20 Best Ancient Books (2023 Update)

Mythos is a modern collection of greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian stephen fry. fry transforms the adventures of zeus and the olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder.this stunning book features classical artwork inspired by the myths, as well as learned notes from the author. – each adventure is infused with fry's distinctive wit, voice, and writing style – connoisseurs of the greek myths will appreciate this fresh-yet-reverential interpretation, while newcomers will feel welcome – retellings brim with humor and emotion and offer rich cultural contextcelebrating the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the greek myths, mythos breathes life into ancient tales—from pandora's box to prometheus's fire.this gorgeous volume invites you to explore a captivating world with the brilliant storyteller stephen fry as your guide. – a collectible volume complete with a textured case, a foil-stamped jacket, and full-color art throughout – the perfect gift for greek mythology and history buffs, lovers of ancient greece, art aficionados, and devoted fans of stephen fry – add it to the shelf with books like circe by madeline miller, norse mythology by neil gaiman, and mythology: timeless tales of gods and heroes by edith hamilton

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

This first book in the four-volume narrative history series for elementary students will transform your study of history. the story of the world has won awards from numerous homeschooling magazines and readers' polls—over 150,000 copies of the series in print! what terrible secret was buried in shi huangdi's tomb? did nomads like lizard stew? what happened to anansi the spider in the village of the plantains? and how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of rome? told in a straightforward, engaging style that has become susan wise bauer's trademark, the story of the world series covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. africa, china, europe, the americas—find out what happened all around the world in long-ago times. this first revised volume begins with the earliest nomads and ends with the last roman emperor. newly revised and updated, the story of the world, volume 1 includes maps, a new timeline, more illustrations, and additional parental aids. this read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations. each story of the world volume provides a full year of history study when combined with the activity book, audiobook, and tests—each available separately to accompany each volume of the story of the world text book. volume 1 grade recommendation: grades 1-5.

History will never be the same again! this spirited reading of the first in susan wise bauer's story of the world history series brings to life the stories and records of the peoples of ancient times. now more than ever, other countries and customs affect our everyday lives-and our children need to learn about the people who live all around the globe. susan wise bauer has provided a captivating guide to the history of the ancient world. written in an engaging, straightforward manner, the story of the world weaves world history into a storybook format. this volume covers the major historical events from the beginning of civilization to the fall of the roman empire. this story of the world audiobook is a collaboration between jim weiss, whose voice has been described as “liquid gold” (cnn-tv), and susan wise bauer, whose writing has been described as “timeless and intelligent” (publishers weekly). it may be used along with the print books (the story of the world volume 1 text book, activity book, and tests; each sold separately), as a supplement to a traditional history curriculum, or independently. approximately 8 hours on 7 audio cds.

In the first half, author arthur cotterell describes the central mythical figures of classical greece and rome, the celtic heroes and the nordic gods. in the second part, author rachel storm expertly leads us through the powerful pantheon of gods and goddesses of the east from ancient egypt through central asia, to the dragon festivals of eastern lands. pictorial features focus on recurring mythological themes, including heroes, oracles and prophecies. this comprehensive a-z guide is timeless in its universal appeal.

"as panoramic as it is learned, this is ancient history for our globalized world." tom holland, author of dynasty and rubicontwenty-five-hundred years ago, civilizations around the world entered a revolutionary new era that overturned old order and laid the foundation for our world today. in the face of massive social changes across three continents, radical new forms of government emerged; mighty wars were fought over trade, religion, and ideology; and new faiths were ruthlessly employed to unify vast empires. the histories of rome and china, greece and india-the stories of constantine and confucius, qin shi huangdi and hannibal-are here revealed to be interconnected incidents in the midst of a greater drama.in ancient worlds, historian michael scott presents a gripping narrative of this unique age in human civilization, showing how diverse societies responded to similar pressures and how they influenced one another: through conquest and conversion, through trade in people, goods, and ideas. an ambitious reinvention of our grandest histories, ancient worlds reveals new truths about our common human heritage." a bold and imaginative page-turner that challenges ideas about the world of antiquity." peter frankopan, author of the silk roads

A compelling history of the world’s greatest ancient powers. in this highly appealing collection, a distinguished team of internationally renowned scholars survey the great empires from 1600 bce to 500 ce. in ten comprehensive chapters, from the ancient mediterranean to china, these experts guide readers through the empires of new kingdom egypt, the hittites, assyria and babylonia, achaemenid persia, athens, alexander the great and his successors, parthian and early sasanian persia, rome, india, and qin and han china. each chapter conveys the main narrative of events, their impact on ancient societies, and the dominant rulers who shaped that history, from ramesses ii in egypt to chandragupta in india, from rome’s augustus to china’s shi-huangdi. exploring the nature of empire itself, the great empires of the ancient world shows how profoundly imperialism in the distant past influenced our contemporary ideas of power.

The original anunnaki bible! discover the secret library of sumerian cuneiform tablets kept by the oldest babylonian mystery school of mesopotamia and preserving the most ancient writings on the planet. the revised and updated 10th anniversary commemorative edition of the mardukite underground classic available in paperback for the first time! star-gates of babylon… the "ancient alien gods"… igigi "watchers" of the judeo-christian old testament scriptures… religion, mythology and magic of a long-lost forgotten age… all of it preserved and presented in this much anticipated 10th anniversary revised and updated infinity edition of the complete mardukite "anunnaki bible." joshua free's "anunnaki bible" is quite simply a masterpiece of mesopotamian magic, spirituality and history, providing a complete collection–a grand symphony of correlated materials–of the most ancient writings on the planet. the oldest sumerian and babylonian records reveal detailed accounts of cosmic history in the universe and on earth, the development of human history and descriptions of world order–all of which were used to maintain spiritual and physical control of humanity–proving to be the predecessor and foundation of global scripture-based religious and mystical traditions thereafter. these raw underground materials have shaped the existence of man's beliefs and traditions for thousands of years; right from the heart of the ancient near east: sumer, babylon and even egypt! nearly a decade since the modern mardukite inception–and thousands of copies in print–the "anunnaki bible" is a revolutionary "new age" advancement in authentic historical, spiritual and mystical research drawn from a unique unparalleled combination of archaeological findings and esoteric mystical magical traditions. sumerian, babylonian, akkadian, assyrian, chaldean, egyptian, yezidic, zoroastrian… and more. the heart and soul of humanity, from the cradle of civilization, is laid out clearly for the "truth seeker" to see–in its pure and undefiled state.a wellsprings of hidden information and historical research, cuneiform tablet transliterations and translations, and mystical and spiritual experimentation may all be found within the leaves of this new anniversary edition of the underground bestselling classic mardukite "anunnaki bible." newly revised prefaces and tablet introductions guide the "truth seeker" through a beautiful presentation of the ancient mystery tradition accessible to anyone with any background. you will discover the original secrets of hermetic tradition, the "books of the dead" and underworld mysteries, the origins of the books of genesis and enoch… you will, if you dare, unlock the forgotten and forbidden power of the anunnaki babylonian star-gates–lore that predates and is a basis of hebrew kabbalah mysticism, from which much of the western magical tradition is rooted.join thousands of others and take a self-honest moment in life now, to invest yourself in the path of "true knowledge," where you may find the empowerment and enlightenment of "true experience" – true gnosis.

The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, eyewitness books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures.the newest entry in the eyewitness series, this comprehensive guide introduces young readers to some of the most fascinating ancient civilizations in the world's history.from the intriguing world of pharaohs in ancient egypt, to the arts of greece and rome, to the amazing culture of the mayans,eyewitness: ancient civilizations looks at the world's most intriguing societies and the legacies they left behind.

2016 reprint of 1908 edition. this guide offers a modern interpretation of hermetic doctrine, distilling its teachings into seven compelling principles that can be applied to self-development in daily life. for centuries, the legendary egyptian man-god hermes trismegistus – regarded as the father of astrology, alchemy, and other magical arts – inspired writers and readers of occult literature. in 1908, the anonymous authors known as "three initiates" prepared this concise and engaging edition of the master's teachings. it outlines the hermetic principles and then examines them in depth, offering direct quotations from the source material, followed by clear explanations. the best introduction to hermeticism for beginners and adepts alike, this definitive edition of one of esoteric literature's classics explores principles relevant to any religious, spiritual, or magical tradition.

Boxed set, published january 2018. adapted into short stories, children aged 7 and over who love history and have developed an interest in myths will be excited to hear all about theseus' battle with the murderous minotaur; jason and his battle for the golden fleece; and zeus' incredible war against the titans! these are thrilling page-turners and the shorter nature of the stories makes them extra appealing. they'll come in handy for history lessons, too.

This concise anthology of primary sources designed for use in an ancient philosophy survey ranges from the presocratics to plato, aristotle, the hellenistic philosophers, and the neoplatonists.the second edition features an amplified selection of presocratic fragments in newly revised translations by richard d. mckirahan.also included is an expansion of the hellenistic unit, featuring new selections from lucretius and sextus empiricus as well as a new translation, by peter j. anderson, of most of seneca'sde providentia. the selections from plotinus have also been expanded.

"did you know that museums were initially temples built to worship the nine muses, the goddesses of the arts? where did these words–and other words, such as chaos, genius, nemesis, panic, echo, and narcissus–come from?

A lively and engaging narrative history showing the common threads in the cultures that gave birth to our own.this is the first volume in a bold series that tells the stories of all peoples, connecting historical events from europe to the middle east to the far coast of china, while still giving weight to the characteristics of each country. susan wise bauer provides both sweeping scope and vivid attention to the individual lives that give flesh to abstract assertions about human history. dozens of maps provide a clear geography of great events, while timelines give the reader an ongoing sense of the passage of years and cultural interconnection. this old-fashioned narrative history employs the methods of “history from beneath”—literature, epic traditions, private letters and accounts—to connect kings and leaders with the lives of those they ruled.

The first edition of ancient medicine was the most complete examination of the medicine of the ancient world for a hundred years. the new edition includes the key discoveries made since the first edition, especially from important texts discovered in recent finds of papyri and manuscripts, making it the most comprehensive and up-to-date survey available. vivian nutton pays particular attention to the life and work of doctors in communities, links between medicine and magic, and examines the different approaches to medicine across the ancient world. the new edition includes more on rufus and galen as well as augmented information on babylonia, hellenistic medicine and late antiquity. with recently discovered texts made accessible for the first time, and providing new evidence, this broad exploration challenges currently held perspectives, and proves an invaluable resource for students of both classics and the history of medicine.

An overview of the lost peoples and cultures who flourished and fought for survival alongside the egyptians, greeks and romans. beyond the greeks, romans and hebrews of the classical and biblical eras, a rich diversity of peoples helped lay the foundations of the modern world. philip matyszak brings to life these cultures and individuals that made up the busy, brawling multicultural mass of humanity that emerged from the ancient middle east and spread across the mediterranean and europe. he explores the origins of forty forgotten peoples, their great triumphs and defeats, and considers the legacy they have left to us today, whether it be in fine art or everyday language. this carefully researched and illuminating history is the perfect introduction for the modern reader, packed with surprising facts and fascinating stories, detailed maps and beautiful illustrations of artefacts and sites of interest. forgotten peoples of the ancient world offers a new understanding of these important civilizations that have been obscured by the passage of time.

From the first cities of sumeria and babylon around 3500 bce to the fall of the rome and the bloody demise of the aztecs, here–in 200 mini essays–are the critical leaders and wars; ideas and inventions; myths and religions, and art and architecture of the first 5000 years of recorded history. discover the spiritual, cultural, technological and artistic innovations of the ancient civilizations that still amaze and influence us today–from the pyramids to the parthenon to macchu picchu and the great wall of china; and from the first hieroglyphic writings and great epics of world literature to democracy and the olympic games. the great civilizations are brought to life in vivid illustrations with 200 maps, iconic artworks and ancient artifacts. contents include: mesopotamia, ancient egypt, ancient india, ancient china, the persian empire, classic greece, the roman republic, the maya, the inca and many more.

From the first cities of sumeria and babylon around 3500 bce to the fall of the rome and the bloody demise of the aztecs, here–in 200 mini essays–are the critical leaders and wars; ideas and inventions; myths and religions, and art and architecture of the first 5000 years of recorded history. discover the spiritual, cultural, technological and artistic innovations of the ancient civilizations that still amaze and influence us today–from the pyramids to the parthenon to macchu picchu and the great wall of china; and from the first hieroglyphic writings and great epics of world literature to democracy and the olympic games. the great civilizations are brought to life in vivid illustrations with 200 maps, iconic artworks and ancient artifacts. contents include: mesopotamia, ancient egypt, ancient india, ancient china, the persian empire, classic greece, the roman republic, the maya, the inca and many more.

History has been taught in a boring way for far too long. a subject as moving and powerful as humanity's past should be inviting, and when it is told well, it is. susan wise bauer succeeds in telling the captivating story of history with her best-selling history series. parents and young readers have fallen in love with her narrative history, the story of the world, and its accompanying activity book. now teachers and home educators can take advantage of a new and valuable learning tool: the tests and answer key package. included are 42 tests: one for each chapter of the story of the world. perfect for evaluating comprehension and retention. the narrative format of the story of the world helps children remember the famous people, places, and events in history. these tests offer you an easy way to make sure that your child is absorbing the important events from world history. a combination of multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short writing samples allow you to evaluate your child's retention and comprehension of key events in the story of the world. the tests package contains an answer key for all tests. these easy-to-use tests and answer keys, successfully used by hundreds of parents and teachers, provide an objective method for measuring retention of key facts, figures, and events from history. a combination of sequencing, matching, short-answer, and essay-style questions gives students a chance to show what they've learned. used with the story of the world text book and activity book (sold separately), the test and answer key gives educators a complete history curriculum for their elementary school students.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the ancient canaanites, hittites and ancient israelites, then pay attention… three captivating manuscripts in one audiobook:the ancient canaanites: a captivating guide to the canaanite civilization that dominated the land of canaan before the ancient israelites – hittites: a captivating guide to the ancient anatolian people who established the hittite empire in ancient mesopotamia – ancient israel: a captivating guide to the ancient israelites, starting from their entry into canaan until the jewish rebellions against the romans – part 1 of this audiobook includes:revolutionary findings provided by modern archaeological detective techniques – a simple explanation of what caanan is and where it's located – fascinating discoveries of canaanites artifacts – remarkable insights into their government and social structure – startling theories about the bronze age collapse – and much, much more! in part 2 of this audiobook, you will discover:the origin of the hittites in the bronze age – the formation of the old kingdom, 1700 – 1500 bcethe new kingdom, 1400 – 1200 bcethe downfall of the hittites – the syro-hittite or neo-hittite kingdoms – and much, much more! part 3 is covering ancient israel and in it, you will discover topics such as – culture and society through the years – the late bronze age and early iron age – the late iron age – the israelites under babylon – the control of the persians – the hellenistic period and judea under the seleucids – the early hasmonean dynasty – and much, much more! so if you want to learn more about these three ancient civilizations, get this audiobook now!