Best of
Ancient-History

1986

The Oxford History of the Classical World


John Boardman - 1986
    Following a format similar to that of The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain, this brings together the work of 30 authorities & organizes their contributions into three main sections. The 1st covers Greece from the 8th to the 4th centuries, a period unparalleled in history for its brilliance in literature, philosophy & the visual arts. The 2nd deals with the Hellenization of the Middle East by the monarchies established in the areas conquered by Alexander the Great, the growth of Rome & the impact of the two cultures on one another. The 3rd covers the foundation of the Roman Empire by Augustus & its consolidation in the 1st two centuries AD. A concluding essay discusses certain aspects of the later Empire & its influence on Western civilization, notably thru the adoption of Christianity. Within each section, chapters dealing with political & social history alternate with ones on literature, philosophy & the arts. Maps & chronological charts--not to mention over 250 illustrations, 16 in color--enrich the basic text, along with bibliographies & an index. John Boardman is Lincoln Professor of Classical Archeology at the University of Oxford. Jasper Griffin & Oswyn Murray are Fellows of Balliol College, Oxford.

A Guide to the Ancient World


Michael Grant - 1986
    In this unique atlas, one of our most distinguished classical historians describes nearly 900 locations throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa that figure prominently in the history and literature of the ancient world. Covering a period from the first millennium B.C., when the Greek city-states emerged, to the fall of the western Roman Empire in the late fifth century A.D., Grant re-creates these geographical sites in detail, relating events, recounting stories, and providing profiles of the people inextricably linked to the history of each place. Based on such varied sources as classical writings, contemporary history, and evidence from archaeology, this fascinating gazeteer opens a window onto a long-vanished world of farflung and varied influences.

A History of Greece to 322 B.C.


N.G.L. Hammond - 1986
    Although the book's primary focus is on the political and military history of the Greek states, the prehistoric period and the intellectual, social, and economic backgrounds are also covered. N.G.L. Hammond's work thoroughly documents its ancient sources, and directs readers to further studies in the field. Updated and revised, the third edition adds new material on the significance of the spread of tumulus-burial in Albania and the Mycenaean world, the dating of early coinage, the decree of Themistocles, and on aspects of the rule of Alexander the Great. Wide-ranging in scope, yet rich in detail, this work adds a modern perspective to the study of a fascinating ancient culture.

Tales of Pan


Mordicai Gerstein - 1986
    A collection of tales about the Greek god Pan and his relatives and some of the grand and silly things they did.

Out of the Fiery Furnace: The Impact of Metals on the History of Mankind


Robert Raymond - 1986
    

In the World of Sumer: An Autobiography


Samuel Noah Kramer - 1986
    

The Education of Julius Caesar: A Biography, a Reconstruction


Arthur David Kahn - 1986
    In this meticulously researched and absorbing biography, Arthur Kahn brings Caesar alive and explores the spirit of his age with intensity, illuminating the politics, the technological and scientific developments, military struggles, and the artistic and philosophical ferment.

The Athenian Trireme: The History and Reconstruction of an Ancient Greek Warship


J.S. Morrison - 1986
    Since then, five seasons of experimental trials have been conducted on the ship under oar and sail, and the lessons learned have been supplemented by new archaeological discoveries and by historical, scientific and physiological research over the past fifteen years. For this second edition, the text has been recast and a number of substantive changes have been made. In addition, there is an entirely new chapter that describes the trials of Olympias in detail, reports the performance figures, and outlines the changes desirable in any second reconstruction. There are nineteen new illustrations, including eleven photographs of Olympias at sea demonstrating features of the design that could be represented only by drawings in the first edition.

Homer the Theologian: Neoplatonist Allegorical Reading and the Growth of the Epic Tradition


Robert Lamberton - 1986
    Professor Lamberton argues that this tradition of reading was to create new demands on subsequent epic and thereby alter permanently the nature of European epic. The Neoplatonist reading was to be decisive in the birth of allegorical epic in late antiquity and forms the background for the next major extension of the epic tradition found in Dante.

Etruscan Life and Afterlife: A Handbook of Etruscan Studies


Larissa Bonfante - 1986
    Now, scholars are reconstructing a portrait of the wealthy, sophisticated Etruscans whose territory once extended from the Po River to the Bay of Naples. Unfortunately, the wider English-speaking public has had no single resource which synthesizes these new findings and interpretations about the Etruscans. In fact, some sources continue to propagate the traditional myth of the "enigmatic and isolated Etruscans." In response, the eminent Etruscan scholar Larissa Bonfante asked seven other internationally known classicists to join her in providing this "handbook" for the non-specialist as an authoritative and readable guide to the burgeoning Etruscan scholarship. As Bonfante explains in the introductory chapter, "The Etruscans provide an excellent opportunity of turning archaeology into history: this we tried to do, in our chapters, according to our individual directions. Nancy Thomson de Grummond traces the interest in and knowledge of the Etruscans from the earliest days. Mario Torelli provides an independent account of Etruscan history, based on monuments and sources. Jean MacIntosh Turfa belies the cliche of the Etruscans' traditional 'isolation' by surveying the material evidence for their trade with the Phoenicians, Greeks, and other neighbors in the Mediterranean. Marie-Fran�oise Briguet, Friedhelm Prayon, David Tripp, and I survey Etruscan art, architecture, coinage, and daily lives, respectively, Emeline Richardson contributes what she calls a 'primer' in the Etruscan language, a basic archaeological introduction to the Etruscan language, meant to help newcomers read the inscriptions on many of the monuments illustrated and to see these with the interdisciplinary approach so characteristic of, and necessary in, Etruscan studies." The book is profusely illustrated with over 300 photos and maps. Notes and bibliographic references lead to standard texts on the Etruscans and to the more specialized literature in the field. The result is a reliable and lively volume which brings readers into the mainstream of the latest Etruscan scholarship.

The Athenian Agora: Excavations in the Heart of Classical Athens


John M. Camp - 1986
    Drawing on the wealth of excavated evidence, and supplemented by literary and inscriptional references, this book tells the story of the Agora from Neolithic to medieval times.

Blue Guide Crete


Pat Cameron - 1986
    Filled with detailed descriptions of villages, towns, churches, archaeological sites, and walks, and useful practical information on transportation, lodgings, and food, this is an indispensable guide to Crete.

The Soul of India


Amaury De Riencourt - 1986
    It concludes with the violent end of Indira Ghandi's leadership which is analyzed in the last chapter.

Social Struggles in Archaic Rome: New Perspectives on the Conflict of the Orders


Kurt A. Raaflaub - 1986
     Analyzes social conflicts between patricians and plebeians in early republican Rome Includes chapters by leading scholars from both sides of the Atlantic illuminating social, economic, legal, religious, military, and political aspects as well as the reliability of historical sources Contributors have written addenda for the new edition, updating their chapters in light of recent scholarship