Ancient history Books

Book SynopsisThis well-illustrated volume presents the evidence from Stratum Pre-IC of the end of the 8th century, from Strata IC and IB of the 7th century, when Ekron achieved the zenith of its physical growth and prosperity, and from Stratum IA, the final Iron Age IIC phase of the early 6th century BCE. It offers a detailed discussion of the Iron Age IIC occupational history; a comprehensive analysis of the ceramic assemblages; a quantitative analysis of the pottery from the main Stratum IB buildings; and studies on vessel capacity, ceramic, lithic, ivory, and metal objects, jewelry, scarabs, faunal remains, and fish bones.Published under the auspices of the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, this volume concludes the publication of the results of the nine seasons of excavation conducted in Field IV Lower between 1985 and 1995, directed by Trude Dothan and Seymour Gitin and sponsored by the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Companion volumes published in 2016:—Field IV Lower—The Elite Zone, Part 1: The Iron Age I Early Philistine City by Trude Dothan, Yosef Garfinkel and Seymour Gitin;—Part 3A: The Iron Age I and IIC Early and Late Philistine Cities Database (see links tab);—Part 3B: The Iron Age I and IIC Early and Late Philistine Cities Plans and SectionsThe final reports on the two large Iron Age I and IIC Philistines cities in Field IV Lower offer a comprehensive view of the history of Ekron from its initial establishment and development in the Iron Age I until its destruction in the late Iron Age II. The searchable database and print version of the sections and plans provide a unique opportunity for readers to access and evaluate the excavators’ observations and conclusions.Table of ContentsPrefaceMap of Philistine Coastal Plain and Shephelah Sites in the Iron AgeTop Plan of Tel Miqne-Ekron Showing Fields of ExcavationTel Miqne-Ekron Iron Age II Stratigraphic and Chronological ChartTel Miqne-Ekron Field Reports and MonographsExcavation StaffPhotos of Staff and Student VolunteersAbbreviations and Additional Terms Used in Pottery ReadingIntroductionChapter 1. Occupational History: The Stratigraphy and Architecture of Iron Age II Strata Pre-IC, IC, IB, and IA . 1Chapter 2. The Iron Age II Pottery Quantification ProjectChapter 3. A Quantitative Analysis of the Pottery from Stratum IB in Temple Auxiliary Buildings 651–654: Character and FunctionChapter 4A. The Iron Age IIC PotteryChapter 4B. Capacities of Iron Age IIC Pottery Types1. Use of Computer-Aided Graphic Design (CAGD) to Estimate the Capacity of Ceramic Vessels2. Vessel Capacity AnalysisChapter 4C. Pottery Quantification Data: Pottery Types in Architectural Units and Sub-units by StratumChapter 5. Iron Age II Ceramic Small Finds, Faience Seals, Ivory Objects, and AstragaliChapter 6. The Jewelry from Iron Age II ContextsChapter 7. The Iron Age II Metal ArtifactsChapter 8. An Iron Age II Cowroid and Three ScarabsChapter 9. Iron Age II and Roman Period Stone Tools and VesselsChapter 10. The Iron Age II Faunal RemainsChapter 11. The Fish Bones from Iron Age I Strata VII–IV and Iron Age II Strata Pre-IC, IC, IB, and IAColor Figures and PhotosBibliographic Abbreviations and ReferencesEkron 9/3A, the complete excavation database, is available at http://semiticmuseum.fas.harvard.edu/publications:Appendix 1: Area Context Charts with locus, stratum, phase, building, and room designations;Appendix 2: Area Phasing Charts with locus, stratum, phase, field pottery readings, and stratigraphic relationships; Index A: Locus Summaries; and Index B: Material Culture Samples

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Book SynopsisAlthough we often treat the senses as though they are immutable, fundamental properties of our physiology, the way we parse our sensory experiences is dictated by our cultural context. Accordingly, the essays in Distant Impressions explore the social aspects of sensation in the ancient Near East, inviting the reader to move beyond the physiological study of sensation to an examination of its cultural meanings.The essays in this book approach the question of sensory experience in ancient Near Eastern societies from philological, literary, art historical, and archaeological perspectives. They address the means of sense perception (such as vision, hearing, and smell) and the objects of perception (such as light, noise, and odor), examining the senses within religious, political, and social frameworks. The first part of this volume looks at the monumental architecture, bas-reliefs, and tablets of the Neo-Assyrian period, while the second explores sensory dimensions of the built environment and textual representations of sensation in other times and places, such as Neolithic northern Mesopotamia and Hittite Anatolia. Building on recent scholarship that focuses on the social aspects of sensation in history, Distant Impressions brings this approach to bear on ancient Near Eastern studies for the first time.In addition to the editors, the contributors include Elke Friedrich, Sara Manasterska, Alice Mouton, Kiersten Neumann, Ludovico Portuese, and Diana Stein.Trade Review“The sensory worlds of the Hittites, Akkadians, Neo-Assyrians, and late Neolithic Halaf culture are explored in essays by different authors within this interesting, well-researched, and attractively designed work.”—T. Doran ChoiceTable of ContentsList of AbbreviationsThe Senses in the Ancient Near East: An IntroductionAinsley Hawthorn and Anne-Caroline Rendu LoiselPart 1: The Neo-Assyrian PeriodChapter 1 Sensing the Sacred in the Neo-Assyrian Temple: The Presentation of Offerings to the GodsKiersten NeumannChapter 2 The Throne Room of Aššurnaṣirpal II: A Multisensory ExperienceLudovico PortueseChapter 3 Looking and Seeing in the Neo-Assyrian LettersSara ManasterskaChapter 4The Shifting Gaze: Looking and Seeing in the Neo-Assyrian Royal InscriptionsAinsley HawthornPart 2: Comparative PerspectivesChapter 5 Architecture and Acoustic Resonance: The Tholoi at Arpachiyah Reconsidered Within a Wider Neolithic ContextDiana SteinChapter 6 Toward a Classification of Akkadian Verbs of PerceptionElke FriedrichChapter 7 Representing the Senses in Hittite Religious Texts: The Case of SightAlice MoutonChapter 8 The Caterpillar That Shouted: Akkadian Omens and MultisensorialityAnne-Caroline Rendu LoiselList of Contributors Index of Ancient Sources Index of Subjects

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Book SynopsisThe emergence of ancient urbanism has long held the interest of archaeologists attempting to understand the origins of inequality and its links to early urban life. This volume presents the results of archeological research at the Early Bronze Age sites of Numayra and Ras an-Numayra, conducted to investigate the rise of Early Bronze Age urban society, with a distinctive focus on links between environmental and social systems.The Dead Sea Plain excavations at Numayra and Ras an-Numayra uncovered extraordinarily well-preserved architecture, artifacts, and faunal and paleoethnobotanical remains that offer exciting and profound insights that enhance our understanding of life in these walled settlements. Under the codirection of R. Thomas Schaub and Walter E. Rast, the Expedition to the Dead Sea Plain team designed their research with an explicitly anthropological focus, based on the New Archaeology’s principles for archaeological knowledge production. Their excavations at these sites in the mid-1970s and early 1980s heralded the now-common approach combining archaeology, paleoethnobotany, palynology, bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, geology, and ethnoarchaeology into the research project, with a multidisciplinary team in the field to systematize collection and sampling procedures.These excavations at Numayra and Ras an-Numayra represent a watershed moment in the history of archaeological research in the southern Levant, setting new standards for scientific methods and a multidisciplinary approach to investigating the past.Trade Review“This volume is replete with richly detailed, meticulously presented data on an early third-millennium BC town in southern Jordan. Scholars of early urbanism in the Levant will find in this volume a highly valuable trove of information and ideas on architecture, the agricultural economy, daily life, and social organization.”—Glenn M. Schwartz,Whiting Professor of Archaeology, Johns Hopkins University“Chesson, Schaub, and Rast’s Numayra is an exemplary publication of a classic excavation. It should serve as a reference point for any understanding of how people lived, worked, and flourished in the small fortified settlements of the Early Bronze Age Levant.”—Raphael Greenberg,Tel Aviv UniversityTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsList of TablesPrefaceMeredith S. ChessonSupporters of the Expedition to the Dead Sea Plain, Jordan1. Introduction: The 1977–1983 Excavations at Numayra and Ras an- NumayraMeredith S. Chesson2. Geology and GeomorphologyJack Donahue3. Central Area ExcavationsMeredith S. Chesson4. Town Walls and Gate Systems: East Town Area Excavations (Phases 1A–2B) and West Gate Area Excavations (Phases 1A–2B)R. Thomas Schaub and Meredith S. Chesson5. Pottery Typology at NumayraR. Thomas Schaub6. Excavations at Ras an- NumayraMeredith S. Chesson, R. Thomas Schaub, Gillian Bentley, and Michael Coogan7. Storage in Numayra in Phases 1A–2CMeredith S. Chesson and Nathan Goodale8. Crop Storage, Processing, and Cooking Practices at Numayra: The Plant RemainsChantel E. White, David McCreery, and Fabian Toro9. Chipped Stone Tools from Numayra and Ras an- NumayraMark A. McConaughy10. Basketry, Cordage, Plant Fibers, and Weaving Tools from NumayraJ. M. Adovasio, J. S. Illingworth, T. Miller- Sporrer, M. L. Greek, and S. L. Dost Kerchusky11. Seal Impressions and Sherds with Markings from NumayraNancy Lapp12. Ornaments Excavated at Numayra, JordanN. H. Broeder and H. C. W. SkinnerBibliographyAppendixesAppendix A. Master Locus Lists for Numayra’s Central, East Tower, and West Gate Areas and Ras an- NumayraMeredith S. Chesson, R. Thomas Schaub, and Walter E. RastAppendix B. Pottery PlatesMeredith S. Chesson, R. Thomas Schaub, and Walter E. RastAppendix C. Illustrated ProfilesMeredith S. ChessonAppendix D. Registered ObjectsMeredith S. Chesson, R. Thomas Schaub, and Walter E. Rast

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Book SynopsisThis is the second and final volume of scientific and interdisciplinary reports on the excavations and research conducted at Tell el-Borg, north Sinai, between 1998 and 2008, written by the scholars and specialists who worked on the site under the direction of Professor James K. Hoffmeier.This volume focuses on the cemetery areas, which yield more than a dozen tombs, typically made of mud brick, some of which were constructed for a single occupant and some of which were larger tombs that accommodated multiple family members. Included is a treatment of an area of “public” space featuring a temple and a well, among other things, and a study of the geological results of the nearby ancient Ballah Lakes that offers new data on the history of the Nile distributary that flowed by Tell el-Borg. The balance of the work deals with specialty reports, including the faunal and botanical remains, the clay coffins, and elite stones. A concluding chapter offers a synthesis of the decade of work and ties together the finds published in both volumes.In addition to the editor, the contributors to this volume include Stephen Moshier, Bahaa Gayed, Gregory D. Mumford, Scott D. Haddow, Mark Janzen, Thomas W. Davis, Rexine Hummel, Hesham M. Hussein, Carole McCartney, Michelle A. Loyet, Louise Bertini, and Salima Ikram.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a reassessment of the governmental systems of the Late Babylonian period—specifically those of the Neo-Babylonian and early Persian empires—and provides evidence demonstrating that these are among the first to have developed an early form of administrative law.The present study revolves around a particular expression that, in its most common form, reads ḫīṭu ša šarri išaddad and can be translated as “he will be guilty (of an offense) against the king.” The authors analyze ninety-six documents, thirty-two of which have not been previously published, discussing each text in detail, including the syntax of this clause and its legal consequences, which involve the delegation of responsibility in an administrative context. Placing these documents in their historical and institutional contexts, and drawing from the theories of Max Weber and S. N. Eisenstadt, the authors aim to show that the administrative bureaucracy underlying these documents was a more complex, systematized, and rational system than has previously been recognized.Accompanied by extensive indexes, as well as transcriptions and translations of each text analyzed here, this book breaks new ground in the study of ancient legal systems.Trade Review“It is an important building block for a better understanding of the social conditions in Babylonia in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. and at the same time enriches the corresponding legal-historical research.”—Hans Neumann Review of Biblical Literature

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Book SynopsisThe Origins of Human Society traces the development of human culture from its origins over 2 million years ago to the emergence of literate civilization. In addition to a global coverage of prehistoric life, the book pays specific attention to the origins and dispersal of anatomically-modern humans, the development of symbolic expression, the transition from mobile foraging bands to sedentary households, early agriculture and its consequences, the emergence of social differentiation and hereditary ranking, and the prehistoric roots of ancient states and empires. The Blackwell History of the World Series The goal of this ambitious series is to provide an accessible source of knowledge about the entire human past, for every curious person in every part of the world. It will comprise some two dozen volumes, of which some provide synoptic views of the history of particular regions while others consider the world as a whole during a particular period of time. The volumes are narrative in form, giving balanced attention to social and cultural history (in the broadest sense) as well as to institutional development and political change. Each provides a systematic account of a very large subject, but they are also both imaginative and interpretative. The Series is intended to be accessible to the widest possible readership, and the accessibility of its volumes is matched by the style of presentation and production.Trade Review"Bogucki has succeeded admirably in his attempt to review the most up-to-date findings and interpretive issues in world prehistory ... This book will enlarge and modify our understanding of prehistory." Journal of World History Table of ContentsList of Figures and Tables. Series Editor's Preface. Preface. A Note on Dating. 1. The Gateway to Human Prehistory. 2. The Earliest Human Societies. 3. The Human Diaspora. 4. After the Ice Age. 5. Seeds for Civilization. 6. Pathways to Inequality. 7. Elites and Commoners. 8. Early States and Chiefdoms in the Shadow of States. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing decorative, religious, and utilitarian objects from the Geometric period to the Hellenistic Age, this is the ideal introduction to Greek sculpture Introducing eight centuries of Greek sculpture, this latest addition to The Met’s compelling and widely acclaimed How to Read series traces this artistic tradition from its early manifestations in the Geometric period (ca. 900–700 BCE) through the groundbreaking creativity of the Archaic and Classical periods to the dramatic achievements of the Hellenistic Age (323–31 BCE). The 40 works of art featured represent a broad range of objects and materials, both sacred and utilitarian, in metal, marble, gold, ivory, and terracotta. Sculptures of deities and architectural elements are joined by depictions of athletes, animals, and performers, as well as by funerary reliefs, perfume vases, and jewelry. The accompanying text both provides insight into Greek art as a whole and illuminates centuries of Greek life. Detailed commentaries on each work and an overview of major themes in Greek art offer a fascinating, object-focused introduction to one of the most influential cultures in Western civilization.Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

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Book SynopsisMemory studies -- one of the most vibrant research fields of the present day -- brings together such diverse disciplines as art and archaeology, history, religion, literature, sociology, media studies, and neuroscience. In scholarship on ancient Rome, studies of social and cultural memory complement traditional approaches, opening up new horizons as we contemplate the ancient world. The fifteen essays presented here explore memory in the Roman Empire, addressing a wide spectrum of cultural phenomena from a range of approaches. Ancient Rome was a memory culture par excellence and memory pervades all aspects of Roman culture, from literature and art to religion and politics. This volume is the first to address the cultural artifacts of Rome through the lens of memory studies. An essential guide to the material culture of Rome, this book brings important new concepts to the fore for both scholars of the ancient world and those of social and cultural memory throughout human history.Trade Review"In her introduction essay, Susan Alcock, one of the pioneers in the field, compares the undertaking to a kaleidoscope. This metaphor could describe this book: not a lens or filter, but a Roman world in all its variegate aspects."-Art Newspaper

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Book SynopsisThe Roman Empire had a rich and multifaceted visual culture, which was often variegated due to the sprawling geography of its provinces. In this remarkable work of scholarship, a group of international scholars has come together to find alternative ways to discuss the nature and development of the art and archaeology of the Roman provinces. The result is a collection of nineteen compelling essays-accompanied by carefully curated visual documentation, seven detailed maps, and an extensive bibliography-and organized around the four major themes of provincial contexts, tradition and innovation, networks and movements, and local accents in an imperial context. Easy assumptions about provincial life in Rome-from what makes a province to how they interacted with metropolises-give way to more complicated stories. Similarities and divergences in local and regional responses to Rome appear, but not always in predictable places and in far from predictable patterns.The authors dismiss entrenched barriers between art and archaeology, center and provinces, even "good art" and "bad art," extending their observations well beyond the empire's boundaries, and examining phenomena, sites, and monuments not often found in books about Roman art history or archaeology. The book thus functions to encourage continued critical engagement with how scholars study the material past of the Roman Empire and, indeed, of imperial systems in general.Trade Review"In addition to the quality of most of the contributions, the value of this collection lies in the fact that different ideas on the same sets of problems are included in a single volume (unfortunately a rare occurrence), which makes the reading of the whole a very stimulating exercise."--Bryn Mawr Classical Review "Beautiful and carefully edited."--Art Newspaper "The contributions to this volume . . . offer nuanced interpretations of provincial visual cultures. . . . This volume is recommended especially for institutional libraries supporting art historians and classicists." --Religious Studies Review

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Book SynopsisFrom about 2000 BCE onward, Egypt served as an important nexus for cultural exchange in the eastern Mediterranean, importing and exporting not just wares but also new artistic techniques and styles. Egyptian, Greek, and Roman craftsmen imitated one another's work, creating cultural and artistic hybrids that transcended a single tradition. Yet in spite of the remarkable artistic production that resulted from these interchanges, the complex vicissitudes of exchange between Egypt and the Classical world over the course of nearly 2500 years have not been comprehensively explored in a major exhibition or publication in the United States. It is precisely this aspect of Egypt's history, however, that Beyond the Nile uncovers. Renowned scholars have come together to provide compelling analyses of the constantly evolving dynamics of cultural exchange, first between Egyptians and Greeks-during the Bronze Age, then the Archaic and Classical periods of Greece, and finally Ptolemaic Egypt-and later when Egypt passed to Roman rule with the defeat of Cleopatra. Beyond the Nile is milestone publication on the occasion of a major international exhibition and one that will become an indispensable contribution to the field. With gorgeous photographs of more than two hundred rare objects, including frescoes, statues, obelisks, jewellery, papyri, pottery, and coins, this volume offers an essential and interdisciplinary approach to the rich world of artistic cross-pollination during antiquity.Trade Review"One of the most impressive exhibition catalogues this reviewer has seen in quite a while, the present volume (and by all accounts the superb exhibition it accompanies) is one of the best treatments of its ambitious subject."--Ancient Egypt Magazine "All in all, this is an excellent exhibition catalogue, well designed, well written, and well-illustrated . . . the volume as a whole is a very welcome addition to the ever-growing number of publications which examine the phenomenon of cultural interaction in the ancient Mediterranean World."--The Art Newspaper "In sum, the catalogue is a rich trove of material, presented in a way that will engage all manner of readers, from the specialist to students to those with merely a passing interest in the place and people of Egypt in the Classical period. I heartily recommend it to any university or community library." --New England Classical Journal ". . . the catalogue is a treat, with authoritative, elegant essays complementing the sumptuously illustrated artefacts." --Times Literary Supplement Alfred H. Barr Jr. Honorable Mention for Distinguished Catalogue in the History of Art

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Book SynopsisWhat happens to us when we die? What might the afterlife look like? For the ancient Greeks, the dead lived on, overseen by Hades in the Underworld. We read of famous sinners, such as Sisyphus, forever rolling his rock, and the fierce guard dog Kerberos, who was captured by Herakles. For mere mortals, ritual and religion offered possibilities for ensuring a happy existence in the beyond, and some of the richest evidence for beliefs about death comes from southern Italy, where the local Italic peoples engaged with Greek beliefs. Monumental funerary vases that accompanied the deceased were decorated with consolatory scenes from myth, and around forty preserve elaborate depictions of Hades's domain. For the first time in over four decades, these compelling vase paintings are brought together in one volume, with detailed commentaries and ample illustrations. The catalogue is accompanied by a series of essays by leading experts in the field, which provides a framework for understanding these intriguing scenes and their contexts. Topics include attitudes toward the afterlife in Greek ritual and myth, inscriptions on leaves of gold that provided guidance for the deceased; funerary practices and religious beliefs in Apulia, and the importance accorded to Orpheus and Dionysos. Drawing from a variety of textual and archaeological sources, this volume is an essential source for anyone interested in religion and belief in the ancient Mediterranean.Trade Review"This handsome book explores Greek concepts of the afterlife as they are expressed in images of the Underworld on monumental funerary vases from Southern Italy. The corpus of some 40 vases is placed within its historical and archaeological context by a set of essays by prominent specialists. The book will join an earlier Getty publication, Oliver Taplin's Pots & Plays (2007), as an essential resource for the study of vase-painting in Greek South Italy."--Alan Shapiro, Dietrich von Bothmer Research Scholar, Greek and Roman Department, The Metropolitan Museum of Art ;; “This excellent and highly informative book guides us through the Underworld as conceived in Greek and Italic southern Italy and as visualized in South Italian vase-painting. Lavishly illustrated, it contains all the vases representing the kingdom of Hades and enables us to explore the many facets of this iconography, from the first known examples found in the Greek colony of Taranto to the complex tableaux of monumental volute-kraters belonging to members of the Italic elite. Under the surveillance of Hades and Persephone, we become familiar with the landscape of the world beyond. Here, we encounter those gods and heroes able to transcend the boundary between this world and the next (such as Dionysos, Orpheus, Herakles, and Theseus), as well as the mortals condemned to eternal punishment (such as Sisyphus and the Danaids). Far from static, the imagery of the Underworld is developed via various patterns; although the precise cultural reasons underlying such differentiation often escape us due to the absence of archaeological context, their variety reveals both the meaningful character of these representations, which were displayed during funerals, and the complex relationship between producers and consumers. ;; Well-written and highly informative essays provide insight into the ancient Greek myths of the afterlife, the available evidence of the Mystery Cults, and the religious and funerary practices of ancient Puglia, reconstructing the wider context and enabling these vases to be better understood. ;; Suitable for a broad readership, the volume explores the attitude of a specific ancient society towards universal concerns such as death and the afterlife via the powerful language of images, greatly enriching our perspective.”--Francesca Silvestrelli, University of the Salento

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Book SynopsisPresenting a quantum-holographic perspective on world history and human consciousness, Carl Calleman explains the quantum physics behind the Waves of the Mayan Calendar system and how these Waves allow us to understand the shifting eras on Earth as well as the possibilities of the future. He describes how, prior to the activation of the 6th Wave in 3115 BCE, our social systems were based on a unified cosmic order, but the hologram of this Wave shifted society to an all-consuming focus on Good and Evil, leading to the rise of patriarchal religious structures, slavery, and warfare. He explores how later Waves and their new holograms helped humanity survive the negative effects of the 6th Wave, such as the Industrial Revolution of the 7th Wave and the Digital Revolution of the 8th Wave. In 2011, the 9th Wave was activated, bringing with it an accelerated push for a more egalitarian world, a rising awareness of unity consciousness, and access to the full power of all Nine Waves of Creation.Trade Review“The Nine Waves of Creation presents a speculative cosmology supported by the recent discovery that galaxies in the universe are not located randomly but ordered in a way that radically challenges previous cosmological assumptions. If Calleman’s ideas--which are refreshingly wild but rationally argued--are even partially correct, today’s assumptions about the nature of evolution and the evolution of nature will need to be reconsidered.” * Dean Radin, Ph.D., chief scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences *Table of ContentsForeword by Barbara Hand Clow Acknowledgments 1 The Origin of the Universe Our Current World Situation The Birth of the Universe Emerging Problems with the Standard Model of the Big Bang Theory The Tree of Life Hypothesis for the Origin of the Universe The Cover-Up of the Existence of the Tree of Life The Origin of Yin and Yang The Fractal-Holographic Model of the Universe God 2 The Nine Waves of Creation Quantum Theory--Everything Is Waves Wave Interference and Holography The Universal Frequency Range The First Wave of Creation The Holy Number Nine The Mayan Calendar Waves The Nine Frequencies of Change The Interference of Sensory Information with the Creation Waves 3 Waves and Serpents Universal Evolution and Creation The Cosmic Wave Generator and the First Wave The Second Wave and Biological Evolution Sexual Polarity at Different Levels of the Universe The Third Wave and Erect Primates The Fourth Wave and the First Humans The Fifth Wave and Symbolic Expression The Sixth Wave and the Rational Mind Serpents in Ancient Cultures Interference Patterns between Waves 4 The Hologram of Good and Evil The Tree of Life in Ancient Representations The Destiny Chart of Humanity The Planetary Round of Light Polarity Shifts of the Mind Symbols of Duality The Sacred Geometry of the Sixth Wave Mind Transiting to Civilization The Origin of Dominance and Subjugation in the Hologram of Good and Evil What Is the Origin of Authoritarian Rule? 5 Ashur, Yahweh, the Church, and the Ultimate Transcendence of Duality Women and the Hologram of Good and Evil The Assyrian Tree of Life The Chaldean-Jewish-Christian Tradition The Garden of Eden Story in Genesis Yahweh The Rise of Religions The Monotheism of the Jews Monotheism in the Days and Nights of the Sixth Wave From Jesus to the Roman Catholic Church Toward a Multilevel Theology The One That Has Nothing Above It 6 The Seventh Wave The Human Predicament The Context of the Seventh Wave An Era of Novelty: Globalization An Era of Novelty: Atheism and Enlightenment An Era of Novelty: Science An Era of Novelty: Materialism and Industrialism An Era of Novelty: Equality The Global Economic Cycles of the Seventh Wave The Speedup of Time and the Craving for Novelty 7 Approaching Our Present Time The Eighth Wave and the Digital Revolution The Eighth Wave Hologram and Its Effects on the Brain Moore’s Law and Increasing Economic Inequality The Common Evolutionary Pattern of the Creation Waves The Rise of the Right/East Hemisphere The Return of Spirituality Up to the Ninth Wave October 28, 2011 A Change in Thinking about the Shift 8 The Deactivation of the Hologram of Good and Evil The New Stage for Life Moving into the Future The Declining Power of the West The Decline of the Nation-State The Movements from the East ISIL and the Violence in the Middle East The World Economy after the Shift Balancing the Hemispheres with the Eighth Wave 9 Manifesting the Destiny of Humanity through the Ninth Wave The Era of Fulfillment Ancient Concepts about the Current Shift Manifesting the Destiny of Humanity or Following Identically Repeated Cycles The Ego and Its Transcendence by the Ninth Wave Becoming an Embodiment of Unity Consciousness Practical Tools for Developing Resonance with the Ninth Wave Opening to the Divine The Purpose of the Universe Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to be a hero? In The Heroic Heart, Tod Lindberg traces the quality of heroic greatness from its most distant origin in human prehistory to the present day. The designation of "hero" once conjured mainly the prowess of conquerors and kings slaying their enemies on the battlefield. Heroes in the modern world come in many varieties, from teachers and mentors making a lasting impression on others by giving of themselves, to firefighters no less willing than their ancient counterparts to risk life and limb. They don't do so to assert a claim of superiority over others, however. Rather, the modern heroic heart acts to serve others and save others. The spirit of modern heroism is generosity, what Lindberg calls "the caring will," a primal human trait that has flourished alongside the spread of freedom and equality. Through its intimate portraits of historical and literary figures and its subtle depiction of the most difficult problems of politics, The Heroic Heart offers a startlingly original account of the passage from the ancient to the modern world and the part the heroic type has played in it. Lindberg deftly combines social criticism and moral philosophy in a work that ranks with such classics as Thomas Carlyle's nineteenth-century On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History and Joseph Campbell's twentieth-century The Hero with a Thousand Faces.Trade Review"The classical hero who kills and often dies for a larger cause of freedom and liberty may have become passe in the postmodern egalitarian West. But in this learned survey of 'slaying' and 'saving' heroes, from the Greeks to 9/11, Tod Lindberg reminds us why we moderns would be doomed without such brave hearts to keep evil outside the gates and remind the complacent within that there is no end to history. An absorbing paean that weaves together exacting scholarship and the personal voice, in a style that is both engaging and accessible." -Victor Davis Hanson, senior fellow in classics and military history at The Hoover Institution, Stanford University "I know few thinkers as simultaneously erudite and engaging as Tod Lindberg. The Heroic Heart takes us from Achilles to Afghanistan, from the fact of death to what makes some of us larger than life. How we define and choose our heroes offers a penetrating glimpse into the heart of the modern human condition." -Marie Slaughter, president of the New America Foundation and author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family "In an age when virtue and heroism are often seen as relics of a bygone era, The Heroic Heart brings to bear a historically informed challenge, one relevant to our times. With a refreshing voice, Tod Lindberg gives enlightened heroism its due, while highlighting the purpose for strength of character in an often malevolent world awash in change. This book is a moral tonic in the face of today's dilemmas and a reminder of the timeless value of strong, selfless character." -Gen. James Mattis, USMC-ret., former commander, CENTCOM "The Heroic Heart is full of insight on the way that our heroes have changed since the time of the ancient Greeks up through the present. In the process, it raises fundamental questions about political leadership and the morality that underlies community, now and in the past." -Francis Fukuyama, author of The End of History and the Last Man and Political Order and Political Decay "At the heart of geopolitics rests a mystery, the willingness of men to die for their country. Tod Lindberg's The Heroic Heart is a superb attempt to unravel this mystery with both personal insight and command of the history of philosophy." -George Friedman, founder of Stratfor and author of The Next 100 Years

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Book SynopsisThermopylae, Marathon: though fought 2,500 years ago in Ancient Greece, the names of these battles are more familiar to many than battles fought in the last half-century, but our concept of the men who fought in these battles may be more a product of Hollywood than Greece.Shaped by the landscape in which they fought, the warriors of Ancient Greece were mainly heavy infantry. While Bronze Age Greeks fought as individuals, for personal glory, the soldiers of the Classical city states fought as hoplites, armed with long spears and large shields, in an organised formation called the phalanx.As well as fighting among themselves, notably the thirty-year Peloponnesian War fought between Athens and Sparta and immortalised by Thucydides, the city states came together to fight outside threats. The Persian Wars lasted nearly half a century, and saw the Greek armies come together to fend off several massive Persian forces both on land and at sea.This book sketches the change from heroic to hoplite warfare, and discusses the equipment and training of both the citizen soldiers of most Greek cities, and the professional soldiers of Sparta.Trade ReviewI imagine that schools will find these to be useful background primers for a period of history study. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *What “Greek Warriors” does and does well, is to introduce the major themes of the historic period and touch upon them. Carolyn Willekes writes in an accessible, easily digestible way that allows even the most history-averse scholar to enjoy the book. I would definitely like to read more of her work in the future, preferably a thousand-page epic covering each of the major points in history that she’s covered here. Until that’s available, this will do nicely. 4.5 stars. * Army Rumour Service *

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Book SynopsisThe gladiator is one of the most enduring figures of Ancient Rome. Heroic, though of lowly status, they fought vicious duals in large arenas filled with baying crowds. The survivor could be either executed (the famous ‘thumbs down’ signal) or spared at the whim of the crowd or the Emperor. Few lasted more than a dozen fights, yet they were a valuable asset to their owners.But how did they fight and how did their weapons and techniques develop? Who were they?This book gives an entertaining overview of the history of the gladiator, debunking some myths along the way. We learn about the different forms of combat, and the pairings which were designed to carefully balance the strengths and weaknesses of one against the other. The retiarii (with nets) were lightly armed but mobile, the secutores and murmillones protected but weighted down by their armour. Gladiators also participated in simulated naval battles on large artificial lakes or even in the arena of the Colosseum.Although their lives were brutal and short, gladiators often were admired for their bravery, endurance, and willingness to die. They were the celebrities of their day. This book reveals what we know and how we know it: ancient remains, contemporary literature, graffiti, modern attempts to reconstruct ancient fighting techniques and above all the discovery at Pompeii where a complete gladiator barracks was found alongside multiple skeletons tell their story.Trade ReviewIt’s a treasure trove of information spanning hundreds of years of gladiatorial combat in all its forms...a useful resource, especially for secondary school students, who may find that it ties in with their coursework rather well. * Army Rumour Service *I imagine that schools will find these to be useful background primers for a period of history study, and the gladiator volume is well detailed for the wargamer contemplating this particular form of skirmish warfare with its rules and showmanship. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *Overall, the book is highly recommendable. […] the content is varied with numerous graphics and photos showing arenas, reliefs, mosaics, which add colour and “flavour” to the content […] It is accessible, convenient, and easy to read. * Imperium Romanum *

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Book SynopsisAlexander was perhaps the greatest conquering general in history. In just over a generation, his northern Greek state of Macedon rose to control the whole of the vast Persian Empire. It was the legacy of his father, Philip, that launched Alexander on a spectacular career of conquest that planted Hellenic culture across most of Asia. In a dozen years Alexander took the whole of Asia Minor and Egypt, destroyed the once mighty Persian Empire, and pushed his army eastwards as far as the Indus. No-one in history has equalled his achievement. Julius Caesar, contemplating his hero’s statue, is said to have wept because by contrast he had accomplished so little.Much of Alexander’s success can be traced to the Macedonian phalanx, a close-ordered battle formation of sarissa-wielding infantry that proved itself a war-winning weapon. The army Alexander inherited from his father was the most powerful in Greece, highly disciplined, trained and loyal only to the king. United in a single purpose, they fought as one. Alexander recognized this and is quoted as saying, “Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.” Cavalry was also of crucial importance in the Macedonian army, as the driving force to attack the flanks of the enemy in battle. A talented commander, able to anticipate how his opponent would think, Alexander understood how to commit his forces to devastating effect, and was never defeated in battle. He also developed a corps of engineers that utilised catapults and siege towers against enemy fortifications. Alexander led from the front, fighting with his men, eating with them, refusing water when there was not enough, and his men would quite literally follow him to the ends of the (known) world, and none of his successors was able to hold together the empire he had forged. Although he died an early death his fame and glory persist to this day.This concise history gives an overview of Alexander’s life from a military standpoint, from his early military exploits to the creation of his empire and the legacy left after his premature death.

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Book SynopsisThe Oriental Institute Annual Reports contain yearly summaries of the activities of the Institutes faculty, staff, and research projects, as well as descriptions of special events and other Institute functions.

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Book SynopsisUgaritic literary and ritual studies have often neglected or even ignored the Akkadian material from the same archives, which can be used as a frame of reference for the Ugaritic texts. The aim of this work is to offer a comprehensive study of the consonantal (Ugaritic) as well as the syllabic (Akkadian) incantation and anti-witchcraft texts from Ras Shamra as a unified corpus. These texts, dealing with impending dangers (mainly snakebites) and witchcraft attacks, are placed in the context of Ancient Near Eastern magic literature. A discussion of general topics, including magic and religion, the Ugaritic gods of magic, and the definition of incantation, is followed by a new collation and translation of the Akkadian texts, as well as new photographic material for both series. The main focus of this book is the close reading of the consonantal texts in the context of the much larger and better analyzed corpus of Akkadian magic literature.

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