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Persian Fire: The First World Empire, Battle for the West
Par Tom Holland. 2005
In 480 BC, Xerxes, the King of Persia, led an invasion of mainland Greece. Its success should have been a…
formality. For seventy years, victory - rapid, spectacular victory - had seemed the birthright of the Persian Empire. In the space of a single generation, they had swept across the Near East, shattering ancient kingdoms, storming famous cities, putting together an empire which stretched from India to the shores of the Aegean. As a result of those conquests, Xerxes ruled as the most powerful man on the planet. Yet somehow, astonishingly, against the largest expeditionary force ever assembled, the Greeks of the mainland managed to hold out. The Persians were turned back. Greece remained free. Had the Greeks been defeated at Salamis, not only would the West have lost its first struggle for independence and survival, but it is unlikely that there would ever have been such and entity as the West at all.Tom Holland's brilliant new book describes the very first 'clash of Empires' between East and West. Once again he has found extraordinary parallels between the ancient world and our own. There is no competing popular book describing these events.Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar
Par Tom Holland. 2015
'This is a wonderful, surging narrative - a brilliant and meticulous synthesis of the ancient sources . . . This…
is a story that should be read by anyone interested in history, politics or human nature - and it has never been better told' - Boris Johnson, Mail on SundayRome was first ruled by kings, then became a republic. But in the end, after conquering the world, the Republic collapsed. Rome was drowned in blood. So terrible were the civil wars that the Roman people finally came to welcome the rule of an autocrat who could give them peace. 'Augustus,' their new master called himself: 'The Divinely Favoured One'.The lurid glamour of the dynasty founded by Augustus has never faded. No other family can compare for sheer unsettling fascination with its gallery of leading characters. Tiberius, the great general who ended up a bitter recluse, notorious for his perversions; Caligula, the master of cruelty and humiliation who rode his chariot across the sea; Agrippina, the mother of Nero, manoeuvering to bring to power the son who would end up having her murdered; Nero himself, racing in the Olympics, marrying a eunuch, and building a pleasure palace over the fire-gutted centre of his capital.Now, in the sequel to Rubicon, Tom Holland gives a dazzling portrait of Rome's first imperial dynasty. Dynasty traces the full astonishing story of its rule of the world: both the brilliance of its allure, and the blood-steeped shadows cast by its crimes. Ranging from the great capital rebuilt in marble by Augustus to the dank and barbarian-haunted forests of Germany, it is populated by a spectacular cast: murderers and metrosexuals, adulterers and druids, scheming grandmothers and reluctant gladiators. Dynasty is the portrait of a family that transformed and stupefied Rome.In this 'thrilling. . .profoundly important book' (Christopher Hart, Sunday Times) and Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller, the acclaimed author…
of Rubicon gives a panoramic-and timely-account of the rise of IslamIn the 6th century AD, the Near East was divided between two great empires: the Persian and the Roman. A hundred years on, and one had vanished for ever, while the other was a dismembered, bleeding trunk. In their place, a new superpower had arisen: the empire of the Arabs. So profound was this upheaval that it spelled, in effect, the end of the ancient world.But the changes that marked the period were more than merely political or even cultural: there was also a transformation of human society with incalculable consequences for the future. Today, over half the world's population subscribes to one of the various religions that took on something like their final form during the last centuries of antiquity. Wherever men or women are inspired by belief in a single god to think or behave in a certain way, they bear witness to the abiding impact of this extraordinary, convulsive age - though as Tom Holland demonstrates, much of what Jews, Christians and Muslims believe about the origins of their religion is open to debate.In the Shadow of the Sword explores how a succession of great empires came to identify themselves with a new and revolutionary understanding of the divine. It is a story vivid with drama, horror and startling achievement, and stars many of the most remarkable rulers ever seen.'A compelling detective story of the highest order, In the Shadow of the Sword is also a dazzlingly colourful journey into the world of late antiquity. Every bit as thrilling a narrative history as Holland's previous works, In the Shadow of the Sword is also a profoundly important book. It makes public and popular what scholarship has been discovering for several decades now; and those discoveries suggest a wholesale revision of where Islam came from and what it is' (Christopher Hart, Sunday Times)In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire
Par Adrian Goldsworthy. 2016
The complete and definitive history of how Roman generals carved out the greatest and longest-lasting empire the world has ever…
seen.The Roman army was one of the most effective fighting forces in history. The legions and their commanders carved out an empire which eventually included the greater part of the known world. This was thanks largely to the generals who led the Roman army to victory after victory, and whose strategic and tactical decisions shaped the course of several centuries of warfare.This book, by the author of THE PUNIC WARS, concentrates on those Roman generals who displayed exceptional gifts of leadership and who won the greatest victories. With 26 chapters covering the entire span of the Roman Empire, it is a complete history of Roman warfare.Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World
Par Adrian Goldsworthy. 2016
The Pax Romana is famous for having provided a remarkable period of peace and stability, rarely seen before or since.…
Yet the Romans were first and foremost conquerors, imperialists who took by force a vast empire stretching from the Euphrates in the east to the Atlantic coast in the west. Their peace meant Roman victory and was brought about by strength and dominance rather than co-existence with neighbours. The Romans were aggressive and ruthless, and during the creation of their empire millions died or were enslaved.But the Pax Romana was real, not merely the boast of emperors, and some of the regions in the Empire have never again lived for so many generations free from major wars. So what exactly was the Pax Romana and what did it mean for the people who found themselves brought under Roman rule?Acclaimed historian Adrian Goldsworthy tells the story of the creation of the Empire, revealing how and why the Romans came to control so much of the world and asking whether the favourable image of the Roman peace is a true one. He chronicles the many rebellions by the conquered, and describes why these broke out and why most failed. At the same time, he explains that hostility was only one reaction to the arrival of Rome, and from the start there was alliance, collaboration and even enthusiasm for joining the invaders, all of which increased as resistance movements faded away.A ground-breaking and comprehensive history of the Roman Peace, Pax Romana takes the reader on a journey from the bloody conquests of an aggressive Republic through the age of Caesar and Augustus to the golden age of peace and prosperity under diligent emperors like Marcus Aurelius, offering a balanced and nuanced reappraisal of life in the Roman Empire.Caesar: The Life Of A Colossus (Essential Histories Ser. #42)
Par Adrian Goldsworthy. 2007
From the very beginning, Caesar's story makes dazzling reading. In his late teens he narrowly avoided execution for opposing the…
military dictator Sulla. He was decorated for valour in battle, captured and held to ransom by pirates, and almost bankrupted himself by staging games for the masses. As a politician, he quickly gained a reputation as a dangerously ambitious maverick. By his early 30s he had risen to the position of Consul, and was already beginning to dominate the Senate. His affairs with noblewomen were both frequent and scandalous.His greatest skill, outside the bedroom, was as a military commander. In a string of spectacular victories he conquered all of Gaul, invaded Germany, and twice landed in Britain - an achievement which in 55BC was greeted with a public euphoria comparable to that generated by the moon landing in 1969. In just thirty years he had risen from a position of virtual obscurity to become one of the richest men in the world, with the power single-handedly to overthrow the Republic. By his death he was effectively emperor of most of the known world.Augustus: From Revolutionary to Emperor
Par Adrian Goldsworthy. 2014
'Masterly' - Robert Harris, author of Imperium 'Essential reading for anyone interested in Ancient Rome' Independent*****Caesar Augustus schemed and fought…
his way to absolute power. He became Rome's first emperor and ruled for forty-four years before dying peacefully in his bed. The system he created would endure for centuries. Yet, despite his exceptional success, he is a difficult man to pin down, and far less well-known than his great-uncle, Julius Caesar. His story is not always edifying: he murdered his opponents, exiled his daughter when she failed to conform and freely made and broke alliances as he climbed ever higher. However, the peace and stability he fostered were real, and under his rule the empire prospered. Adrian Goldsworthy examines the ancient sources to understand the man and his times.Antony and Cleopatra
Par Adrian Goldsworthy. 2010
The epic story of one of the most famous love affairs in history, by the bestselling author of Caesar.*****The monumental…
love affair between Antony and Cleopatra has been depicted in countless novels, plays and films. As one of the three men in control of the Roman Empire, Antony was perhaps the most powerful man of his day. And Cleopatra, who had already been Julius Caesar's lover, was the beautiful queen of Egypt, Rome's most important province. The clash of cultures, the power politics, and the personal passion have proven irresistible to storytellers.But in the course of this storytelling dozens of myths have grown up. The popular image of Cleopatra in ancient Egyptian costume is a fallacy; she was actually Greek. Despite her local dominance in Egypt, her real power came from her ability to forge strong personal allegiances with the most important men in Rome. Likewise, Mark Antony was not the bluff soldier of legend, brought low by his love for an exotic woman - he was first and foremost a politician, and never allowed Cleopatra to dictate policy to him. In this history, based exclusively on ancient sources and archaeological evidence, Adrian Goldsworthy gives us the facts behind this famous couple and dispels many myths. 'Excellent' Tom Holland'Refreshingly frank' Mary BeardThe Fall Of The West: The Death Of The Roman Superpower
Par Adrian Goldsworthy. 2009
A sweeping narrative of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.The Fall of the Roman Empire has been a…
best-selling subject since the 18th century. Since then, over 200 very diverse reasons have been advocated for the collapse of the western half of the Roman Empire. Until very recently, the academic view embarrassedly downplayed the violence and destruction, in an attempt to provide a more urbane account of late antiquity: barbarian invasions were mistakenly described as the movement of peoples. It was all painfully tame and civilised.But now Adrian Goldsworthy comes forward with his trademark combination of clear narrative, common sense, and a thorough mastery of the sources. In telling the story from start to finish, he rescues the era from the diffident and mealy-mouthed: this is a red-blooded account of aggressive barbarian attacks, palace coups, scheming courtiers and corrupt emperors who set the bar for excess. It is 'old fashioned history' in the best sense: an accessible narrative with colourful characters whose story reveals the true reasons for the fall of Rome.Ancient Egypt: All That Matters
Par Barry J Kemp. 2015
For three thousand years a dominant force, Ancient Egypt is arguably the most successful and longest lasting human civilization yet.…
In this pacy guide, world renowned Egyptologist Professor Barry Kemp seeks to explain why Ancient Egypt was able to thrive with such stability for such a long time. The answers may be surprising - Kemp shows that human rights and career progression played an important role, as well as the traditional forces of slave labour and religion. Taking a thematic approach, Kemp examines ancient Egypt's georgraphy, rulers, society, morality, family life, art and architecture, military, science, philosophy and religion. He then goes on to ask what happened to Ancient Egypt, and to point to its lasting influence today.The Epochs of German History (Routledge Revivals #18)
Par J. Haller. 1930
Originally published in 1930. This book is not intended to be a discussion on German history, but to talk about…
its epochs, a period in which some fresh beginning is made, some fresh determining element enters, some event occurs to give a new direction to the course of history. The book is concerned with the critical moments of German history, the turning points in its course. Those are what we want to consider, wnd also to select as points of vantage from which we may survey the development of the German nation, viewing the panorama section by section.Ancient Egypt: The Secrets of the Sphinx (Ancient Wisdom for the New Age)
Par Zelda Sharif. 2022
Discover how the wisdom of ancient Egypt can provide guidance for living in the modern world with this fascinating, fully…
illustrated guide. Today, there are countless New Age philosophies designed for self-improvement and spiritual development, but none of them match the timeless wisdom contained within the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. This volume introduces readers to the ways of the pharaohs; their relationship to the land and the river Nile; their positive attitudes toward death and the afterlife as set down in The Book of the Dead; and their sacred rites, symbols, and stones which have had a profound influence on cultures throughout history. Fully illustrated with magnificent artwork, this volume also covers Ancient Egyptian history, archeological sites, mysterious relics, and speculation about the meaning and power of the pyramids.Architecture of Minoan Crete: Constructing Identity in the Aegean Bronze Age
Par John C. McEnroe. 2010
A comprehensive, scholarly, engaging look at the meanings behind key architectural designs of ancient Minoan culture. Ever since Sir…
Arthur Evans first excavated at the site of the Palace at Knossos in the early twentieth century, scholars and visitors have been drawn to the architecture of Bronze Age Crete. Much of the attraction comes from the geographical and historical uniqueness of the island. Equidistant from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Minoan Crete is on the shifting conceptual border between East and West, and chronologically suspended between history and prehistory. In this culturally dynamic context, architecture provided more than physical shelter; it embodied meaning. Architecture was a medium through which Minoans constructed their notions of social, ethnic, and historical identity: the buildings tell us about how the Minoans saw themselves, and how they wanted to be seen by others.Architecture of Minoan Crete is the first comprehensive study of the entire range of Minoan architecture—including houses, palaces, tombs, and cities—from 7000 BC to 1100 BC. John C. McEnroe synthesizes the vast literature on Minoan Crete, with particular emphasis on the important discoveries of the past twenty years, to provide an up-to-date account of Minoan architecture. His accessible writing style, skillful architectural drawings of houses and palaces, site maps, and color photographs make this book inviting for general readers and visitors to Crete, as well as scholars.Types of Thinking Including a Survey of Greek Philosophy
Par John Dewey. 1982
A lost series of lectures on the history of philosophy, first delivered in China, now available in English for the…
first time.This volume reconstructs a series of lectures delivered by John Dewey during his historic trip to China. Though Dewey&’s original notes were lost, Prof. Robert W. Clopton and Dr. Tsuin-Chen Ou were able to translate his works as they appeared in Chinese newspapers.Beyond their historical significance, these lectures show Dewey at the height of his power, discussing and criticizing various schools of philosophy. This includes a brief but comprehensive account of Greek philosophy from the pre-Socratics through Aristotle. Dewey also discusses his own experimental thinking, presenting his position in systematic form for the first time. &“The most complete presentation of Dewey&’s theory of the development of philosophy, in prose simpler and clearer than he himself ever provided . . . Types of Thinking deserves a place in every subject collection.&” —Library JournalDiscovering Buried Worlds
Par André Parrot. 1984
In this classic work, the eminent archeologist recounts his historic excavations and the significant Biblical findings they revealed. French archeologist…
André Parrot led some of the most important digs of the twentieth century. In 1933, he began excavations on the right bank of the Euphrates River in present-day Syria. Uncovering numerous artifacts and architecture, he was able to identify the site as the Mesopotamian city of Mari. In this wide-ranging work, Parrot vividly chronicles his experiences, and shows how ancient discoveries can connect the biblical world to ours. In accessible and engaging prose, Parrot also discusses the history of archeological excavation and many of the civilizations we have learned about through the practice. He also delves into the ways archeological discovery has helped shed light on the Bible itself.The Army of Ptolemaic Egypt 323–204 BC: An Institutional and Operational History
Par Paul Johstono. 2020
A study reconstructed through a wide range of ancient sources, from histories to documentary papyri and inscriptions to archaeological finds.The…
Ptolemaic Dynasty ruled Egypt and much of the eastern Mediterranean basin for nearly 300 years. As a Macedonian dynasty, they derived much of their legitimacy from military activity. As an Egyptian dynasty, they derived much of their real wealth and power from maintaining a secure hold on their new homeland. As lords of a far-flung empire, they maintained much of their authority through garrisons and the threat of military action. To achieve this they devoted much of their activity to the development and maintenance of a large army and navy.This work focuses on the period of the first four Ptolemies, from the acquisition of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great to the great battle of Raphia more than a century later. It offers a study of the Ptolemaic army as an institution, and of its military operations, both reconstructed through a wide range of ancient sources, from histories to documentary papyri and inscriptions to archaeological finds. It examines the reasons for Ptolemaic successes and failures, the causes and nature of military change and reform, and the particular details of the Ptolemaic army's soldier classes, unit organization, equipment, tactics, and the Ptolemaic state’s strategy to compile a military history of the golden age of one of the classical world's significant forces.Ancient Greeks at War: Warfare in the Classical World from Agamemnon to Alexander
Par Simon Elliott. 2021
&“A detailed, insightful survey of Greek warfare&” with illustrations and &“many well-informed and highly perceptive observations&” (Choice). In this…
book, historian and archaeologist Simon Elliott considers the different fighting styles of Greek armies and discusses how Greek battles unfolded. Covering every aspect of warfare in the Ancient Greek world from the beginnings of Greek civilization to its assimilation into the ever-expanding world of Rome, it begins with the onset of Minoan culture on Crete around 2000 BC, then covers the arrival of the Mycenaean civilization and the ensuing Late Bronze Age Collapse before moving on to Dark Age and Archaic Greece. This sets the scene for the flowering of Classical Greek civilization, as told through detailed narratives of the Greek and Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian Wars, and the rise of Thebes as a major power. The book then moves on to Macedonian domination under Philip II, before focusing on the exploits of his son Alexander the Great, the all-conquering hero of the ancient world. His legacy was the Hellenistic world with its multiple, never-ending series of conflicts that took place over a huge territory, ranging from Italy in the west all the way to India in the east. Topics covered include the various Wars of the Successors, the rise of the Bactrian-Greek and Indo-Greek kingdoms, the wars between the Antigonid Macedonian, Seleucid, and Ptolemaic kingdoms, and later the clash of cultures between the rising power of Rome in the west and the Hellenistic kingdoms. In the long run the latter proved unable to match Rome&’s insatiable desire for conquest in the eastern Mediterranean, and this together with the rise of Parthia in the east ensured that one by one the Hellenistic kingdoms and states fell. The book ends with the destruction of Corinth in 146 BC after the defeat by Rome of the Achaean League—and concludes by considering the legacy of the Ancient Greeks in the Roman world, and subsequently. &“A comprehensive survey, smoothly written by an expert popularizer of ancient history. A tour de force.&” —NYMAS ReviewKings and Queens of Early Britain
Par Geoffrey Ashe. 1990
Geoffrey Ashe skillfully weaves all the different accounts, legends, literature, historical documents into one continuous narrative that recreates in intriguing…
detail all the rulers and events, real or mythical, that are part of the rich tapestry of early history in Britain.The Wars of Alexander's Successors, 323–281 BC: Commanders And Campaigns (Commanders and Campaigns #1)
Par Mike Roberts, Bob Bennett. 2011
This history of Ancient Greek warfare vividly chronicles the struggle for control of the Macedonian Empire, a fateful time of…
change in the Ancient World. As the story goes, Alexander the Great decreed from his deathbed that his vast Macedonian Empire should go &“to the strongest". What followed was an epic struggle between generals and governors for control of the territories. Most of these successors—known as the Diadochi—were consummate tacticians who learned the art of war from Alexander himself, or from his father, Philip. Few died a peaceful death and the last survivors were still leading their armies against each other well into their seventies. These conflicts reshaped the ancient world from the Balkans to India. In two volumes, The Wars of Alexander&’s Successors presents this critical period of ancient warfare with all its colorful characters, epic battles, treachery and subterfuge. This first volume introduces the key personalities, including Antigonos &”Monopthalmus" (the One-Eyed) and his son 'Demetrius 'Poliorcetes' (the Besieger), Seleucus 'Nicator' ('the Victorious') and Ptolemy &”Soter" ("the Saviour"). It also gives a narrative of the causes and course of these wars from the death of Alexander to the Battle of Corupedium in 281 BC, when the last two original Diadochi faced each other one final time.Julius Caesar: The Pursuit of Power
Par Ernle Bradford. 1984
The epic life story of the Roman statesman, military commander, and dictator, from the bestselling author of Thermopylae. Born…
to Roman aristocracy in 100 BC, Julius Caesar became one of the most powerful men in history. He was a military genius, a fierce politician, and a brilliant writer and orator. When he formed an alliance with Pompey and Crassus, the triumvirate of officials took control of the Roman Republic. But Caesar&’s quest for power was only beginning. As proconsul, he went to war against the Gallic tribes of the north, extending Roman territory into Gaul, Belgium, Germany, and Britain. When the Gallic Wars ended, the Roman senate called on Caesar to return to private life. But rather than relinquish his title, Caesar led his legion into a civil war that would spell the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. In this thrilling and thoroughly researched biography, Ernle Bradford cuts through the legends in order to present a truthful and nuanced portrait of a man whose pursuit of power knew no bounds.