Best of 24 about ancient civilizations books

As the author once said, "'Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns/driven time and again off course, once he had plundered/the hallowed heights of Troy.'" Robert Fagles' magnificent translation of the Odyssey invites us on an epic journey through the trials and tribulations of Odysseus, a hero whose wit and resilience are tested at every turn. Homer's timeless tale of homecoming, adventure, and the human spirit continues to captivate readers centuries after its creation.

The Odyssey is not merely a story of one man's return home; it is a profound exploration of the human condition. Through Odysseus' encounters with mythical creatures, divine forces, and the perils of the sea, we witness the indomitable spirit of a man determined to overcome adversity. Fagles' vibrant translation breathes new life into Homer's classic, capturing the energy and poetry of the original while making it accessible to contemporary readers. Whether you are a seasoned classicist or a newcomer to ancient literature, this Odyssey is a must-read, offering a transformative journey into the heart of human experience.

In Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari embarks on an ambitious journey, tracing the evolution of humankind from our humble origins as hunter-gatherers to our current status as masters of the planet. Through a captivating narrative that spans tens of thousands of years, he explores the biological, historical, and cultural forces that have shaped our species.

Harari argues that humans are not merely the product of our genes but also of our stories. The myths, religions, and ideologies we create have played a crucial role in our survival and success. Sapiens challenges conventional narratives about human nature, inviting us to rethink our relationship with the environment, technology, and each other. It is a timely and provocative work that will change the way you see yourself and your place in the world.

Awards:

• Royal Society of Biology General Book Prize(2015)
• J. A. Hollon palkinto(2017)

In Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond embarks on a groundbreaking exploration of the factors that have shaped the development of human societies. Diamond argues that geography and environment have played a crucial role in determining which societies flourished and which struggled. He examines the advantages and disadvantages of different continents, climates, and resources, and shows how these factors have influenced the development of agriculture, technology, and warfare.

Diamond's thesis is that the Eurasian landmass had a number of advantages over other continents. It is larger, has a more varied climate, and is home to a greater number of domesticable plants and animals. This gave Eurasian societies a head start in developing agriculture and technology. They were also able to conquer and colonize other continents, thanks to their superior weapons and immunity to diseases. Guns, Germs, and Steel is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that challenges conventional wisdom about the development of human societies. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, geography, or anthropology.

Awards:

• Royal Society Science Book Prize(1998)
• Pulitzer Prize(1998)
• California Book Award(1997)
• Puddly Award(2001)

In The History of the Ancient World, Susan Wise Bauer invites us on an epic journey through the annals of human civilization. From the earliest civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, Bauer weaves together a captivating narrative that spans thousands of years and countless cultures. She draws on a wealth of historical sources, including literature, epic traditions, and private letters, to bring the past to life in a vivid and accessible way.

Bauer's approach is unique in that she tells the stories of all peoples, connecting historical events from Europe to the Middle East to the far coast of China. She gives equal weight to the characteristics of each country while providing a sweeping scope that allows us to see the interconnectedness of human history. The result is a comprehensive and engrossing account of the ancient world that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply rewarding.

As Toby Wilkinson writes, "Ancient Egypt is a story of relentless propaganda, cut-throat politics, brutality, and repression that lay behind the appearance of unchanging monarchy." In The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt, Wilkinson reveals the true nature of this enigmatic civilization, painting a complex and nuanced portrait of its people, culture, and history.

Wilkinson's narrative spans thousands of years, from the earliest pharaohs to the Roman conquest. He draws on the latest archaeological discoveries and scholarly research to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date account of ancient Egypt. Wilkinson's writing is both accessible and engaging, making this book an ideal introduction to the subject for general readers and a valuable resource for students and scholars alike.

Awards:

• Hessell-Tiltman Prize(2011)

Ancient Egypt has always been an enigmatic civilization. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt brings to life that glorious civilization on the Nile, with captivating essays and attractive illustrations. It's a stunningly designed and authoritative account of ancient Egypt from 700,000 BC to the Roman conquest in 311 AD. This up-to-date, single-volume history is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the great civilization of antiquity.

This comprehensive history portrays Egypt's emergence and development, from its prehistoric roots through the rise and fall of ruling dynasties. Blending political events with cultural and social patterns, it illuminates the underlying rhythms of change. The book examines stylistic developments in art and literature, monumental architecture, and funerary practices, describing the changing face of a civilization that shaped the course of human history.

"You can find an alternative cover for this ISBN here. Thucydides called his account of two decades of war between Athens and Sparta 'possession for all time.'" Indeed, The Peloponnesian War is the first and still the most famous work in the Western historical tradition. It's been considered essential reading for generals, statesmen, and liberally educated citizens for over 2,000 years. This comprehensive guide to the war is a mine of military, moral, political, and philosophical wisdom.

This classic book has long presented obstacles to the uninitiated reader. Written centuries before modern historiography, Thucydides' narrative is not continuous or linear. His authoritative chronicle of what he considered the greatest war of all time is rigorous and meticulous, yet omits the many aids to comprehension modern readers take for granted, such as brief biographies of main characters, maps, and background on ancient Greece's military, cultural, and political traditions. Robert Strassler's new edition amends these omissions, providing a new coherence to the narrative overall and effectively reconstructing the lost cultural context that Thucydides shared with his original audience.

In "The Histories" Herodotus, known as the father of history, investigates and judges what he has seen, heard, and read, seeking out the true causes and consequences of the great deeds of the past. In this comprehensive work, the war between the Greeks and Persians, the origins of their enmity, and the civilizations of the ancient world are seen as a unity and expressed as the vision of a single man who lived through the last of the great acts in this universal drama.

Herodotus's unique style combines historical facts with imaginative reality, capturing the essence of storytelling. He emerges as a writer of great charm and complexity, the first historian in the Western tradition, and perhaps unique in his ability to see the interrelation of fact and fantasy. "The Histories" is an essential read for anyone interested in ancient civilizations and the origins of historical writing.

"As private secretary to the Emperor Hadrian, Suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them (along with eye-witness accounts) to produce one of the most colorful biographical works in history." In "The Twelve Caesars" Suetonius chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over Rome, from the foundation of the empire under Julius Caesar and Augustus, to the decline into depravity and civil war under Nero, and the recovery that came with his successors.

This masterpiece of anecdote, wry observation, and detailed physical description presents a gallery of vividly drawn and all-too-human individuals. Robert Graves's celebrated translation, sensitively revised by Michael Grant, captures all the wit and immediacy of Suetonius' original, making "The Twelve Caesars" an essential read for anyone interested in ancient civilizations, Roman history, or the human condition itself.

If you've ever wondered about the ancient Near East and its most prominent empire, then "The Assyrians: The History of the Most Prominent Empire of the Ancient Near East" is the book for you. This comprehensive guide traces the history and legacy of Assyria across several millennia, providing a fascinating look at one of the most powerful and influential civilizations of the ancient world.

"I fought daily, without interruption against Taharqa, King of Egypt and Ethiopia, the one accursed by all the great gods. Five times I hit him with the point of my arrows inflicting wounds from which he should not recover, and then I laid siege to Memphis his royal residence, and conquered it in half a day by means of mines, breaches and assault ladders." - Esarhaddon. Quotes like these bring the brutal reality of Assyrian warfare to life, but the Assyrians were much more than just warriors. They were also excellent merchants, diplomats, and highly literate people who recorded their history and religious rituals in great detail. This book tells the complete story of the Assyrians, from their humble beginnings to their rise to power and ultimate collapse.

If you've ever wondered about the origins of civilization, then "The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character" is the book for you. This comprehensive guide tells the story of the Sumerians, the pragmatic and gifted people who created the first high civilization in the history of man, spanning the fifth to the second millenniums B.C.

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. "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.

This is a book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime! Miraculously preserved on clay tablets dating back as much as four thousand years, the poem of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is the world’s oldest epic, predating Homer by many centuries. The story tells of Gilgamesh’s adventures with the wild man Enkidu, and of his arduous journey to the ends of the earth in quest of the Babylonian Noah and the secret of immortality.

Alongside its themes of family, friendship and the duties of kings, the Epic of Gilgamesh is, above all, about mankind’s eternal struggle with the fear of death. “I will reveal to you a mystery, I will tell you a secret of the gods,” says Utnapishtim, the Babylonian Noah, to Gilgamesh. “There is no permanence. For all that you have accomplished, in the end, you will die.” These words have resonated with readers for centuries, and they continue to challenge us today. If we are all destined to die, what is the point of living? The Epic of Gilgamesh offers no easy answers to this question, but it does provide a powerful and moving meditation on the human condition.

Awards:

• Premi Crítica Serra d'Or de Traducció(2023)

This is a book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime! The Code of Hammurabi is one of the most important legal documents in history. It was created circa 1760 BC in ancient Babylon, and it contains 282 laws that cover a wide range of topics, from criminal law to property law to family law. The code was inscribed on a black diorite stele, which was discovered in 1901 by French archaeologists. It is now on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The Code of Hammurabi is a fascinating glimpse into the legal system of an ancient civilization. It is also a valuable source of information about the social and economic conditions of Babylonia in the 18th century BC. The code is written in a clear and concise style, and it is easy to understand even for modern readers. It is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history, law, or social studies.

"As the author once said, 'Every story is a journey into the reader's heart.' This book is a vivid testament to that."

The Iliad is one of the oldest and most important works of Western literature. It is an epic poem that tells the story of the Trojan War, a legendary conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans. The poem is attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, and it is believed to have been written in the 8th century BC.

The Iliad is a complex and multifaceted work that explores a wide range of themes, including war, honor, love, and loss. It is also a story of great heroes and villains, and it features some of the most iconic characters in literature, such as Achilles, Hector, and Helen of Troy. The Iliad is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history, literature, or mythology.

Awards:

• Audie Award(2024)
• Premi Crítica Serra d'Or de Traducció(1998)

From the very first pages, this book pulled me into a whirlwind of indescribable emotions. The Aeneid is an epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who flees his city after its fall, with his father Anchises and his young son Ascanius – for Aeneas is destined to found Rome and father the Roman race.

As Aeneas journeys closer to his goal, he must first prove his worth and attain the maturity necessary for such an illustrious task. He battles raging storms in the Mediterranean, encounters the fearsome Cyclopes, falls in love with Dido, Queen of Carthage, travels into the Underworld and wages war in Italy. The Aeneid is a story of love, loss, and adventure. It is also a story of fate and destiny. Aeneas is a complex and flawed character, but he is also a hero. He is a man who is driven by his duty to his people, but he is also a man who is capable of great love and compassion.

Set in the 5th century B.C., The Peloponnesian War tells the story of the devastating conflict between the two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece: Athens and Sparta. The war lasted for 27 years and resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. It was a brutal and bloody conflict, but it was also a turning point in the history of Greece.

Donald Kagan, one of the world’s most respected classical, political, and military historians, has written a magisterial account of this pivotal moment in Western civilization. The Peloponnesian War is a lively, readable narrative that conveys a richly detailed portrait of a vanished world while honoring its timeless relevance. It is a chronicle of the rise and fall of a great empire and of a dark time whose lessons still resonate today.

From the very first pages, this book pulled me into a whirlwind of indescribable emotions. Polybius, a Greek historian living in the 2nd century BC, takes us on a captivating journey through the rise of the Roman Empire. His "Universal History" chronicles the extraordinary transformation of Rome from a humble city-state to a global superpower that dominated the Mediterranean world. Polybius' unique perspective as a Greek observer provides invaluable insights into the factors that fueled Rome's unprecedented ascent, making his work an essential read for anyone fascinated by ancient civilizations.

Polybius believed that the key to understanding the Roman Empire lay in its mixed constitution, which balanced the powers of the Senate, the assemblies, and the magistrates. He meticulously describes the inner workings of Roman government, emphasizing the importance of checks and balances in preventing tyranny. Moreover, Polybius recognized the interconnectedness of the Mediterranean world, arguing that events in one region had far-reaching consequences for others. His "Universal History" thus transcends national boundaries, offering a panoramic view of the complex political, military, and cultural interactions that shaped the ancient world. By immersing ourselves in Polybius' vivid prose, we gain a profound understanding of the rise of Rome and its lasting impact on Western civilization.

The main character in this book, Josephus, is a man with a broken heart. Having witnessed the destruction of his homeland and the slaughter of his people, he sets out to write a history of the Jewish War that will both document the horrors he has seen and make sense of the tragedy that has befallen his people.

Josephus' account is a powerful and moving one, filled with vivid descriptions of battle and siege, and heartbreaking accounts of suffering and loss. But it is also a deeply personal story, as Josephus grapples with his own role in the war and the conflicting loyalties that tore him apart. A rebel leader who ultimately defected to the Romans, Josephus was a controversial figure in his own time, and his writings have been debated and dissected for centuries. But there can be no doubt about the power and importance of his work, which stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Have you ever wondered what happens when scholars make a discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about the past? The Dead Sea Scrolls are one such discovery, and they have revolutionized our understanding of the ancient world.

In this book, Gary A. Rendsburg takes us on a journey through the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls, from their discovery in 1947 to their publication and interpretation in the decades since. Along the way, we learn about the people who wrote and preserved the scrolls, the beliefs they held, and the impact they have had on our understanding of Judaism and Christianity.

Rendsburg is a leading expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls, and he brings his deep knowledge and passion for the subject to this book. He writes in a clear and engaging style, making even complex topics accessible to general readers. Whether you are a student of ancient history, a religious scholar, or simply someone who is curious about one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time, this book is a must-read.

This book is a journey through the ancient world of Israel, a journey that will challenge your assumptions and change the way you think about the Bible.

Authors Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman are leading archaeologists who have spent decades excavating sites in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. Their work has revolutionized our understanding of ancient Israel, and in this book, they share their groundbreaking findings.

Finkelstein and Silberman argue that many of the most famous stories in the Bible—the Exodus from Egypt, Joshua's conquest of Canaan, and David and Solomon's vast empire—are not based on historical facts. Instead, they reflect the world of the later authors who wrote them down.

This is a provocative and controversial thesis, but Finkelstein and Silberman support it with a wealth of archaeological evidence. They show that there is no evidence for the Exodus from Egypt, that the conquest of Canaan was a gradual process that took centuries, and that David and Solomon's kingdom was much smaller than the Bible claims.

The Bible Unearthed is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of ancient Israel or the Bible. It is a groundbreaking work that will challenge everything you thought you knew about the past.

From the very first pages, this book pulled me into a whirlwind of indescribable emotions. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient manuscripts that were discovered in the Judean desert in the mid-20th century. They are the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible, and they have shed new light on the history of Judaism and Christianity.

In this book, Géza Vermes, the world's leading scholar on the Dead Sea Scrolls, offers a fully revised edition of his classic English translation. This new edition includes much previously unpublished material and a new preface, making it the authoritative translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls for years to come.

The Dead Sea Scrolls tell the story of a Jewish sect that lived in the Judean desert in the centuries before and after the birth of Jesus. The sect was known as the Essenes, and they were a deeply religious group who believed in the coming of a Messiah. The scrolls contain their writings, which include hymns, prayers, and rules for daily life.

These writings offer a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and practices of the Essenes. They show that the Essenes were a diverse group, with a wide range of beliefs and practices. Some of the scrolls are deeply mystical, while others are more practical, dealing with everyday life.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are a treasure trove of information about the history of Judaism and Christianity. They offer a unique glimpse into the beliefs and practices of the people who lived in the Holy Land in the centuries before and after the birth of Jesus.

This is a book that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime! It tells the fascinating story of how the daughters of Genghis Khan played a pivotal role in the ruling of the largest empire the world has ever known. The Mongol queens of the thirteenth century were powerful and influential women who used their power to promote trade, education, and religion throughout their territories. They created an economic system that stretched from the Pacific to the Mediterranean and fostered a spirit of internationalism that was unprecedented in its time.

Not only is this book full of fascinating historical facts, but it is also a testament to the power of women and their ability to make a difference in the world. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of civilizations.

In his groundbreaking book, "The Silk Roads: A New History of the World" Peter Frankopan challenges the traditional Eurocentric view of history and argues that the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked to the East. Frankopan's book is a sweeping narrative that spans centuries and continents, from the rise and fall of empires to the spread of Buddhism and the advent of Christianity and Islam.

Frankopan's book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex and interconnected history of our world. It is a timely reminder that the East has played a vital role in shaping our world and that its influence is only growing stronger.

Awards:

• Prix Jan Michalski(2017)

Ying Zheng was born to rule the world. Yet there were rumors he was not the son of the king but the child of a secret affair between a royal concubine and an ambitious minister. Crowned king of Qin - China's westernmost kingdom - six rival kings stood between him and victory.

In his gripping book, "The First Emperor of China" Jonathan Clements tells the true story of Ying Zheng, the man who unified China, built the Great Wall, and whose tomb is guarded by the famous Terracotta Army. Clements' book is a fast-paced and fascinating account of Ying Zheng's life and reign, full of intrigue, scandal, and violence. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Chinese history or the history of ancient civilizations.