Size of the Chronological Window: How Long Do Languages Last? 39 The Terminal Date for Proto-Indo-European: The Mother Becomes Her Daughters 42 The Oldest and Strangest Daughter (or Cousin?): Anatolian 43 The Next Oldest Inscriptions: Greek and Old Indic 48 Counting the Relatives: How Many in 1500 BCE? 50 Chapter Four: Language and Time 2: Wool, Wheels, and Proto-Indo-European 59 The Wool Vocabulary 59 The Wheel Vocabulary 63 When Was the Wheel Invented 65 The Signifi cance of the Wheel 72 Wagons and the Anatolian Homeland Hypothesis 75 The Birth and Death of Proto-Indo-European 81 Chapter Five: Language and Place: The Location of the Proto-Indo-Europe an Homeland 83 Problems with the Concept of "the Homeland" 83 Finding the Homeland: Ecology and Environment 89 Finding the Homeland: The Economic and Social Setting 91 Finding the Homeland: Uralic and Caucasian Connections 93 The Location of the Proto-Indo-European Homeland 98 Chapter Six: The Archaeology of Language 102 Persistent Frontiers 104 Migration as a Cause of Persistent Material-Culture Frontiers 108 Ecological Frontiers: Different Ways of Making a Living 114 Small-scale Migrations, Elite Recruitment, and Language Shift 117 PART TWO: The Opening of the Eurasian Steppes 121 Chapter Seven: How to Reconstruct a Dead Culture 123 The Three Ages in the Pontic-Caspian Steppes 125 Dating and the Radiocarbon Revolution 126 What Did They Eat? 128 Archaeological Cultures and Living Cultures 130 The Big Questions Ahead 132 Chapter Eight: First Farmers and Herders: The Pontic-Caspian Neolithic 134 Domesticated Animals and Pontic-Caspian Ecol ogy 135 The First Farmer-Forager Frontier in the Pontic- Caspian Region 138 Farmer Meets Forager: The Bug-Dniester Culture 147 Beyond the Frontier: Pontic-Caspian Foragers before Cattle Arrived 154 The Gods Give Cattle 158 Chapter Nine: Cows, Copper, and Chiefs 160 The Early Copper Age in Old Europe 162 The Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture 164 The Dnieper-Donets II Culture 174 The Khvalynsk Culture on the Volga 182 Nalchik and North Caucasian Cultures 186 The Lower Don and North Caspian Steppes 188 The Forest Frontier: The Samara Culture 189 Cows, Social Power, and the Emergence of Tribes 190 Chapter Ten: The Domestication of the Horse and the Origins of Riding: The Tale of the Teeth 193 Where Were Horses First Domesticated? 196 Why Were Horses Domesticated? 200 What Is a Domesticated Horse? 201 Bit Wear and Horse back Riding 206 Indo-European Migrations and Bit Wear at Dereivka 213 Botai and Eneolithic Horseback Riding 216 The Origin of Horse back Riding 221 The Economic and Military Effects of Horseback Riding 222 Chapter Eleven: The End of Old Europe and the Rise of the Steppe 225 Warfare and Alliance: The Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture and the Steppes 230 The Sredni Stog Culture: Horses and Rituals from the East 239 Migrations into the Danube Valley: The Suvorovo-Novodanilovka Complex 249 Warfare, Climate Change, and Language Shift in the Lower Danube Valley 258 After the Collapse 260 Chapter Twelve: Seeds of Change on the Steppe Borders: Maikop Chiefs and Tripolye Towns 263 The Five Cultures of the Final Eneolithic in the Steppes 265 Crisis and Change on the Tripolye Frontier: Towns Bigger Than Cities 277 The First Cities and Their Connection to the Steppes 282 The North Caucasus Piedmont: Eneolithic Farmers before Maikop 285 The Maikop Culture 287 Maikop-Novosvobodnaya in the Steppes: Contacts with the North 295 Proto-Indo-European as a Regional Language in a Changing World 299 Chapter Thirteen: Wagon Dwellers of the Steppe: The Speakers of Proto-Indo-European 300 Why Not a Kurgan Culture? 306 Beyond the Eastern Frontier: The Afanasievo Migration to the Altai 307 Wagon Graves in the Steppes 311 Where Did the Yamnaya Horizon Begin? 317 When Did the Yamnaya Horizon Begin? 321 Were the Yamnaya People Nomads? 321 Yamnaya Social Organization 328 The Stone Stelae of the North Pontic Steppes 336 Chapter Fourteen: The Western Indo-European Languages 340 The End of the Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture and the Roots of the Western Branches 343 Steppe Overlords and Tripolye Clients: The Usatovo Culture 349 The Yamnaya Migration up the Danube Valley 361 Yamnaya Contacts with the Corded Ware Horizon 367 The Origins of Greek 368 Conclusion: The Early Western Indo-European Languages Disperse 369 Chapter Fifteen: Chariot Warriors of the Northern Steppes 371 The End of the Forest Frontier: Corded Ware Herders in the Forest 375 Pre-Sintashta Cultures of the Eastern Steppes 385 The Origin of the Sintashta Culture 389 Warfare in the Sintashta Culture: Fortifications and Weapons 393 Tournaments of Value 405 Sintashta and the Origins of the Aryans 408 Chapter Sixteen: The Opening of the Eurasian Steppes 412 Bronze Age Empires and the Horse Trade 412 The Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex 421 The Opening of the Eurasian Steppes 435 The Srubnaya Culture: Herding and Gathering in the Western Steppes 437 East of the Urals, Phase I: The Petrovka Culture 441 The Seima-Turbino Horizon in the Forest-Steppe Zone 443 East of the Urals, Phase II: The Andronovo Horizon 448 Proto-Vedic Cultures in the Central Asian Contact Zone 452 The Steppes Become a Bridge across Eurasia 456 Chapter Seventeen: Words and Deeds 458 The Horse and the Wheel 459 Archaeology and Language 463 Appendix: Author's Note on Radiocarbon Dates 467 Notes 471 References 507 Index 547

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Book Synopsis''WE GREEKS ARE ONE IN BLOOD AND ONE IN LANGUAGE; WE HAVE TEMPLES TO THE GODS AND RELIGIOUS RITES IN COMMON, AND A COMMON WAY OF LIFE.'' So the fifth-century historian Herodotus has the Athenians declare, in explanation of why they would never betray their fellow Greeks to their ''barbarian'' Persian enemy. And he could easily have added other common features to this list, such as clothing, culinary traditions, and political institutions. But if the Greeks understood their kinship to one another, why did so many of them fight for the invading Persians? And why, more generally, is ancient Greek history so often one of internecine wars and other, less violent forms of competition? This extraordinary contradiction is the central theme of Robin Waterfield''s magisterial new history of ancient Greece. From their emergence in the Mediterranean around 750 BCE to the Roman conquest of the last of the Greco-Macedonian kingdoms in 30 BCE, this is the complete story of the ancient Greeks. Equal weight is given to all eras of Greek history-the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods-and to the celebrated figures who shaped it, from Solon and Pericles to Alexander and Cleopatra. In addition, by incorporating the most recent scholarship in classical history and archaeology, the book provides fascinating insights into Greek law, religion, philosophy, drama, and the role of women and slaves in ancient Greek society. A brilliant account of a remarkable civilization, Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens presents a comprehensive and compelling portrait of the perennial paradox of ancient Greece: political disunity combined with underlying cultural solidarity.Trade ReviewWaterfield's book is a pleasure to read: his prose is lively, entertaining, humane, and well researched, and contains a wealth of detail for both student and educator. This work could provide a valuable central text for a college-level Greek history course * Mik Larsen, The History Teacher *Compact and comprehensive.... A very readable political history of ancient Greece, while also providing chapters on Greek religion, literature, social constructs, and arts. * Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology. *A highly readable and stimulating introduction to a fascinating area of history. Waterfield's accessible but still authoritative tone brings the sights, sounds and citizens vividly to life. This evocative book manages to tread an often fine line between storytelling and scholarly history with a lightness of touch that belies the depth and scope of its approach ... This engaging one-volume history will appeal to a great many readers. * All About History *'Superlative. . . . The scholarship is thorough, deep, and well-explained. . . . Readers looking for an authoritative account of almost any aspect of ancient Greek history should be thoroughly gratified.' * Kirkus Reviews *'Judicious, reliable, compendious, limpidly clear, and based on immense research in the primary sources, Waterfield's fresh new history of ancient Greece will be the go-to resource for those seeking a panoptic, periscopic vision of one of the past's most fertile cultures.' * Paul Cartledge, author of Democracy: A Life and After Thermopylae *'In a clear, engaging style, Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens gives us the grand sweep of the ancient Greeks' 700-year history- from tiny but vibrant city-states, to great empires encompassing the Middle East, and ultimately their violent conquest by the even greater Roman Empire. For everyone interested in this extraordinary story, this is now the place to start.' * Ian Morris, author of War! What Is It Good for? and Why the West Rules-for Now *'Engaging but rigorously researched narrative history. All you ever needed to know about the Greeks.' * The Lady *'Waterfield's tone is suitably authoritative and measured... his book is enlivened by its detail.' * Daisy Dunn, Sunday Times *'Drawing on contemporary literature and inscriptions, informed by the most up-to-date archaeology, illustrated throughout with half-tone photographs and containing an excellent timeline (from 1200 to 27 BC), lists of rulers (of Ptolemaic Egypt, Macedon from the fourth century, Pergamum, Persia, Syracuse and Seleucid Syria), fifteen maps and a glossary, this book provides an invaluable resource for anyone wishing a comprehensive account of Greek history and culture, while reading lists point the way for those who wish to find out more. W's masterly review of how tensions between cultural unity and political disunity unfolded over eight hundred years is to be thoroughly recommended.' * David Stuttard, Classics for All *'Creators, Conquerors, & Citizens is [...] a highly readable and stimulating introduction to a fascinating [...] area of history. Waterfield's accessible but still authoritative tone brings the sights, sounds and citizens vividly to life. This evocative book manages to tread an often fine line between storytelling and scholarly history with a lightness of touch that belies the depth and scope of its approach. There is much to enjoy here and this engaging one-volume history will appeal to a great many readers, regardless of how much they already know about this history of Ancient Greece.' * All About History *'With more information, more engagingly presented, than any similar work, this is the best single-volume account of ancient Greece in more than a generation ... A brilliant, up-to-date account of ancient Greece, suitable for history buffs and university students alike, Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens presents a compelling and comprehensive story of this remarkable civilization's disunity, underlying cultural solidarity, and eventual political unification.' * Ancient Origins *'As one might expect, the scholarship is impeccable. Waterfield touches on a staggering array of topics, succinctly reviewing the evidence and summarizing the most recent scholarly work.' * Andrew T. Alwine, College of Charleston *As readily seen, this volume proves itself extremely useful when studying the history of Ancient Greece, proper of being used as a companion for higher education students starting on the subject. To this end, the maps, chronology, glossary, and brief but up-to-date bibliography that make up this book are of great use. To this extent, it is with no hesitation that we recommend translating this volume into Portuguese. * The Euphrosyne, Vol 50 *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements List of Illustrations List of Maps Chronology and King Lists Introduction I: Historical Background Introduction II: Environmental Background ACT I: The Archaic Period (c. 750-480): The Formation of States 1: The Emergence of the Greeks in the Mediterranean 2: Aristocracy and the Archaic State 3: The Archaic Greek World 4: Early Athens 5: The Democratic Revolution 6: Sparta 7: Greek Religion 8: The Persian Wars 9: The Greeks at War ACT II: The Classical Period (479-323): A Tale, Mainly, of Two Cities 10: The Delian League 11: The Economy of Greece 12: Athens in the Age of Pericles 13: Women, Sexuality, and Family Life 14: The Peloponnesian War 15: The Insatiability of ASyracuse 16: Socrates and the Thirty Tyrants 17: The Futility of War 18: The Macedonian Conquest 19: Alexander the Great ACT III: The Hellenistic Period (323-30): Greeks, Macedonians, and Romans 20: The Successor Kingdoms 21: A Time of Adjustment 22: The Greek Cities in the New World 23: Social Life and Intellectual Culture 24: The Roman Conquest 25: A Feat of Imagination Glossary Recommended Reading Index

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

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Book SynopsisThis informed and richly illustrated guidebook brings the ancient city of Akhetaten alive with a keen archaeological eye, drawing on ongoing archaeological research and the knowledge and insight of Amarna’s modern-day communities and caretakers to explain key monuments and events, while offering invaluable practical advice for visiting the site. With over 140 illustrations, maps, and plans, Amarna is both an ideal introduction for visitors to Amarna and a window onto the extraordinary reign of Akhenaten. Huge open-air temples served the cult of Aten, while palaces were decorated with painted pavements and inlaid wall reliefs. Akhenaten created a new royal burial ground deep in a desert valley, and his officials built elaborate tombs decorated with scenes of the king and his city. As thousands of people moved to Akhetaten, it became the most important city in Egypt. But it was not to last. Akhenaten’s death brought the abandonment of his city and an end to one of the most startling episodes in Egyptian history. Today, Akhetaten is known as Amarna, a sprawling archaeological site in the province of Minya, halfway between Cairo and Luxor. With its beautifully decorated tombs and vast mud-brick ruins, it is the best-preserved pharaonic city in Egypt.Trade Review"Providing a handy reference guide to the chronology, geography and main players in the story, this book will allow visitors to bring with them the definitive guide to the site. At once scholarly and also entirely accessible, it will instantly become indispensable for enthusiasts, students and scholars of the period and the place. I look forward to my copy becoming increasingly dog-eared with each visit I make to the site in future."—Chris Naunton, author of Egyptologists' Notebooks"Part academic-reference, part field-guide, this book presents a dramatic and exciting story. . . Armana provides tremendous insight for Egyptologists and scholars into daily life in Egypt 3,000 years ago."—AramcoWorldTable of ContentsCONTENTSINTRODUCTION Who Was Who? Akhenaten’s Predecessors Akhenaten and His Family Secondary Royal Figures Coregents and Successors CHRONOLOGY SETTING THE SCENE Amenhotep III and Akhenaten’s Early Years Rise of the Solar Cult Akhenaten as King: Change on the Horizon Denouncing the Gods Amarna: Building a Vision A City of People Akhetaten What Kind of City? The Aten Cult Supplying the City Securing Akhetaten An Emerging City Akhenaten’s Amarna Years A Collapsing Dynasty A City Abandoned Rediscovering Amarna Discovering City Life How Can We Recover the Past? Viewing Akhetaten from Afar VISITING AMARNA Getting There and Around Accommodation Ticket Office and Opening Hours Amarna Visitor CentreFood, Drinks, Toilets, and Shopping Accessibility Tips for Visiting NORTH CITY AND PALACES Abandoned Dig House North Riverside Palace North Palace EASTERN CLIFFS AND DESERT Desert Altars The North TombsBoundary Stela U Royal Wadi and Tombs The Royal Tomb North Suburb CENTRAL CITY Great Aten Temple Royal Road Bridge to the King’s House Great Palace and Smenkhkare Hall Small Aten Temple Administrative QuartersSOUTHERN CITY AND TEMPLES An Ancient Villa Main City South Tombs Kom al-Nana FURTHER INFORMATION CONTRIBUTORS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Simon Baker charts the rise and fall of the world's first superpower, focusing on six momentous turning points that shaped Roman history. Welcome to Rome as you've never seen it before - awesome and splendid, gritty and squalid. From the conquest of the Mediterranean beginning in the third century BC to the destruction of the Roman Empire at the hands of barbarian invaders some seven centuries later, we discover the most critical episodes in Roman history: the spectacular collapse of the 'free' republic, the birth of the age of the 'Caesars', the violent suppression of the strongest rebellion against Roman power, and the bloody civil war that launched Christianity as a world religion. At the heart of this account are the dynamic, complex but flawed characters of some of the most powerful rulers in history: men such as Pompey the Great, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero and Constantine. Putting flesh on the bones of these distant, legendary figures, Simon Baker looks beyond the dusty, toga-clad caricatures and explores their real motivations and ambitions, intrigues and rivalries. The superb narrative, full of energy and imagination, is a brilliant distillation of the latest scholarship and a wonderfully evocative account of Ancient Rome.Trade ReviewLively and well-researched: an excellent read -- Peter Heather, author of The Fall of the Roman EmpireThis is a history of Rome that combines vivid drama and a gripping storyline with a keen alertness to bigger historical questions -- Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Cambridge UniversityBrings the distant past to fully fleshed life * Good Book Guide *Highly recommended * Birmingham Evening Mail *Rome is revealed as it really was - gritty, magnificent and sometimes pretty sordid. Splendid stuff * Manchester Evening News *

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Book SynopsisTo anyone scanning the sea from the southern coast of Britain in the year 43 AD, the sight of hundreds of ships appearing one by one as dots on the horizon would have filled them with awe and dread. On a leading warship, a hundred and twenty oarsmen heaved at their work as one of the four legionary legates scanned the cliff tops expecting to see them lined with warriors as Julius Caesar had described nearly a hundred years before. Vespasian would lead the Second Augusta in the initial invasion and in a remarkable campaign across southern Britain, capturing a score of strongholds, oppida, such as the formidable Maiden Castle, along the way. His career later suffered from the intrigues of court politics during the reign of Nero, at one point making the near-fatal mistake of falling asleep during one of the emperor's artistic performances. Vespasian's fortunes were revived by the outbreak of revolt in Judea. Thus Vespasian found himself in the right place at the right time commanding

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Interesting and rewarding read.”—Guy de la Bédoyère, BBC History Magazine“Spawforth’s book stands out in a crowded field of histories of Greece and Rome for its liveliness and wit.”—Daisy Dunn, Literary Review“Here is a chronicle replete with tales of extraordinary ability and inventiveness, of courage and cowardice, artistic and creative genius, of astonishing savagery and the hubris and failings that brought about disaster, of the love and passions that have continued to course through history, changing little down to our own times”—Diana Bentley, Minerva“A beautifully written account of ancient history, breathtaking in its ambition and rich in insight.”—Professor Paul Cartledge, author of The Spartans“An incredibly engaging read, written with scholarly precision and clarity. With great agility, Spawforth mixes literary, inscriptional, and archaeological material and offers a nuanced understanding of how civilisations evolve.”—Professor Michael Scott, author of Ancient Worlds“Informed, informative and thoroughly enjoyable. . . . A book that brings the past back to life.”—Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads

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

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Book SynopsisFresh, exciting and vividly readable, this is popular history at its very best.Our understanding of world history is changing, as new discoveries are made on all the continents and old prejudices are being challenged. In this truly global journey, political journalist Andrew Marr revisits some of the traditional epic stories, from classical Greece and Rome to the rise of Napoleon, but surrounds them with less familiar material, from Peru to the Ukraine, China to the Caribbean. He looks at cultures that have failed and vanished, as well as the origins of today’s superpowers, and finds surprising echoes and parallels across vast distances and epochs. A History of the World is a book about the great change-makers of history and their times, people such as Cleopatra, Genghis Khan, Galileo and Mao, but it is also a book about us. For ‘the better we understand how rulers lose touch with reality, or why revolutions produce dictators more often thanTable of ContentsAcknowledgements - i: Acknowledgements Introduction - ii: Introduction Chapter - 1: Out of the Heat, Towards the Ice Chapter - 2: The Case for War Chapter - 3: The Sword and the Word Chapter - 4: Beyond the Muddy Melting Pot Chapter - 5: The World Blows Open Chapter - 6: Dreams of Freedom Chapter - 7: Capitalism and its Enemies Chapter - 8: 1918-2012: Our Times Section - iii: Notes Section - iv: Bibliography Index - v: Index Acknowledgements - vi: Picture Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisAN NPR 'BOOK WE LOVE' FOR SUMMER 2024 A gorgeously illustrated guide to memorable Latin phrases, including famous quotations on love, death, nature, politics, and more.Latin may be a “dead” language, but it’s all around us—in science, philosophy, religion, and literature. From “carpe diem” to the more obscure “alea iacta est,” classicist Maia Lee-Chin examines the deeper meanings of many Latin phrases still in use—as well as those lost to the ages. Illustrated in artist Marta Bertello's haunting style, this unique compendium illuminates ancient Roman history and culture like never before.

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Book SynopsisJulius Caesar in Egypt is a true story of double-cross, assassination and intrigue accompanied by lively battles, daring escapes, disastrous fires (the Great Library of Alexandria was largely destroyed in one fracas) and, if not a love story, at least a tale of sex and power as Caesar and Cleopatra's relationship shaped these world-changing events.

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Book SynopsisWhen the dying Alexander the Great was asked to whom he bequeathed his vast empire, he supposedly replied to the strongest". There ensued a long series of struggles between his generals and governors for control of these territories. Most of these Diadochi (Successors) were consummate professionals who had learnt the art of war under Alexander or even his father, Philip. Few died a peaceful death and the last survivors of this tough breed were still leading their armies against each other well into their seventies. Colourful characters, epic battles, treachery and subterfuge make this a period with great appeal to anyone interested in ancient history and ancient warfare in particular. The wars shaped the map from the Balkans to India for the next couple of centuries. This first volume introduces the key personalities - characters such as Antigonos Monopthalmus" (the One-eyed) and his son 'Demetrius 'Poliorcetes' (the Besieger), Seleucus 'Nicator' ('the Victorious') and Ptolemy Soter" ("the Saviour") - and gives a narrative of the causes and course of these wars from the death of Alexander to the Battle of Corupedium (281 BC) when the last two original Diadochi faced each other one final time.

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Book SynopsisThe Stalingrad of the ancient world, this is an immensely readable, brilliant, brutal and vivid history of the greatest and bloodiest war of ancient Greece.The Peloponnesian War, fought 2,500 years ago between oligarchic Sparta and democratic Athens for control of Greece, is brought spectacularly to life in this magnificent study. Kagan demonstrates the relevance of this cataclysmic event to modern times in all its horror and savagery. As two uncompromising empires fight a war of survival from diametrically opposing political, social and cultural positions, the seemingly invincible glory of Athens crumbles in tragedy.Athenian culture and politics was unmatched in originality and fertility, and is still regarded as one of the peak achievements of Western civilisation. Dramatic poets such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes raised tragedy and comedy to a level never surpassed; architects and sculptors were at work on the Acropolis; natural philosophers like Anaxagoras andTrade Review‘It is a lively narrative that moves with immense speed towards its grim conclusion…Recent events have enhanced Kagan’s reputation among American conservatives as a sage.’ Daily Telegraph ‘It is a daunting task to cover the same ground as a great classical historian, but Donald Kagan achieves it splendidly with “The Peloponnesian War”.’ Sunday Times, Books of the Year ‘Kagan’s narrative of one of the critical episodes in the history of the ancient world is as good an account of the subject as one could ask for.’ Spectator

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Book Synopsis''This vivid and engaging book brings to life some of the most important moments in ancient history, moments that have shaped not only the politics and culture of bygone eras, but the institutions, thoughts and fantasies of our time.'' Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens)''A bold and imaginative page-turner that challenges ideas about the world of antiquity.'' Peter Frankopan (The Silk Roads)''As panoramic as it is learned, this is ancient history for our globalised world.'' Tom Holland (Dynasty, Rubicon)________________________________________Acclaimed historian and TV presenter Michael Scott guides us through an epic story spanning ten centuries to create a bold new reading of the classical era for our globalised world.Scott challenges our traditionally western-focused perception of the past, connecting Greco-Roman civilisation to the great rulers and empires that swept across Central Asia to India and China - resultTrade ReviewA bold and imaginative page-turner that challenges ideas about the world of antiquity. -- Peter Frankopan * (The Silk Roads) *As panoramic as it is learned, this is ancient history for our globalised world. -- Tom Holland * (Dynasty, Rubicon) *This vivid and engaging book brings to life some of the most important moments in ancient history, moments that have shaped not only the politics and culture of bygone eras, but the institutions, thoughts and fantasies of our time. -- Yuval Noah Harari * (Sapiens) *Scott has identified three game-changing moments in antiquity… We meet new, colourful, historical players… and re-calibrate our perception of old ones… Offering the Mediterranean and the Far East as a giant chessboard – with individual moves impacting the whole – astute analysis is matched with acute prose: this book reminds us that our own futures have long been written in the narratives of our global neighbours. -- Bettany HughesImpeccably researched and authoritative... Scott's scholarly but accessible style manages to make this sweeping saga enthralling throughout, as he traces the stories of everyone from Hannibal to Confucius -- Alexander Larman * Observer *A path-breaking contribution to the going interest in seeing the ancient world as a whole, embracing China and India as much as Greece and Rome. And what's more, it's a joy to read! -- Ian Morris, author of Why the West Rules for NowThis kind of bold, transgressional ancient history is still vanishingly rare…Michael Scott’s Ancient Worlds is a welcome addition to the genre * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisJoyce Tyldesley lives in Bolton, Lancashire. She gained a first-class honours degree in archaeology from Liverpool University in 1981 and a doctorate from Oxford in 1986. She is now Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics andOriental Studies at Liverpool University and a freelance writer and lecturer on Egyptian archaeology. Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt, is published by Penguin and her next book - a biography of Nefertiti - will be delivered in May 1997.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewNow, readers can consult the Lives in a beautiful English translation by Pamela Mensch. This translation will undoubtedly supersede that by Robert Hicks, published in 1925 and until now the standard English version. [...] Oxford University Press have also done a wonderful job. The footnotes... are well judged, providing important background information without overwhelming the text. Embellishment is provided in the form of many philosophically inspired artworks, all handsomely reproduced [...] A set of essays by leading scholars such as Anthony Grafton, Ingrid Rowland and Dorandi himself help introduce the Lives and its reception to general readers. The book is like no history of philosophy that such readers will be used to. * Times Literary Supplement *Can there be a philosophy book for everyone? Luxurious yet affordable, this richly illustrated translation of Diogenes Laertius clearly implies an affirmative answer. Obviously, the success of this volume does not follow from the irresistible charm of Diogenes'text (to put it mildly), but from a multifaceted editorial effort that made the resulting artefact appealing to different kinds of readers. * Karel Thein, Eirene *A handsome new volume of Diogenes Laertius's Lives of the Eminent Philosophers provides an opportunity to revisit the biographer and the popular assumptions about him. I am delighted to have acquired Pamela Mensch's new translation of his major work, an edition you can't read on the subway but whose large dimensions are redeemed by the readable translation, glossy color images, and a collection of new accompanying essays (The New School's James Miller is the editor) ... Biographies can certainly get far more scandalous than Lives, but the personal lives of our intellectual ancestors are always juicy, forbidden fruits. * Ben Shields, Paris Review *The English translation by Pamela Mensch is lively, fresh, engaging, and eminently readable. Given the number of vagaries, jokes, technicalities, and such that proliferate in the Greek, this is a most impressive achievement. The copious notes, helpfully placed beneath the translation on each page, are superb at giving required information on names, dates, places, technical terms, and so forth in a crisp and accurate manner... This book offers a wealth of material on Diogenes Laertius: a translation, notes, a companion, a bibliography, all in one volume. It is a truly first-class resource, and everyone involved, including Oxford University Press, should be heartily congratulated for a brilliant achievement. That a book of this kind can be made affordable should be a salutary lesson for other academic publishers. I cannot recommend it highly enough. * Sean McConnell, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *This book will be useful to all students studying Greek philosophy, as both a reference to the past and a look into the birth of Greek philosophy ... Recommended. * CHOICE *Diogenes Laertius presented afresh with all the generosity, visual richness, and breadth of reference he deservesa wonderful edition. * Sarah Bakewell, author of At the Existentialist Café and How to Live *In this superbly produced and edited volume, the compendious work of the learned Diogenes Laertius at last receives the prominence that his unique contribution to our knowledge and understanding of ancient philosophy requires. The admirable translation by doyenne Pamela Mensch is accompanied by a full apparatus of the latest scholarship, including essays by over a dozen of the most eminent philosophers and historians of philosophy of our own day. * Paul Cartledge, author of Democracy: A Life *Diogenes Laertius is not Nietzsches dim-witted watchman of the history of Greek philosophy, but a fascinating and underrated figure. This is a wonderful edition, brilliantly translated, with a helpful introduction and accompanying set of essays by first-rate scholars. Although a precious source for many ancient philosophers, especially Epicurus, Diogenes Laertius is much more than a dull compiler. For anyone interested in the relations between philosophy and life, this book remains an excellent, accessible, and hugely entertaining starting point. Highly recommended. * Simon Critchley, author of The Book of Dead Philosophers *Diogenes Laertius' Lives provides a uniquely valuable and entertaining window on early Western philosophyif it is used wisely. This welcome edition and translation by Pamela Mensch and James Miller, together with its substantial accompanying essays, enables contemporary readers to make the most of it. * Anthony Gottlieb, author of The Dream of Reason and The Dream of Enlightenment *This splendid new translation of Diogenes Laertius' Lives is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the therapeutic legacy of ancient Greek philosophy. Quirky, notoriously unreliable, relentlessly curious, it is also magnificent bedside reading, still able after many centuries to instruct and delight. * Stephen Greenblatt, author of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern *At last, thanks to Pamela Mensch's elegant and faithful translation, we can enjoy Diogenes Laertius' history of Greek philosophy for its own sake, as a wonderful compendium of doctrine and lore, as well as for the precious information (and sometimes misinformation) it provides about everything from the Pre-Socratics to Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, and Epicurus. The notes are crisp and clear, illustrations are apt and abundant, and the translation is based on the most authoritative edition of the Greek text. It is a wonderful achievement. * David Konstan, author of Beauty: The Fortunes of an Ancient Greek Idea *Table of ContentsPreface, James Miller Introduction, A. A. Long Translator's Note, Pamela Mensch Map Lives of the Eminent Philosophers Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 Book 5 Book 6 Book 7 Book 8 Book 9 Book 10 Essays Guide to Further Reading, Jay R. Elliott Glossary of Ancient Sources, Joseph M. Lemelin Illustration Credits Index

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Book SynopsisTwelve of the greatest voices from ancient Greece and Rome - and why they still inspire and affect us in the 21st century. A book for all readers who want to know more about the literature that underpins Western civilization.Trade ReviewIn this engaging book, the authors make a powerful case for the enduring relevance of the Classics ... From the impact of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey on young men in the trenches of the Great War, to Sappho's intriguing and passionate verses ... Pelling and Wyke take us on an enlightening journey. * JC, The Lady *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Homer 2: Sappho 3: Herodotus 4: Euripides 5: Thucydides 6: Plato 7: Caesar 8: Cicero 9: Virgil 10: Horace 11: Juvenal 12: Tacitus Epilogue Index

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Book Synopsis''No brief survey can do justice to the richness, complexity and detail of Foucault''s discussion'' New York Review of BooksThe second volume of Michel Foucault''s pioneering analysis of the changing nature of desire explores how sexuality was perceived in classical Greek culture.From the stranger byways of Greek medicine (with its advice on the healthiest season for sex, as well as exercise and diet) to the role of women, The Use of Pleasure is full of extraordinary insights into the differences - and the continuities - between the Ancient, Christian and Modern worlds, showing how sex became a moral issue in the west. ''Required reading for those who cling to stereotyped ideas about our difference from the Greeks in terms of pagan license versus Christian austerity'' Los Angeles Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewNo brief survey can do justice to the richness, complexity, and detail of Foucault's discussion ... subtle and penetrating * New York Review of Books *'A man of the same era and Gilles Deleuze, Jacques Lacan, Louis Althusser, Jacques Lacan, Louis Althusser, Jacques Derrida and Jean Baudrillard, he was, in his writings and his life, the most accessible of them all, as well as the most beguiling' -- Richard Gott * Guardian *Always provocative, needling, disconcerting * Washington Times *

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Book SynopsisAs a successful senator, Tacitus was ideally placed to comment on the Roman political system. This selection of extracts from his histories sheds light on the rise and fall of emperors such as Domitian and Nero.

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Book SynopsisThe Standard of Ur is one of the most famous objects to be discovered from ancient Mesopotamia. It was un earthed in a tomb in 1927 by Leonard Woolley during his archaeological excavations of the Royal Cemetery' of Ur located in present - day Iraq. This beautifully illustrated short introduction tells the story of discovery and significance of this splendid object.

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Book SynopsisWhat happens when you put the Roman Empire in the hands of a teenage boy? The life and times of the worst Roman emperor of all.What happens when you put the Roman Empire in the hands of a teenage boy? Discover the scandalous life and times of Rome''s worst emperor. ''Buy the book; it''s very entertaining.'' David Aaronovitch, The Times On 8 June 218 AD, a fourteen-year-old Syrian boy, egged on by his grandmother, led an army to battle in a Roman civil war. Against all expectations, he was victorious. Varius Avitus Bassianus, known to the modern world as Heliogabalus, was proclaimed emperor. The next four years were to be the strangest in the history of the empire. Heliogabalus humiliated the prestigious Senators and threw extravagant dinner parties for lower-class friends. He ousted Jupiter from his summit among the gods and replaced him with Elagabal. He married a Vestal Virgin - twice. Rumours aboundeTrade Review'Sidebottom is an agile guide and draws the reader’s attention to the remarkably inclusive nature of the empire, from its acceptance of different cultures into citizenship (the exact and polar opposite of, say, Qatar), its routine freeing of slaves and its acceptance of new gods into its pagan pantheon… Buy the book, it’s very entertaining.' -- David Aaronovitch, The Times'The decadence, debauchery and sexual promiscuity that marked the adolescent’s time on the imperial throne make for a rollicking read.' -- Daily Mail‘Ancient history was never less dry than in Harry Sidebottom’s superbly entertaining and always scholarly account of the reign of Heliogabalus... There is something for every reader: sex, politics, scandals and a compelling portrait of imperial society and culture.’ -- Tony Barber * Financial Times, Book of the Year *'We are used to being told that the historical truth is less exciting than the myth. But, as Harry Sidebottom’s The Mad Emperor demonstrates, this is one of those rare cases when the history does not fall short. While working hard to correct the preconceptions of both scholars and general readers, Sidebottom presents a picture of third-century imperial Rome that is, if anything, wilder than the popular imagination.' -- Telegraph‘Harry Sidebottom certainly makes the most of this potential. In thirteen chapters he takes us on an enjoyable romp through the few highs and many lows of Heliogabalus’s fleeting four years as emperor, between 218 CE and 222… Throughout Sidebottom showcases the historian in action, assessing his sources, trawling through prosopography and carefully identifying marble portrait busts. He offers a scholarly but readable biography of an emperor who has been rather short of such attentions.’ -- TLS‘Sidebottom has an expert’s command of the rebarbative source base for third-century Rome… A whole scholarly architecture lies beneath and underpins his thoroughly convincing portrait of a failed emperor. His conclusions must be taken seriously.’ -- LRB‘The Mad Emperor recreates the Ancient World with the eye of a poet and the sure hand of a scholar.’ -- Barry Strauss, author of Ten Caesars'Harry Sidebottom skilfully juggles what to believe and what not to believe… The racy story is told with the vivid phrasing and descriptive powers of an accomplished novelist… supported by a rich back story and a fascinating discussion of his legacy… a well-illustrated and absorbing read.' -- Guy de la Bédoyère, BBC History Magazine'Sidebottom brings [Heliogabalus] vividly back to life. His prose feels vibrant and effortless but also rewards close reading.' -- Daisy Dunn, author of Not Far from Brideshead: Oxford Between the Wars‘A scholarly but highly readable account of the teenager who became classical Rome’s most reviled emperor, but who may be viewed with a touch more sympathy now.’ -- Matthew Kneale, author of Rome: A History in Seven Sackings‘A riveting and rollicking account of a much maligned but truly thrilling era in Roman history.’ -- Emma Southon, author of A Fatal Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum'Combining the pace of a novelist, the training of a scholar and the instincts of a true historian, this is a wonderful exploration of the Roman world under its strangest emperor.' -- Adrian Goldsworthy, author of Pax Romana'An absolute belter' -- Paul Ross * TalkSPORT, Book of the Week *

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Book SynopsisTheophrastus:Characters is a collection of thirty short character-sketches of various types of individuals who might be met in the streets of Athens in the late fourth century BC. It is a unique work which has had a profound influence on European literature. This edition aims to make it accessible to students, by offering a radically improved text and a commentary which brings out the meaning and nuances of the dazzling but sometimes difficult Greek and offers full elucidation of the often enigmatic references to contemporary social practices and historical events. There is also a full introduction, which discusses the antecedents and affiliations of the work, its date, its purpose, and its literary qualities.Trade Review'… this is an outstanding edition.' Colin Leach, Classics for All (https://classicsforall.org.uk/)Table of ContentsIntroduction; Theophrastus: Characters; Commentary; Bibliography; Indexes.

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Book SynopsisCovers a fascinating period of Roman history from the stability and competence of Marcus Aurelius to the chaos after Commodus. From a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust as the contemporary Cassius Did described it.

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Book SynopsisAn alternative history of success rather than decline anf fall. The actual history is set out and the alternative history with Old Time Lines (OTL) for reference. It is a vivid narrative, deeply researched, full of events and people, great and minor igur6es who come to life. It is a story of division and controversy concerning imperial and dynastic ambition and struggle, often caustic family relationships, cultural and religious disputes with surviving paganism and the classical philosophy of Neo-Platonism, and exandng Christianity in church and state in both Empires. The Empires are expanding in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Division and crisis is followed by restoration, more division but finally re-unification.

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable story of Carausius, who was sent to clear the North Sea and Channel of Germanic pirates but, when accused of pocketing their loot, revolted against Rome in 286.

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Book SynopsisFor centuries, Rome was one of the world's largest imperial powers, its influence spread across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle-East, its military force successfully fighting off attacks by the Parthians, Germans, Persians and Goths. Then came the definitive split, the Vandal sack of Rome, and the crumbling of the West from Empire into kingdoms first nominally under Imperial rule and then, one by one, beyond it. Imperial Tragedy tells the story of Rome's gradual collapse. Full of palace intrigue, religious conflicts and military history, as well as details of the shifts in social, religious and political structures, Imperial Tragedy contests the idea that Rome fell due to external invasions. Instead, it focuses on how the choices and conditions of those living within the empire led to its fall. For it was not a single catastrophic moment that broke the Empire but a creeping process; by the time people understood that Rome had fallen, the west of the Empire had long since broken the Imperial yoke.Trade ReviewA fascinating account showing just what it was like to be a Roman emperor - the endless court politics, the shock of outside events, the need to bring in reforms, and, above all, the constant struggle to stay alive and keep your place on the throne. -- Jerry Toner, Fellow of Churchill College, CambridgeA tour de force history of the inner workings of the late Roman Empire. Kulikowski tells a vivid, compelling story of the humans who fought to control the machinery of the empire until the entire system could no longer hold. -- Kyle Harper, author * The Fate of Rome *Kulikowski pairs his comprehensive understanding of late Roman politics with an uncanny eye for spatial and material details as he reconstructs an empire in a downward spiral of self-destruction. Roman emperors and barbarian kings, pagan aristocrats and Christian bishops, loyal soldiers and self-serving condottieri are woven into the brilliantly dramatized story of The Tragedy of Empire. -- Noel Lenski, author * Constantine and the Cities *Michael Kulikowski tells the story of the Roman Empire from the fourth to the sixth century. He writes boldly and fluently about imperial politics, incorporating the latest scholarship yet avoiding getting bogged down in academic controversies. Highly recommended as an introduction to the political history of this period. -- Hugh Elton, author * The Roman Empire in Late Antiquity *Praise for Imperial Triumph 'This is a wonderfully broad sweep of Roman history ... fascinating -- Mary BeardA genuinely bracing and innovative history of Rome for a general audience. * TLS *This was an era of great change, and Mr. Kulikowski is an excellent and insightful guide to the process -- Adrian Goldsworthy * Wall Street Journal *Kulikowski's lively and engaging account brings clarity to the murky world of the late Roman Empire. It lets us understand the endless in-fighting between imperial hopefuls, the profound reforms of Diocletian, and the social transformation that expressed itself in Christianity. It explains the many forces which led to the western empire's disintegration and expertly guides us through a post-Roman world which was eventually to give rise to modern Europe. -- Jerry TonerKulikowski pairs his comprehensive understanding of late Roman politics with an uncanny eye for spatial and material details as he reconstructs an empire in a downward spiral of self-destruction. Roman emperors and barbarian kings, pagan aristocrats and Christian bishops, loyal soldiers and self-serving condottieri are woven into the brilliantly dramatized story of Imperial Tragedy. -- Noel Lenski, author * Constantine and the Cities *Insightful, coherent and articulate. * BBC History Magazine *Demonstrates impressive mastery of a vast and complex field -- Australian Book ReviewA breezy and animated, yet authorative look at this remarkable time ... sure to be of interest to anybody with a taste in character-driven history. * Military History Review *

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Book SynopsisI.B.Tauris in association with the Iran Heritage Foundation Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire has been acclaimed as one of the most intellectually exciting books about late antique Persia to have been published for years. It proposes a convincing contemporary answer to an age-old mystery and conundrum: why, in the seventh century ce, did the seemingly powerful and secure Sasanian empire of Persia succumb so quickly and disastrously to the all-conquering armies of Islam? In her bold solution to this enigma, Parvaneh Pourshariati explains that the decentralized dynastic system of the Sasanian ruling hierarchy in fact contained the seeds of its own destruction. This confederacy, whose powerbase relied on patronage and preferment, eventually became unstable, and its degeneration sealed the fate of a doomed dynasty.Trade Review'This is a monumental work of first-class scholarship. Its publication represents a landmark, and it immediately becomes the point of departure for further work on the many subjects it deals with. I can think of few other books I have read over the years that can match this work's astounding combination of originality, bold vision, clarity of presentation, meticulous examination of the sources, and practical puzzle-solving. I learned immensely from reading it. Dr Pourshariati's book is in my view one of the most important individual contributions to our understanding of the history of Iran since Christensen's L'Iran sous les Sassanades, published seventy years ago. Especially remarkable is the breadth of the author's agenda, and the way in which she has convincingly woven together different strands. These include: the political rivalry of the great families, the Sasanians' collapse before Byzantine and Muslim attacks, the religious diversity of medieval Iran, questions of historiography, the substance of the Iranian popular epic, and the important details to be gleaned from seals and other documents. Any one of these would be (and for many scholars has been) a subject for full immersion for many years, but Pourshariati has integrated each into a complex and meaningful whole, even as she has made signal contributions to the more detailed study of each one.' - Fred M Donner, Professor of Near Eastern History, University of Chicago, 'Both impressive and intellectually exciting, Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire is a major, even pathbreaking, work in the field - a field which this book should revolutionize.' - Stephen Dale, Professor of History, Ohio State University

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Book SynopsisHumans are the dominant species on the planet. But how did we get here? Human Origins takes the reader on a fascinating 7-million-year journey from our earliest primordial ape-like roots through to the present day.For almost a hundred years, scientists have been trying to decipher the secrets of humanity’s evolution. At first, they relied on rare pieces of ancient skulls and bone fragments. But every year, they make new discoveries, uncover new fossils and develop new techniques to tease apart the story of our evolution. So far, from skeletons to teeth, humanity has found more than 6,000 hominin individuals. These individuals span several species, all of which tell the tale of human evolution: how our brains changed over time, what we ate, how we lived. Including the latest scientific findings, Human Origins will also look at some of the biggest questions that remain: What makes humans unique? Where did the Neanderthals go? And are humans still evolving?

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Book SynopsisChapters in the book challenge the traditional Biblical Archaeology approach. They present their ideas about Community Archaeology in Israel/Palestine, bringing different questions and treating different case studies, and also reaching different though not unrelated conclusions.

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Book SynopsisGorgeous Collector's Edition which brings to life the culture of one of the great founding civilisations. Companion volume to Egyptian Myths & Legends in the same series, this title brings to life the beginnings of human experience, the irrigation of the Nile, the origins of hieroglyphics in demarcation of land and water resources as the first people of North Africa gathered around the Nile to create one of the greatest and most enduring civilisations, one that fascinated the later titans of Antiquity, the Greeks and Romans. From these lands come the pyramids, the statues and the great Kings such as Khufu (reigning 2589–2566 BC), Hatshepsut (reigning 1478–1458 BC), Amenhotep III (reigning 1388–1351 BC), Akhenaten (reigning 1351–1334 BC), Tutankhamun (reigning 1332–1323 BC) and Ramses II (reigning 1279–1213 BC). 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.

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Book SynopsisA brand new, accessible and enlightening history by Robin Walker, African Ancient Origins tells the stories of African golden ages, of the key dynasties, individuals, cities, trade and achievements, going back to the first migrations and origin stories. From the Kingdom of Kerma in Sudan to the Zulu Empire, the influences were complex and many.

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Book SynopsisThis is a comprehensive guide to the golden age of ancient Greece, shown in over 200 colour photographs, diagrams, detailed maps and plans. Featuring detailed accounts of armies, battle campaigns and military strategies from the collapse of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilisations to the astonishing exploits of Alexander the Great a thousand years later. It highlights include detailed chapters on the Persian Wars, the rise and fall of the Athenian Empire and the rule of Sparta, as well as in-depth examinations of key figures such as Pericles of Athens and Dionysius of Syracuse. Opening with the Minoan and Mycenaean Bronze Age cultures, this encyclopedic history tracks the rebirth of Greece after its intervening Dark Age. Witness the birth of world's 'first' individuals and discover the men and women who helped to build and destroy city-states and armies. You can learn how the dynamic interaction of politics, philosophy, history, love and war resulted in a uniquely captivating story of battles, tyrants, soldiers and slaves. Through over 200 vivid photographs, artworks, maps and plans, ancient Greece and her political and military history are brought to life. This is an essential account of the people, places and events that shaped and transformed ancient Greece, leaving a legacy that underlies much of the modern world.

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