iBooks Ancient History Ebook Best Sellers

Chart of the top 50 most popular and best selling ancient history ebooks at the Apple iBookstore.

The ancient history ebook best seller chart was last updated:

History Ebook Best Sellers

Top Ancient History Ebooks

1

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Emma Southon Cover Art

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon

An entertaining and informative look at the unique culture of crime, punishment, and killing in Ancient Rome In Ancient Rome, all the best stories have one thing in common—murder. Romulus killed Remus to found the city, Caesar was assassinated to save the Republic. Caligula was butchered in the theater, Claudius was poisoned at dinner, and Galba was beheaded in the Forum. In one 50-year period, 26 emperors were murdered. But what did killing mean in a city where gladiators fought to the death to sate a crowd? In A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum , Emma Southon examines a trove of real-life homicides from Roman history to explore Roman culture, including how perpetrator, victim, and the act itself were regarded by ordinary people. Inside Ancient Rome's darkly fascinating history, we see how the Romans viewed life, death, and what it means to be human.

2

The Sumerians - Samuel Noah Kramer Cover Art

The Sumerians

The Sumerians Their History, Culture, and Character by Samuel Noah Kramer

“A readable and up-to-date introduction to a most fascinating culture” from a world-renowned Sumerian scholar ( American Journal of Archaeology ).   The Sumerians, the pragmatic and gifted people who preceded the Semites in the land first known as Sumer and later as Babylonia, created what was probably the first high civilization in the history of man, spanning the fifth to the second millenniums B.C. This book is an unparalleled compendium of what is known about them. Professor Kramer communicates his enthusiasm for his subject as he outlines the history of the Sumerian civilization and describes their cities, religion, literature, education, scientific achievements, social structure, and psychology. Finally, he considers the legacy of Sumer to the ancient and modern world. “An uncontested authority on the civilization of Sumer, Professor Kramer writes with grace and urbanity.” — Library Journal

3

Classical Mythology A to Z - Annette Giesecke & Jim Tierney Cover Art

Classical Mythology A to Z

Classical Mythology A to Z
An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places by Annette Giesecke & Jim Tierney

A beautifully illustrated, wonderfully engaging A-to-Z guide to more than 700 major and minor gods and goddesses, characters, creatures, and places of classical Greek and Roman mythology. Classical Mythology A-to-Z is a comprehensive and engrossing guide to Greek and Roman mythology. Written by Annette Giesecke, PhD, Professor of Classics and Chair of Ancient Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Delaware, this brilliant reference offers clear explanations of every character and locale, and captures the essence of these timeless tales. From the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus and the heroes of the Trojan War to the nymphs, monsters, and other mythical creatures that populate these ancient stories, Giesecke recounts, with clarity and energy, the details of more than 700 characters and places. Each definition includes cross-references to related characters, locations, and myths, as well their equivalent in Roman mythology and cult. In addition to being an important standalone work, Classical Mythology A-to-Z is also written, designed, and illustrated to serve as an essential companion to the bestselling illustrated 75th-anniversary edition of Mythology by Edith Hamilton, including 10 full-color plates and 2-color illustrations throughout by artist Jim Tierney.

4

Dynasty - Tom Holland Cover Art

Dynasty

Dynasty The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar by Tom Holland

Author and historian Tom Holland returns to his roots in Roman history and the audience he cultivated with Rubicon —his masterful, witty, brilliantly researched popular history of the fall of the Roman republic—with Dynasty , a luridly fascinating history of the reign of the first five Roman emperors.   Dynasty continues Rubicon 's story, opening where that book ended: with the murder of Julius Caesar. This is the period of the first and perhaps greatest Roman Emperors and it's a colorful story of rule and ruination, running from the rise of Augustus through to the death of Nero. Holland's expansive history also has distinct shades of I Claudius , with five wonderfully vivid (and in three cases, thoroughly depraved) Emperors—Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—featured, along with numerous fascinating secondary characters. Intrigue, murder, naked ambition and treachery, greed, gluttony, lust, incest, pageantry, decadence—the tale of these five Caesars continues to cast a mesmerizing spell across the millennia.

5

History: Captivating Stories of the Most Powerful Empires that Made their Mark in the World - Ross Tanner Cover Art

History: Captivating Stories of the Most Powerful Empires that Made their Mark in the World

History: Captivating Stories of the Most Powerful Empires that Made their Mark in the World by Ross Tanner

History Holds the Key to Understanding the Present This book contains stories from each of the empires, some of them fables, some of them religious stories, and others simply history. It also contains information on each one of these empires, discussing the history of each of them, as well as how they have influenced the world that we live in today.  Each chapter begins with a story that has been traced back to each empire, followed by the history of the empire, and how they made an impact on the world. You will learn how people in these empires lived, what they ate as well as what challenges they faced.  This book is not only entertaining—each of the stories quite interesting—but it is also educational. There is much that we can learn by studying the empires of the past, their mistakes, and their advances.  Within this book's pages, you'll find the answers to these questions and more. Just some of the questions and topics covered include -  The Romans - Egypt - Russian Empire - British Empire - German Empire Think of it as a photo album of your parents' and grandparents' childhood. This is a moment where you can peek into the past with great excitement, anticipation, and wonder.  Get this book now to read captivating stories about history of the world!

6

The Fate of Rome - Kyle Harper Cover Art

The Fate of Rome

The Fate of Rome
Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire by Kyle Harper

How devastating viruses, pandemics, and other natural catastrophes swept through the far-flung Roman Empire and helped to bring down one of the mightiest civilizations of the ancient world Here is the monumental retelling of one of the most consequential chapters of human history: the fall of the Roman Empire. The Fate of Rome is the first book to examine the catastrophic role that climate change and infectious diseases played in the collapse of Rome’s power—a story of nature’s triumph over human ambition. Interweaving a grand historical narrative with cutting-edge climate science and genetic discoveries, Kyle Harper traces how the fate of Rome was decided not just by emperors, soldiers, and barbarians but also by volcanic eruptions, solar cycles, climate instability, and devastating viruses and bacteria. He takes readers from Rome’s pinnacle in the second century, when the empire seemed an invincible superpower, to its unraveling by the seventh century, when Rome was politically fragmented and materially depleted. Harper describes how the Romans were resilient in the face of enormous environmental stress, until the besieged empire could no longer withstand the combined challenges of a “little ice age” and recurrent outbreaks of bubonic plague. A poignant reflection on humanity’s intimate relationship with the environment, The Fate of Rome provides a sweeping account of how one of history’s greatest civilizations encountered and endured, yet ultimately succumbed to the cumulative burden of nature’s violence. The example of Rome is a timely reminder that climate change and germ evolution have shaped the world we inhabit—in ways that are surprising and profound.

7

Escape from Rome - Walter Scheidel Cover Art

Escape from Rome

Escape from Rome The Failure of Empire and the Road to Prosperity by Walter Scheidel

The gripping story of how the end of the Roman Empire was the beginning of the modern world The fall of the Roman Empire has long been considered one of the greatest disasters in history. But in this groundbreaking book, Walter Scheidel argues that Rome's dramatic collapse was actually the best thing that ever happened, clearing the path for Europe's economic rise and the creation of the modern age. Ranging across the entire premodern world, Escape from Rome offers new answers to some of the biggest questions in history: Why did the Roman Empire appear? Why did nothing like it ever return to Europe? And, above all, why did Europeans come to dominate the world? In an absorbing narrative that begins with ancient Rome but stretches far beyond it, from Byzantium to China and from Genghis Khan to Napoleon, Scheidel shows how the demise of Rome and the enduring failure of empire-building on European soil ensured competitive fragmentation between and within states. This rich diversity encouraged political, economic, scientific, and technological breakthroughs that allowed Europe to surge ahead while other parts of the world lagged behind, burdened as they were by traditional empires and predatory regimes that lived by conquest. It wasn’t until Europe "escaped" from Rome that it launched an economic transformation that changed the continent and ultimately the world. What has the Roman Empire ever done for us? Fall and go away.

8

The Pursuit of the Sacred - John Chitakure Cover Art

The Pursuit of the Sacred

The Pursuit of the Sacred An Introduction to Religious Studies by John Chitakure

Globalization has taken the world by storm and has facilitated the unprecedented migrations of the peoples of this world. Whether we like it or not, we will meet foreigners in our communities, schools, universities, buses, and other public places. But, when people migrate they take their religions with them. If people of different religious traditions are to live side by side amicably, interfaith dialogue becomes imperative. But, for people to be able to speak about their own religions with enlightenment and listen to other people's religious beliefs with respect, they must have some basic knowledge of how faiths and believers operate because for some people, religion is inseparably intertwined with their economics, politics, and everyday lives. This book clearly and concisely introduces religious studies to the reader. It makes a strong case for the quest and study of world religions and explores the challenges, controversies, and methodological issues in the study of religions. It also explores other pertinent religious issues such as beliefs, rituals, myths, sacredness, morality, the problem of evil, and interreligious dialogue. Although written from a classroom perspective, this book can be useful to any reader who would like to acquire knowledge of religious issues.

9

Killing Jesus - Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard Cover Art

Killing Jesus

Killing Jesus A History by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

Millions of readers have thrilled to bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln , page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. The basis for the 2015 television film available on streaming. Now the iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly two thousand years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God. Killing Jesus will take readers inside Jesus's life, recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable - and changed the world forever.

10

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome - Mary Beard Cover Art

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
by Mary Beard

New York Times Bestseller A New York Times Notable Book Named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Foreign Affairs, and Kirkus Reviews Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award (Nonfiction) Shortlisted for the Cundill Prize in Historical Literature Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (History) A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Gift Guide Selection A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Selection A sweeping, "magisterial" history of the Roman Empire from one of our foremost classicists shows why Rome remains "relevant to people many centuries later" (Atlantic). In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean" (Wall Street Journal). Hailed by critics as animating "the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life" (Economist) in a way that makes "your hair stand on end" (Christian Science Monitor) and spanning nearly a thousand years of history, this "highly informative, highly readable" (Dallas Morning News) work examines not just how we think of ancient Rome but challenges the comfortable historical perspectives that have existed for centuries. With its nuanced attention to class, democratic struggles, and the lives of entire groups of people omitted from the historical narrative for centuries, SPQR will to shape our view of Roman history for decades to come.

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The Chemical Muse - D. C.A. Hillman, Ph.D. Cover Art

The Chemical Muse

The Chemical Muse Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization by D. C.A. Hillman, Ph.D.

"The last wild frontier of classical studies." ---The Times (UK) The Chemical Muse uncovers decades of misdirection and obfuscation to reveal the history of widespread drug use in Ancient Rome and Greece. In the city-states that gave birth to Western civilization, drugs were an everyday element of a free society. Often they were not just available, but vitally necessary for use in medicine, religious ceremonies, and war campaigns. Their proponents and users existed in all classes, from the common soldier to the emperor himself. Citing examples in myths, medicine, and literature, D. C. A. Hillman shows how drugs have influenced and inspired the artists, philosophers, and even politicians whose ideas have formed the basis for civilization as we know it. Many of these ancient texts may seem well-known, but Hillman shows how timid, prudish translations have left scholars and readers in the dark about the reality of drug use in the Classical world. Hillman's argument is not simply "pro-drug." Instead, he appeals for an intellectual honesty that acknowledges the use of drugs in ancient societies despite today's conflicting social mores. In the modern world, where academia and university life are often politically charged, The Chemical Muse offers a unique and long overdue perspective on the contentious topic of drug use and the freedom of thought.

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The Story of the Jews - Simon Schama Cover Art

The Story of the Jews

The Story of the Jews Finding the Words 1000 BC-1492 AD by Simon Schama

In this magnificently illustrated cultural history—the tie-in to the pbs and bbc series The Story of the Jews—simon schama details the story of the jewish people, tracing their experience across three millennia, from their beginnings as an ancient tribal people to the opening of the new world in 1492 It is a story like no other: an epic of endurance in the face of destruction, of creativity in the face of oppression, joy amidst grief, the affirmation of life despite the steepest of odds. It spans the millennia and the continents—from India to Andalusia and from the bazaars of Cairo to the streets of Oxford. It takes you to unimagined places: to a Jewish kingdom in the mountains of southern Arabia; a Syrian synagogue glowing with radiant wall paintings; the palm groves of the Jewish dead in the Roman catacombs. And its voices ring loud and clear, from the severities and ecstasies of the Bible writers to the love poems of wine bibbers in a garden in Muslim Spain. In The Story of the Jews, the Talmud burns in the streets of Paris, massed gibbets hang over the streets of medieval London, a Majorcan illuminator redraws the world; candles are lit, chants are sung, mules are packed, ships loaded with gems and spices founder at sea. And a great story unfolds. Not—as often imagined—of a culture apart, but of a Jewish world immersed in and imprinted by the peoples among whom they have dwelled, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, from the Arabs to the Christians. Which makes the story of the Jews everyone's story, too.

13

1177 B.C. - Eric H. Cline Cover Art

1177 B.C.

1177 B.C. The Year Civilization Collapsed: Revised and Updated by Eric H. Cline

A bold reassessment of what caused the Late Bronze Age collapse In 1177 B.C., marauding groups known only as the "Sea Peoples" invaded Egypt. The pharaoh's army and navy managed to defeat them, but the victory so weakened Egypt that it soon slid into decline, as did most of the surrounding civilizations. After centuries of brilliance, the civilized world of the Bronze Age came to an abrupt and cataclysmic end. Kingdoms fell like dominoes over the course of just a few decades. No more Minoans or Mycenaeans. No more Trojans, Hittites, or Babylonians. The thriving economy and cultures of the late second millennium B.C., which had stretched from Greece to Egypt and Mesopotamia, suddenly ceased to exist, along with writing systems, technology, and monumental architecture. But the Sea Peoples alone could not have caused such widespread breakdown. How did it happen? In this major new account of the causes of this "First Dark Ages," Eric Cline tells the gripping story of how the end was brought about by multiple interconnected failures, ranging from invasion and revolt to earthquakes, drought, and the cutting of international trade routes. Bringing to life the vibrant multicultural world of these great civilizations, he draws a sweeping panorama of the empires and globalized peoples of the Late Bronze Age and shows that it was their very interdependence that hastened their dramatic collapse and ushered in a dark age that lasted centuries. A compelling combination of narrative and the latest scholarship, 1177 B.C. sheds new light on the complex ties that gave rise to, and ultimately destroyed, the flourishing civilizations of the Late Bronze Age—and that set the stage for the emergence of classical Greece.

14

Fingerprints of the Gods - Graham Hancock Cover Art

Fingerprints of the Gods

Fingerprints of the Gods The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization by Graham Hancock

Could the story of mankind be far older than we have previously believed? Using tools as varied as archaeo-astronomy, geology, and computer analysis of ancient myths, Graham Hancock presents a compelling case to suggest that it is. Graham Hancock is featured in Ancient Apocalypse, a Netflix original docuseries. “A fancy piece of historical sleuthing . . . intriguing and entertaining and sturdy enough to give a long pause for thought.”— Kirkus Reviews In Fingerprints of the Gods, Hancock embarks on a worldwide quest to put together all the pieces of the vast and fascinating jigsaw of mankind’s hidden past. In ancient monuments as far apart as Egypt’s Great Sphinx, the strange Andean ruins of Tihuanaco, and Mexico’s awe-inspiring Temples of the Sun and Moon, he reveals not only the clear fingerprints of an as-yet-unidentified civilization of remote antiquity, but also startling evidence of its vast sophistication, technological advancement, and evolved scientific knowledge.   A record-breaking number one bestseller in Britain, Fingerprints of the Gods contains the makings of an intellectual revolution, a dramatic and irreversible change in the way that we understand our past—and so our future.   And Fingerprints of God tells us something more. As we recover the truth about prehistory, and discover the real meaning of ancient myths and monuments, it becomes apparent that a warning has been handed down to us, a warning of terrible cataclysm that afflicts the Earth in great cycles at irregular intervals of time—a cataclysm that may be about to recur.   “Readers will hugely enjoy their quest in these pages of inspired storytelling.”— The Times (UK)

15

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (7th Edition) - Dr Geza Vermes Cover Art

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (7th Edition)

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (7th Edition) by Dr Geza Vermes

'Probably the most important archaeological find in history ... Vermes' translations are a standard in the field' Los Angeles Times The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Judaean desert between 1947 and 1956 was one of the greatest finds of all time. These extraordinary manuscripts appear to have been hidden in the caves at Qumran by the Essenes, a Jewish sect in existence before and during the time of Jesus. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, the scrolls have transformed our understanding of the Hebrew Bible, early Judaism and the origins of Christianity. This acclaimed translation by Geza Vermes has established itself as the classic version of these texts. Translated and edited with an Introduction and Notes by Geza Vermes

16

The Anabasis of Alexander - Arrian Cover Art

The Anabasis of Alexander

The Anabasis of Alexander by Arrian

The Anabasis is by far the fullest surviving account of Alexander's conquest of the Persian empire. It is primarily a military history, reflecting the content of Arrian's model, Xenophon's Anabasis; the work begins with Alexander's accession to the Macedonian throne in 336 BC, and has nothing to say about Alexander's early life (in contrast, say, to Plutarch's Life of Alexander). Nor does Arrian aim to provide a complete history of the Greek-speaking world during Alexander's reign. Arrian's chief sources in writing the Anabasis were the lost contemporary histories of the campaign by Ptolemy and Aristobulus and, for his later books, Nearchus. One of Arrian's main aims in writing his history seems to have been to correct the standard "Vulgate" narrative of Alexander's reign that was current in his own day, primarily associated with the lost writings of the historian Cleitarchus.

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Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion - Michael Taylor Cover Art

Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion

Impossible Monsters: Dinosaurs, Darwin, and the Battle Between Science and Religion by Michael Taylor

“Vivid with a Mesozoic bestiary” (Tom Holland), this on-the-ground, page-turning narrative weaves together the chance discovery of dinosaurs and the rise of the secular age. When the twelve-year-old daughter of a British carpenter pulled some strange-looking bones from the country’s southern shoreline in 1811, few people dared to question that the Bible told the accurate history of the world. But Mary Anning had in fact discovered the “first” ichthyosaur, and over the next seventy-five years—as the science of paleontology developed, as Charles Darwin posited radical new theories of evolutionary biology, and as scholars began to identify the internal inconsistencies of the Scriptures—everything changed. Beginning with the archbishop who dated the creation of the world to 6 p.m. on October 22, 4004 BC, and told through the lives of the nineteenth-century men and women who found and argued about these seemingly impossible, history-rewriting fossils, Impossible Monsters reveals the central role of dinosaurs and their discovery in toppling traditional religious authority, and in changing perceptions about the Bible, history, and mankind’s place in the world.

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Fall of Civilizations - Paul Cooper Cover Art

Fall of Civilizations

Fall of Civilizations Stories of Greatness and Decline by Paul Cooper

"A treasure trove of myths and terror… Atmospheric as hell… Immersive."?The Times Based on the podcast with over one hundred million downloads, Fall of Civilizations brilliantly explores how a range of ancient societies rose to power and sophistication, and how they tipped over into collapse. Across the centuries, we journey from the great empires of Mesopotamia to those of Khmer and Vijayanagara in Asia and Songhai in West Africa; from Byzantium to the Maya, Inca and Aztecs of Central America; from Roman Britain to Rapa Nui. With meticulous research, breathtaking insight and dazzling, empathic storytelling, historian and novelist Paul Cooper evokes the majesty and jeopardy of these ancient civilizations, and asks what it might have felt like for a person alive at the time to witness the end of their world.

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Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition) - Edith Hamilton & Jim Tierney Cover Art

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition)

Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition) Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton & Jim Tierney

This deluxe edition of the world's most beloved, bestselling classic on Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology is stunningly illustrated with specially commissioned full-color plates and a beautiful gold-bordered pages.  Since its original publication in 1942, Edith Hamilton's Mythology has sold millions of copies throughout the world and established itself as a perennial bestseller. For nearly 80 years, readers have chosen  Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes above all other books to discover the enchanting world of Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology -- from Odysseus's adventure-filled journey to Odin's effort to postpone the final day of doom. This deluxe, hardcover edition is illustrated throughout with specially commissioned, original artwork and beautifully illustrated lineages, making it a true collector's item.

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The Threshold of Democracy - Josiah Ober, Naomi J. Norman & Mark C Carnes Cover Art

The Threshold of Democracy

The Threshold of Democracy Athens in 403 BCE by Josiah Ober, Naomi J. Norman & Mark C Carnes

The Threshold of Democracy re-creates the intellectual dynamics of one of the most formative periods in Western history. In the wake of Athenian military defeat and rebellion, advocates of democracy have reopened the Assembly, but stability remains elusive. As members of the Assembly, players must contend with divisive issues like citizenship, elections, remilitarization, and dissent. Foremost among the troublemakers: Socrates.

21

The Histories - Herodotus, Tom Holland & Paul Cartledge Cover Art

The Histories

The Histories by Herodotus, Tom Holland & Paul Cartledge

Herodotus is not only the father of the art and the science of historical writing but also one of the Western tradition's most compelling storytellers. In tales such as that of Gyges—who murders Candaules, the king of Lydia, and unsurps his throne and his marriage bed, thereby bringing on, generations later, war with the Persians—he laid bare the intricate human entanglements at the core of great historical events. In his love for the stranger, more marvelous facts of the world, he infused his magnificent history with a continuous awareness of the mythic and the wonderful.

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The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Edward Gibbon Cover Art

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 1 by Edward Gibbon

In judging the 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' it should carefully be observed that it falls into two parts which are heterogeneous in the method of treatment. The first part, a little more than five-eighths of the work, supplies a very full history of 460 years (A.D. 180–641); the second and smaller part is a summary history of about 800 years (A.D. 641–1453) in which certain episodes are selected for fuller treatment and so made prominent. To the first part unstinted praise must be accorded; it may be said that, with the materials at the author's disposition, it hardly admitted of improvement, except in trifling details. But the second, notwithstanding the brilliancy of the narrative and the masterly art in the grouping of events, suffers from a radical defect which renders it a misleading guide. The author designates the story of the later empire at Constantinople (after Heraclius) as "a uniform tale of weakness and misery," a judgment which is entirely false; and in accordance with this doctrine, he makes the empire, which is his proper subject, merely a string for connecting great movements which affected it, such as the Saracen conquests, the Crusades, the Mongol invasions, the Turkish conquests. He failed to bring out the momentous fact that up to the 12th century the empire was the bulwark of Europe against the East, nor did he appreciate its importance in preserving the heritage of Greek civilization. He compressed into a single chapter the domestic history and policy of the emperors from the son of Heraclius to Isaac Angelus; and did no justice to the remarkable ability and the indefatigable industry shown in the service of the state by most of the sovereigns from Leo III. to Basil II. He did not penetrate into the deeper causes underlying the revolutions and palace intrigues. His eye rested only on superficial characteristics which have served to associate the name "Byzantine" with treachery, cruelty, bigotry and decadence. It was reserved for Finlay to depict, with greater knowledge and a juster perception, the lights and shades of Byzantine history. Thus the later part of the Decline and Fall, while the narrative of certain episodes will always be read with profit, does not convey a true idea of the history of the empire or of its significance in the history of Europe. It must be added that the pages on the Slavonic peoples and their relations to the empire are conspicuously insufficient; but it must be taken into account that it was not till many years after Gibbon's death that Slavonic history began to receive due attention, in consequence of the rise of competent scholars among the Slavs themselves. This is volume one out of twelve.

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The Egyptian Book of the Dead - E. Wallis Budge Cover Art

The Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Egyptian Book of the Dead by E. Wallis Budge

The Egyptian Books of the Dead  is unquestionably one of the most influential books in all of history. Embodying a ritual to be performed for the dead, with detailed instructions for the behavior of the disembodied spirit in the Land of the Gods, it served as the most important repository of religious authority for some three thousand years. Chapters were carved on the pyramids of the ancient 5th Dynasty, texts were written in papyrus, and selections were painted on mummy cases well into the Christian Era. In a certain sense it stood behind all Egyptian civilization.

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In Search of the Phoenicians - Josephine Quinn Cover Art

In Search of the Phoenicians

In Search of the Phoenicians by Josephine Quinn

Who were the ancient Phoenicians, and did they actually exist? The Phoenicians traveled the Mediterranean long before the Greeks and Romans, trading, establishing settlements, and refining the art of navigation. But who these legendary sailors really were has long remained a mystery. In Search of the Phoenicians makes the startling claim that the “Phoenicians” never actually existed. Taking readers from the ancient world to today, this monumental book argues that the notion of these sailors as a coherent people with a shared identity, history, and culture is a product of modern nationalist ideologies—and a notion very much at odds with the ancient sources. Josephine Quinn shows how the belief in this historical mirage has blinded us to the compelling identities and communities these people really constructed for themselves in the ancient Mediterranean, based not on ethnicity or nationhood but on cities, family, colonial ties, and religious practices. She traces how the idea of “being Phoenician” first emerged in support of the imperial ambitions of Carthage and then Rome, and only crystallized as a component of modern national identities in contexts as far-flung as Ireland and Lebanon. In Search of the Phoenicians delves into the ancient literary, epigraphic, numismatic, and artistic evidence for the construction of identities by and for the Phoenicians, ranging from the Levant to the Atlantic, and from the Bronze Age to late antiquity and beyond. A momentous scholarly achievement, this book also explores the prose, poetry, plays, painting, and polemic that have enshrined these fabled seafarers in nationalist histories from sixteenth-century England to twenty-first century Tunisia.

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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt - Toby Wilkinson Cover Art

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Magisterial . . . [A] rich portrait of ancient Egypt’s complex evolution over the course of three millenniums.”— Los Angeles Times   NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly   In this landmark volume, one of the world’s most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its absorption into the Roman Empire. Drawing upon forty years of archaeological research, award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson takes us inside a tribal society with a pre-monetary economy and decadent, divine kings who ruled with all-too-recognizable human emotions. Here are the legendary leaders: Akhenaten, the “heretic king,” who with his wife Nefertiti brought about a revolution with a bold new religion; Tutankhamun, whose dazzling tomb would remain hidden for three millennia; and eleven pharaohs called Ramesses, the last of whom presided over the militarism, lawlessness, and corruption that caused a political and societal decline. Filled with new information and unique interpretations, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt is a riveting and revelatory work of wild drama, bold spectacle, unforgettable characters, and sweeping history.   “With a literary flair and a sense for a story well told, Mr. Wilkinson offers a highly readable, factually up-to-date account.”— The Wall Street Journal   “[Wilkinson] writes with considerable verve. . . . [He] is nimble at conveying the sumptuous pageantry and cultural sophistication of pharaonic Egypt.”— The New York Times

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Cicero - Anthony Everitt Cover Art

Cicero

Cicero The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician by Anthony Everitt

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “An excellent introduction to a critical period in the history of Rome. Cicero comes across much as he must have lived: reflective, charming and rather vain.”— The Wall Street Journal “All ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher combined.”—John Adams He squared off against Caesar and was friends with young Brutus. He advised the legendary Pompey on his botched transition from military hero to politician. He lambasted Mark Antony and was master of the smear campaign, as feared for his wit as he was for his ruthless disputations. Brilliant, voluble, cranky, a genius of political manipulation but also a true patriot and idealist, Cicero was Rome’s most feared politician, one of the greatest lawyers and statesmen of all times.  In this dynamic and engaging biography, Anthony Everitt plunges us into the fascinating, scandal-ridden world of ancient Rome in its most glorious heyday—when senators were endlessly filibustering legislation and exposing one another’s sexual escapades to discredit the opposition. Accessible to us through his legendary speeches but also through an unrivaled collection of unguarded letters to his close friend Atticus, Cicero comes to life as a witty and cunning political operator, the most eloquent and astute witness to the last days of Republican Rome. Praise for Cicero “ [Everitt makes] his subject—brilliant, vain, principled, opportunistic and courageous—come to life after two millennia.” — The Washington Post “ Gripping . . . Everitt combines a classical education with practical expertise. . . . He writes fluidly.” — The New York Times “In the half-century before the assassination of Julius Caesar . . . Rome endured a series of crises, assassinations, factional bloodletting, civil wars and civil strife, including at one point government by gang war. This period, when republican government slid into dictatorship, is one of history’s most fascinating, and one learns a great deal about it in this excellent and very readable biography.” — The Plain Dealer “Riveting . . . a clear-eyed biography . . . Cicero’s times . . . offer vivid lessons about the viciousness that can pervade elected government.” — Chicago Tribune “Lively and dramatic . . . By the book’s end, he’s managed to put enough flesh on Cicero’s old bones that you care when the agents of his implacable enemy, Mark Antony, kill him.” — Los Angeles Times

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The Ghosts of Cannae - Robert L. O'Connell Cover Art

The Ghosts of Cannae

The Ghosts of Cannae Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic by Robert L. O'Connell

NATIONAL BESTSELLER For millennia, Carthage’s triumph over Rome at Cannae in 216 B.C. has inspired reverence and awe. No general since has matched Hannibal’s most unexpected, innovative, and brutal military victory. Now Robert L. O’Connell, one of the most admired names in military history, tells the whole story of Cannae for the first time, giving us a stirring account of this apocalyptic battle, its causes and consequences. O’Connell brilliantly conveys how Rome amassed a giant army to punish Carthage’s masterful commander, how Hannibal outwitted enemies that outnumbered him, and how this disastrous pivot point in Rome’s history ultimately led to the republic’s resurgence and the creation of its empire. Piecing together decayed shreds of ancient reportage, the author paints powerful portraits of the leading players, from Hannibal—resolutely sane and uncannily strategic—to Scipio Africanus, the self-promoting Roman military tribune. Finally, O’Connell reveals how Cannae’s legend has inspired and haunted military leaders ever since, and the lessons it teaches for our own wars.

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The Greek Way - Edith Hamilton Cover Art

The Greek Way

The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton

Edith Hamilton buoyantly captures the spirit and achievements of the Greek civilization for our modern world. In The Greek Way, Edith Hamilton captures with "Homeric power and simplicity" (New York Times) the spirit of the golden age of Greece in the fifth century BC, the time of its highest achievements. She explores the Greek aesthetics of sculpture and writing and the lack of ornamentation in both. She examines the works of Homer, Pindar, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, and Euripides, among others; the philosophy of Socrates and Plato’s role in preserving it; the historical accounts by Herodotus and Thucydides on the Greek wars with Persia and Sparta and by Xenophon on civilized living.

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The Story of the Jews Volume Two - Simon Schama Cover Art

The Story of the Jews Volume Two

The Story of the Jews Volume Two Belonging: 1492-1900 by Simon Schama

In the second of two volumes of this magnificently illustrated cultural history—the tie-in to the PBS and BBC series The Story of the Jews—Simon Schama details the story of the Jewish people, spanning from their expulsion from Spain during the Inquisition across six hundred years to the present day. It is a story like no other: an epic of endurance against destruction, of creativity in the face of oppression, joy amidst grief, the affirmation of life against the steepest of odds. It spans the centuries and the continents—from the Iberian Peninsula and the collapse of “the golden age” to the shtetls of Russia to the dusty streets of infant Hollywood. Its voices ring loud and clear, from the philosophical musings of Spinoza to the poetry written on slips of paper in concentration camps. Within these pages, the Enlightenment unfolds, a great diaspora transforms a country, a Viennese psychiatrist forever changes the conception of the human mind. And a great story unfolds. Not—as often imagined—of a people apart, but of a Jewish culture immersed in and imprinted by the peoples among whom they have dwelled. Which, as Simon Schama so brilliantly demonstrates, makes the story of the Jews everyone’s story, too. The Story of the Jews Volume 2 features 24 pages of color photos, numerous maps, and printed endpapers.

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Delphi Complete Works of Cicero - Cicero Cover Art

Delphi Complete Works of Cicero

Delphi Complete Works of Cicero by Cicero

Cicero's Rome's greatest orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero was a renowned philosopher and political theorist whose influence upon the history of European literature has been immense.  For the first time in digital publishing history, readers can now enjoy Cicero’s complete works in English and Latin on their eReaders, with beautiful illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Cicero's life and works * Features the complete works of Cicero, in both English translation and the original Latin * Concise introductions to the orations, treatises and other works * The complete speeches, with rare fragments, arranged in precise chronological order * Includes many translations previously appearing in Loeb Classical Library editions of Cicero’s works * Excellent formatting of the texts * Easily locate the orations or treatises you want to read with individual contents tables * Includes rare fragments of Cicero's epic poem, first time in digital print * Many rare treatises appearing here for the first time in digital print * Features four biographies – immerse yourself in Cicero's ancient world! * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: Orations PRO QUINCTIO PRO ROSCIO AMERINO  PRO Q. ROSCIO COMOEDO  PRO TULLIO DIVINATIO IN CAECILIUM IN VERREM  PRO FONTEIO  PRO CAECINA  PRO LEGE MANILIA PRO CLUENTIO IN TOGA CANDIDA PRO RABIRIO PERDUELLIONIS REO  PRO MURENA  IN CATILINAM I-IV  DE LEGE AGRARIA CONTRA RULLUM PRO SULLA  PRO ARCHIA POETA) PRO FLACCO POST REDITUM IN SENATU  POST REDITUM IN QUIRITES  DE HARUSPICUM RESPONSIS  DE DOMO SUA PRO SESTIO PRO CAELIO  PRO BALBO  IN VATINIUM TESTEM  DE PROVINCIIS CONSULARIBUS  IN PISONEM PRO RABIRIO POSTUMO  PRO PLANCIO  PRO MILONE PRO REGE DEIOTARO PRO MARCELLO  PRO LIGARIO PHILIPPICAE  FRAGMENTS OF SPEECHES Rhetorical and Political Treatises DE INVENTIONE (About the Composition of Arguments) DE ORATORE AD QUINTUM FRATREM LIBRI TRES (On the Orator) DE PARTITIONIBUS ORATORIAE (About the Subdivisions of Oratory) DE OPTIMO GENERE ORATORUM (About the Best Kind of Orators) DE RE PUBLICA (On the Republic) BRUTUS (Short History of Orators) ORATOR AD M. BRUTUM (About the Orator) TOPICA (Topics of Argumentation) DE LEGIBUS (On the Laws) Philosophical Treatises PARADOXA STOICORUM (Stoic Paradoxes) ACADEMICA (The Academics) DE FINIBUS BONORUM ET MALORUM (About the Ends of Goods and Evils) TUSCULANAE QUAESTIONES (Tusculum Disputations) DE NATURA DEORUM (On the Nature of the Gods) DE DIVINATIONE (On Divination) DE FATO (On Fate) CATO MAIOR DE SENECTUTE (On Old Age) LAELIUS DE AMICITIA (On Friendship) DE OFFICIIS (On Duties) Letters EPISTULAE AD ATTICUM (Letters to Atticus) EPISTULAE AD QUINTUM FRATREM (Letters to his brother Quintus) EPISTULAE AD BRUTUM (Letters to Brutus) EPISTULAE AD FAMILIARES (Letters to his friends) Poetry DE CONSULATU SUO (On Cicero’s Consulship) Spurious Works RHETORICA AD HERENNIUM (To the Tribune Publius Sulpicius Rufus) COMMENTARIOLUM PETITIONIS (Essay on Running for Consul) The Latin Texts LIST OF LATIN TEXTS The Biographies CICERO by Plutarch LIFE OF CICERO by Anthony Trollope CICERO by W. Lucas Collins ROMAN LIFE IN THE DAYS OF CICERO by Alfred John Church Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles

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Hannibal - Ernle Bradford Cover Art

Hannibal

Hannibal by Ernle Bradford

The life of the great military commander of ancient Carthage from the bestselling author of Thermopylae and Gibraltar.   Born in Carthage in 247 BC, Hannibal Barca is considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time. Following the example set by his father, Hamilcar, he dedicated his life to the defeat of Rome. At the outbreak of the Second Punic War, Hannibal famously led an army across the Pyrenees and the Alps to victory against the Romans at the Battle of Trebia. In the years that followed, Hannibal led the Carthaginian war on Rome through some of the most brutal and costly battles in recorded history.   In this richly detailed biography, Ernle Bradford tells the story of a great leader whose military strategies have been studied and copied by commanders throughout history, from his own Roman enemies to Napoleon Bonaparte.  

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A History of the Dark Ages - From the Triumph of Constantine to the Empire of Charlemagne - J.B. Bury Cover Art

A History of the Dark Ages - From the Triumph of Constantine to the Empire of Charlemagne

A History of the Dark Ages - From the Triumph of Constantine to the Empire of Charlemagne by J.B. Bury

An excellent, massive history covering the period known as the "Dark Ages".  Spanning from the rise and triumph of Constantine, through the Fall of Rome and the subsequent collapse of the Western Roman Empire, to the attempted restoration of the Byzantines in the West and the conquests of the Islamic Arabs, culminating in the imperial coronation of Charles the Great and the laying of the foundation of the medieval period.  This is a history of war and terror, of faith and ignorance, of the collision of peoples and leaders bent on nothing more than complete conquest and domination.  This is the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire, and the beginning of the end for the Byzantines. This is the history of a critical age of humankind, where the light of learning was a tiny glimmer in an ocean of darkness. The seeds of thought that would push the peoples of Europe out of anarchy and chaos and into the feudal stage would be sown by the conquests of a magnificent warrior king, and a holy church that refused to abandon the power it had so skillfully gained.  This is a history of...the Dark Ages.

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The Ark Before Noah - Irving Finkel Cover Art

The Ark Before Noah

The Ark Before Noah Decoding the Story of the Flood by Irving Finkel

The recent translation of a Babylonian tablet launches a groundbreaking investigation into one of the most famous stories in the world, challenging the way we look at ancient history.   Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then, in 2009, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia, found himself playing detective when a member of the public arrived at the museum with an intriguing cuneiform tablet from a family collection. Not only did the tablet reveal a new version of the Babylonian Flood Story; the ancient poet described the size and completely unexpected shape of the ark, and gave detailed boat building specifications. Decoding this ancient message wedge by cuneiform wedge, Dr. Finkel discovered where the Babylonians believed the ark came to rest and developed a new explanation of how the old story ultimately found its way into the Bible. In The Ark Before Noah , Dr. Finkel takes us on an adventurous voyage of discovery, opening the door to an enthralling world of ancient voices and new meanings.

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Assyria - Eckart Frahm Cover Art

Assyria

Assyria The Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire by Eckart Frahm

A new history of Assyria, the ancient civilization that set the model for future empires    At its height in 660 BCE, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. It was the first empire the world had ever seen. Here, historian Eckart Frahm tells the epic story of Assyria and its formative role in global history. Assyria’s wide-ranging conquests have long been known from the Hebrew Bible and later Greek accounts. But nearly two centuries of research now permit a rich picture of the Assyrians and their empire beyond the battlefield: their vast libraries and monumental sculptures, their elaborate trade and information networks, and the crucial role played by royal women.     Although Assyria was crushed by rising powers in the late seventh century BCE, its legacy endured from the Babylonian and Persian empires to Rome and beyond. Assyria is a stunning and authoritative account of a civilization essential to understanding the ancient world and our own. 

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Emperors of Rome - David Potter Cover Art

Emperors of Rome

Emperors of Rome The Story of Imperial Rome from Julius Caesar to the Last Emperor by David Potter

The Emperors of Rome charts the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through profiles of the greatest and most notorious of the emperors, from the autocratic Augustus to the feeble Claudius, the vicious Nero to the beneficent Marcus Aurelius, through to the maniac Commodus and beyond. Interwoven with these are vivid descriptions of sports and art, political intrigues and historic events. In this entertaining and erudite work, acclaimed classical scholar David Potter brings Imperial Rome, and the lives of the men who ruled it, to vivid life.

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Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome (Illustrated Edition) - E.M. Berens Cover Art

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome (Illustrated Edition)

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome (Illustrated Edition) by E.M. Berens

*Illustrated with the original illustrations *Includes a Table of Contents Myths and legends were very popular around the world during the 19th century, with writers like Bulfinch creating compendiums of legends across the ages. Perhaps none fascinate people more than the Ancient Greek and Roman gods, mythology that continues to be instantly familiar across the globe.  In the late 19th century, E.M. Berens put together a comprehensive collection of all the major and minor gods of Rome and Greece, with descriptions of festivals and retellings of major mythological stories. This edition of Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and pictures. 

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Insane Emperors, Sunken Cities, and Earthquake Machines - Garrett Ryan Cover Art

Insane Emperors, Sunken Cities, and Earthquake Machines

Insane Emperors, Sunken Cities, and Earthquake Machines More Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans by Garrett Ryan

Did the ancient Greeks and Romans have conspiracy theories? Did they come close to an industrial revolution? Did they drink beer? In a series of fast-paced essays, Insane Emperors, Sunken Cities, and Earthquake Machines answers 40 questions that ancient historian Garrett Ryan has been asked in the classroom and through his popular YouTube channel ToldinStone. As in Dr. Ryan's previous book - Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants - the emphasis is on the fascinating details of daily life in the classical world. Discover the answers to: Did the ancient Greeks and Romans have tattoos? Did they practice Buddhism? Did they know when the Pyramids were built? Did a tsunami inspire the Story of Atlantis? How deadly was the eruption that destroyed Pompeii? What was it like to live through the fall of the Roman Empire? Why are ancient cities buried? What happened to the treasures of the Roman emperors? How much was lost when the Library of Alexandria burned?

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The Dwellers on the Nile - E. A. Wallis Budge Cover Art

The Dwellers on the Nile

The Dwellers on the Nile The Life, History, Religion and Literature of the Ancient Egyptians by E. A. Wallis Budge

In addition to his 40-year career at the British Museum, Sir Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge was a prolific and popular author who specialized in books on ancient Egypt. The Dwellers on the Nile remains among the most comprehensive and readable histories of daily life in ancient Egypt, covering the Egyptian family and school; furniture, jewelry, food and drink; society, work, and play; Egyptian religion and its numerous gods, temples, and priests; Egyptian writing — hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic, and Coptic; literature, medicine, astrology, and alchemy. The book concludes with an exploration of practices related to burial of the dead and beliefs concerning the afterlife. Using information from the excavations of tombs and excerpts from papyri, tomb inscriptions, and other sources, Budge brings to life the ancient culture of the Nile dwellers. The text is profusely illustrated with many reproductions of Egyptian art and artifacts. The great wealth of detail, primary information, and original interpretation make this volume indispensable to students and other readers interested in classical civilization and comparative religion.

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The Treasury of Ancient Egypt - Arthur Edward Pearse Brome Weigall Cover Art

The Treasury of Ancient Egypt

The Treasury of Ancient Egypt by Arthur Edward Pearse Brome Weigall

This volume contains twelve chapters, written at various times and in various places, each dealing with some subject drawn from the great treasury of Ancient Egypt. From the contents: The Value Of Archæology. The Egyptian Empire. The Necessity Of Archæology To The Gaiety Of The World. The Temperament Of The Ancient Egyptians. The Misfortunes Of Wenamon. The Story Of The Shipwrecked Sailor. The Tomb Of Tiy And Akhnaton. The Tomb Of Horemheb. Theban Thieves. The Flooding Of Lower Nubia. Archæology In The Open.

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A Cidade Antiga - Numa-Denys Fustel de Coulanges Cover Art

A Cidade Antiga

A Cidade Antiga Um Estudo da Religião, do Direito e das Instituições da Grécia e Roma by Numa-Denys Fustel de Coulanges

“ A Cidade Antiga ” , obra prima de Fustel de Coulanges , é um profundo estudo do mundo greco-romano desde seus primórdios. A obra relata como se deu o surgimento das cidades da Grécia e da península italiana e o forte fator da influencia religiosa e da estrutura familiar no mundo antigo.  Baseado em registros históricos de Atenas, Esparta, Tróia e Roma mostra a formação do sistema de classes que herdamos, da transição do politeísmo para a civilização moderna de origem greco-latina e a civilização judaico-cristã; a compreensão do direito moderno a partir das conquistas progressivas do "homem antigo". Fustel deixou uma contribuição considerável para algo que estava praticamente esquecido, aproveite a obra e conheça mais sobre nossos antepassados, fundadores da sociedade ocidental.

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A Brief History of the Roman Empire - Stephen P. Kershaw Cover Art

A Brief History of the Roman Empire

A Brief History of the Roman Empire by Stephen P. Kershaw

In this lively and very readable history of the Roman Empire from its establishment in 27 BC to the barbarian incursions and the fall of Rome in AD 476, Kershaw draws on a range of evidence, from Juvenal's Satires to recent archaeological finds. He examines extraordinary personalities such as Caligula and Nero and seismic events such as the conquest of Britain and the establishment of a 'New Rome' at Constantinople and the split into eastern and western empires. Along the way we encounter gladiators and charioteers, senators and slaves, fascinating women, bizarre sexual practices and grotesque acts of brutality, often seen through eyes of some of the world's greatest writers. He concludes with a brief look at how Rome lives on in the contemporary world, in politics, architecture, art and literature.

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The Storm Before the Storm - Mike Duncan Cover Art

The Storm Before the Storm

The Storm Before the Storm The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike Duncan

From the creator of the award-winning podcast series The History of Rome and Revolutions comes the "remarkably engaging" ( Washington Post ) history of the bloody battles, political machinations, and human drama that set the stage for the fall of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. Beginning as a small city-state in central Italy, Rome gradually expanded into a wider world filled with petty tyrants, barbarian chieftains, and despotic kings. Through the centuries, Rome's model of cooperative and participatory government remained remarkably durable and unmatched in the history of the ancient world. In 146 BC, Rome finally emerged as the strongest power in the Mediterranean. But the very success of the Republic proved to be its undoing. The republican system was unable to cope with the vast empire Rome now ruled: rising economic inequality disrupted traditional ways of life, endemic social and ethnic prejudice led to clashes over citizenship and voting rights, and rampant corruption and ruthless ambition sparked violent political clashes that cracked the once indestructible foundations of the Republic. Chronicling the years 146-78 BC, The Storm Before the Storm dives headlong into the first generation to face this treacherous new political environment. Abandoning the ancient principles of their forbearers, men like Marius, Sulla, and the Gracchi brothers set dangerous new precedents that would start the Republic on the road to destruction and provide a stark warning about what can happen to a civilization that has lost its way.

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Rubicon - Tom Holland Cover Art

Rubicon

Rubicon The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland

A vivid historical account of the social world of Rome as it moved from republic to empire. “A fascinating picture of Roman city life. . . . In every aspect of this story, Holland expertly makes the Romans, so alien and yet so familiar, relevant to us.” – Los Angeles Times “Stunning. . . . Holland keeps his narrative moving at chariot-race speed.” – Newsday In 49 B.C., the seven hundred fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland’s enthralling account tells the story of Caesar’s generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Augustus, here are some of the most legendary figures in history brought thrillingly to life. Combining verve and freshness with scrupulous scholarship, Rubicon is not only an engrossing history of this pivotal era but a uniquely resonant portrait of a great civilization in all its extremes of self-sacrifice and rivalry, decadence and catastrophe, intrigue, war, and world-shaking ambition.

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Stolen Legacy - George G. M. James Cover Art

Stolen Legacy

Stolen Legacy by George G. M. James

For centuries the world has been misled about the original source of the Arts and Sciences; for centuries Socrates, Plato and Aristotle have been falsely idolized as models of intellectual greatness; and for centuries the African continent has been called the Dark Continent, because Europe coveted the honor of transmitting to the world, the Arts and Sciences. It is indeed surprising how, for centuries, the Greeks have been praised by the Western World for intellectual accomplishments which belong without a doubt to the Egyptians or the peoples of North Africa.

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The Fires of Vesuvius - Mary Beard Cover Art

The Fires of Vesuvius

The Fires of Vesuvius Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard

Pompeii is the most famous archaeological site in the world, visited by more than two million people each year. Yet it is also one of the most puzzling, with an intriguing and sometimes violent history, from the sixth century BCE to the present day. Destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 CE, the ruins of Pompeii offer the best evidence we have of life in the Roman Empire. But the eruptions are only part of the story. In The Fires of Vesuvius , acclaimed historian Mary Beard makes sense of the remains. She explores what kind of town it was—more like Calcutta or the Costa del Sol?—and what it can tell us about “ordinary” life there. From sex to politics, food to religion, slavery to literacy, Beard offers us the big picture even as she takes us close enough to the past to smell the bad breath and see the intestinal tapeworms of the inhabitants of the lost city. She resurrects the Temple of Isis as a testament to ancient multiculturalism. At the Suburban Baths we go from communal bathing to hygiene to erotica. Recently, Pompeii has been a focus of pleasure and loss: from Pink Floyd’s memorable rock concert to Primo Levi’s elegy on the victims. But Pompeii still does not give up its secrets quite as easily as it may seem. This book shows us how much more and less there is to Pompeii than a city frozen in time as it went about its business on 24 August 79.

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Women & Power: A Manifesto - Mary Beard Cover Art

Women & Power: A Manifesto

Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard

New York Times Bestseller One of the Guardian's "100 Best Books of the 21st Century" — "A modern feminist classic." From the internationally acclaimed classicist and New York Times best-selling author comes this timely manifesto on women and power. At long last, Mary Beard addresses in one brave book the misogynists and trolls who mercilessly attack and demean women the world over, including, very often, Mary herself. In Women & Power, she traces the origins of this misogyny to its ancient roots, examining the pitfalls of gender and the ways that history has mistreated strong women since time immemorial. As far back as Homer’s Odyssey, Beard shows, women have been prohibited from leadership roles in civic life, public speech being defined as inherently male. From Medusa to Philomela (whose tongue was cut out), from Hillary Clinton to Elizabeth Warren (who was told to sit down), Beard draws illuminating parallels between our cultural assumptions about women’s relationship to power—and how powerful women provide a necessary example for all women who must resist being vacuumed into a male template. With personal reflections on her own online experiences with sexism, Beard asks: If women aren’t perceived to be within the structure of power, isn’t it power itself we need to redefine? And how many more centuries should we be expected to wait?

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Theogony - Hesiod Cover Art

Theogony

Theogony by Hesiod

Hesiod (circa 750650 B.C.) was one of Ancient Greeks first epic bards and is considered one of the greatest.Along with Homer, Hesiods works are the oldest to survive from Ancient Greece.Hesiod wrote on a variety of topics such as mythology, economics, farming and others.

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The Rise of Rome - Anthony Everitt Cover Art

The Rise of Rome

The Rise of Rome The Making of the World's Greatest Empire by Anthony Everitt

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE  KANSAS CITY STAR From Anthony Everitt, the bestselling author of acclaimed biographies of Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian , comes a riveting, magisterial account of Rome and its remarkable ascent from an obscure agrarian backwater to the greatest empire the world has ever known.   Emerging as a market town from a cluster of hill villages in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., Rome grew to become the ancient world’s preeminent power. Everitt fashions the story of Rome’s rise to glory into an erudite page-turner filled with lasting lessons for our time. He chronicles the clash between patricians and plebeians that defined the politics of the Republic. He shows how Rome’s shrewd strategy of offering citizenship to her defeated subjects was instrumental in expanding the reach of her burgeoning empire. And he outlines the corrosion of constitutional norms that accompanied Rome’s imperial expansion, as old habits of political compromise gave way, leading to violence and civil war. In the end, unimaginable wealth and power corrupted the traditional virtues of the Republic, and Rome was left triumphant everywhere except within its own borders.   Everitt paints indelible portraits of the great Romans—and non-Romans—who left their mark on the world out of which the mighty empire grew: Cincinnatus, Rome’s George Washington, the very model of the patrician warrior/aristocrat; the brilliant general Scipio Africanus, who turned back a challenge from the Carthaginian legend Hannibal; and Alexander the Great, the invincible Macedonian conqueror who became a role model for generations of would-be Roman rulers. Here also are the intellectual and philosophical leaders whose observations on the art of government and “the good life” have inspired every Western power from antiquity to the present: Cato the Elder, the famously incorruptible statesman who spoke out against the decadence of his times, and Cicero, the consummate orator whose championing of republican institutions put him on a collision course with Julius Caesar and whose writings on justice and liberty continue to inform our political discourse today.   Rome’s decline and fall have long fascinated historians, but the story of how the empire was won is every bit as compelling. With The Rise of Rome , one of our most revered chroniclers of the ancient world tells that tale in a way that will galvanize, inform, and enlighten modern readers. Praise for The Rise of Rome   “Fascinating history and a great read.” — Chicago Sun-Times   “An engrossing history of a relentlessly pugnacious city’s 500-year rise to empire.” —Kirkus Reviews   “Rome’s history abounds with remarkable figures. . . . Everitt writes for the informed and the uninformed general reader alike, in a brisk, conversational style, with a modern attitude of skepticism and realism.” — The Dallas Morning News   “[A] lively and readable account . . . Roman history has an uncanny ability to resonate with contemporary events.” — Maclean’s   “Elegant, swift and faultless as an introduction to his subject.” —The Spectator “[An] engaging work that will captivate and inform from beginning to end.” —Booklist

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Carthage Must Be Destroyed - Richard Miles Cover Art

Carthage Must Be Destroyed

Carthage Must Be Destroyed The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization by Richard Miles

The first full-scale history of Hannibal's Carthage in decades and "a convincing and enthralling narrative." ( The Economist ) Drawing on a wealth of new research, archaeologist, historian, and master storyteller Richard Miles resurrects the civilization that ancient Rome struggled so mightily to expunge. This monumental work charts the entirety of Carthage's history, from its origins among the Phoenician settlements of Lebanon to its apotheosis as a Mediterranean empire whose epic land-and-sea clash with Rome made a legend of Hannibal and shaped the course of Western history. Carthage Must Be Destroyed reintroduces readers to the ancient glory of a lost people and their generations-long struggle against an implacable enemy.

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MEDITACIONES - Marco Aurelio - Marco Aurélio Cover Art

MEDITACIONES - Marco Aurelio

MEDITACIONES - Marco Aurelio by Marco Aurélio

Marco Aurelio Antonino (en latín: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, conocido como Marco Aurelio, fue un emperador del Imperio romano desde el año 161 hasta el año de su muerte, en 180. Fue el último de los llamados Cinco Buenos Emperadores. La gran obra de Marco Aurelio, Meditaciones , escrita en griego helenístico durante las campañas de la década de 170, todavía está considerada como un monumento al gobierno perfecto. Se la suele describir como una obra escrita de manera exquisita y con infinita ternura, un tesoro filosófico. Estas reflexiones profundas, escritas como notas personales, ofrecen una visión íntima de los pensamientos de Marco Aurelio sobre la vida, el deber, la moral y la mortalidad. No estaban destinadas a la publicación, sino como un ejercicio de auto perfeccionamiento. Meditaciones es una brújula de sabiduría práctica que trasciende los siglos, inspirando a lectores en busca de orientación filosófica y consejos para una vida plena y significativa