Description
Book SynopsisThis revised and expanded edition of A World History of Ancient Political Thought examines the political thought of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel, Iran, India, China, Greece, Rome and early Christianity, from prehistory to c.300 CE. The book explores the earliest texts of literate societies, beginning with the first written records of political thought in Egypt and Mesopotamia and ending with the collapse of the Han dynasty and the Western Roman Empire.In most cultures, sacred monarchy was the norm, but this ranged from absolute to conditional authority. ''The people'' were recipients of royal (and divine) beneficence. Justice, the rule of law and meritocracy were generally regarded as fundamental. In Greece and Rome, democracy and liberty were born, while in Israel the polity was based on covenant and the law. Confucius taught humaneness, Mozi and Christianity taught universal love; Kautilya and the Chinese ''Legalists'' believed in realpolitik and an authoritarian state. The co
Trade ReviewIn this ambitious book, Antony Black provides a short and global explanation of ancient political thought. He should be considered one of the greatest and most consistent specialists in medieval political thought, but in this book he shows an impressive comprehension of the sources of ancient cultures ... can be highly recommended. * Rafael Ramis Barceló, Political Studies Review *
Admirably ambitious ... This is not a merely encyclopaedic account of ancient thought but a genuinely comparative analysis, with the constant attention to the divergences from basic similarities that creates the exciting sense of a single argument. * Richard Seaford, History of Political Thought *
Table of ContentsAbbreviations Time Chart Introduction 1: Early Communities and States 2: Egypt 3: Mesopotamia, Assyria, Babylon 4: Iran 5: Israel 6: India 7: China 8: The Greeks 9: Rome 10: Greco-Roman Humanism 11: The Kingdom of Heaven and the Church of Christ 12: Topics: Similarities and Differences 13: Conclusion
