20 Best Books For Ancient History (2023 Update)

Ancient rome was an imposing city even by modern standards, a sprawling imperial metropolis of more than a million inhabitants, a "mixture of luxury and filth, liberty and exploitation, civic pride and murderous civil war" that served as the seat of power for an empire that spanned from spain to syria. yet how did all this emerge from what was once an insignificant village in central italy? classicist mary beard narrates the unprecedented rise of a civilization that even two thousand years later still shapes many of our most fundamental assumptions about power, citizenship, responsibility, political violence, empire, luxury, and beauty. opening the book in 63 bce with the famous clash between the populist aristocrat catiline and cicero, the renowned politician and orator, beard animates this "terrorist conspiracy," which was aimed at the very heart of the republic, demonstrating how this singular event would presage the struggle between democracy and autocracy that would come to define much of rome's subsequent history. illustrating how a classical democracy yielded to a self-confident and self-critical empire, s.p.q.r. reintroduces us to famous and familiar characters — hannibal, julius caesar, cleopatra, augustus, and nero, among others — while expanding the historical aperture to include those overlooked in traditional histories: the women, the slaves and ex-slaves, conspirators, and those on the losing side of rome's glorious conquests.

"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

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.

Explore the captivating history and mythology of three ancient civilizations three captivating manuscripts in one book: maya civilization: a captivating guide to maya history and maya mythology aztec: a captivating guide to aztec history and the triple alliance of tenochtitlan, tetzcoco, and tlacopan incas: a captivating guide to the history of the inca empire and civilization in the first part of this captivating guide, you will discover why maya have gained such worldwide admiration over the many other civilizations that existed in mesoamerica at the time. you will learn how the maya civilization developed, the major turning points in their 3,000-year-long history, the mysteries surrounding their demise, some of the unique places where maya exist to this day, and much more! some of the topics and questions covered in the first part of this book include: maya timeline glossary of important maya terms the origins of the mesoamerican civilizations the archaic period: 7000 – 2000 bc the olmecs: 1,200 – 300 bc the preclassic period and the magnificent zapotec early preclassic period: 2000 to 1000 bc cuello and early maya architecture middle preclassic period: 1000 to 300 bc the zapotec: 600 bc to ad 800 late preclassic period: 300 bc to ad 250 the classic period, doomsday calendar, and the mystery of the red queen early classic – ad 250 to 600 how maya measured the time late classic – ad 600 to 900 the mystery of the red queen terminal classic – ad 900 to 1000 food, rites, and gruesome tales how to make maya hot chocolate at home how did the maya grow their food? the maize god the maya beauty standards the sacred ball game the decline of the maya civilization and human sacrifice early postclassic – ad 1000 to 1250 inside chichen itza – features of maya cities the maya observatory (el caracol) human sacrifice and the methods the kukulkan pyramid late postclassic period and the spanish conquest maya today maya creation story the maya cosmology and a great deal more that you don't want to miss out on! some of the topics and questions covered in the second part of this book include: the origins of aztecs: a tribe destined for greatness the unwelcome arrival in mexico valley the rise of tenochtitlán and the triple alliance the greatest aztec kings and their heritage the splendor of tenochtitlán a guided tour around tenochtitlán rites, rituals, and delicious recipes the fall of tenochtitlán and a great deal more that you don't want to miss out on! some of the topics and questions covered in the third part of this book include: how the incas recorded their history the inca creation myth the founding of the great city of cuzco the first dynasty of inca rulers and their greatest deeds the second dynasty of inca rulers and their greatest deeds the rise of the inca empire: a cosmological event? social order in the inca society the different roles of women in the inca society inca religious order and ideology tour of the greatest inca sights from pachacuti to the arrival of the spanish the spanish conquest the aftermath and the inca legacy and a great deal more that you don't want to miss out on! get the book now and learn more about these three ancient civilizations!

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.

In the tradition of his own bestselling masterpieces the story of civilization and the lessons of history, pulitzer prize-winning historian will durant here traces the lives and ideas of those who have helped to define civilization, from its dawn to the beginning of the modern world. four years before his death, will durant began work on an abbreviated version of his highly acclaimed eleven-volume series, the story of civilization. the project was conceived as a series of audio lectures, but durant soon realized that the dialogues could be developed into a book that would serve as a wonderfully readable introduction to the subject of history. durant completed twenty-one of a proposed twenty-three chapters before his death in 1981, at the age of ninety-six. those chapters span thousands of years of human history — from confucius to shakespeare, from the roman empire to the reformation, finally ending in the eighteenth century. the manuscript was recently found by will durant scholar john little — twenty years after durant finished it — and its discovery is a major event, not only for lovers of his prose, but for students of history and philosophy the world over. heroes of history is a book of life-enhancing wisdom and optimism, complete with durant's wit, knowledge, and unique ability to explain events and ideas in simple, exciting terms. it is the lessons of our heritage passed on for the edification and benefit of future generations — a fitting legacy from america's most beloved historian and philosopher. will durant's popularity as america's favorite teacher of history and philosophy remains undiminished by time. his books are accessible to readers of every kind, and his unique ability to compress complicated ideas and events into a few pages without ever "talking down" to the reader, enhanced by his memorable wit and a razor-sharp judgment about men and their motives, made all of his books huge bestsellers. heroes of history carries on this tradition of making scholarship and philosophy understandable to the general reader, and making them good reading, as well. will durant's work is marked by his own special quality as a writer — he is tough-minded, optimistic, courageous, and convinced that without a knowledge of the past there is no wisdom to guide us to the future. heroes of history was his last word on the subject, and much of it has been aimed directly at the doubts and fears of people today. it is a major, and unexpected, literary and historical event. this book is also available on audio tape and cd format, read by will and ariel durant.

Explore the entire history of the ancient egyptian state from 3000 b.c. to 400 a.d. with this authoritative volume the newly revised second edition of a history of ancient egypt delivers an up-to-date survey of ancient egypt's history from its origins to the roman empire's banning of hieroglyphics in the fourth century a.d. the book covers developments in all aspects of egypt's history and their historical sources, considering the social and economic life and the rich culture of ancient egypt. freshly updated to take into account recent discoveries, the book makes the latest scholarship accessible to a wide audience, including introductory undergraduate students. a history of ancient egypt outlines major political and cultural events and places egypt's history within its regional context and detailing interactions with western asia and africa. each period of history receives equal attention and a discussion of the problems scholars face in its study. the book offers a foundation for all students interested in egyptian culture by providing coverage of topics like: a thorough introduction to the formation of the egyptian state between the years of 3400 b.c. and 2686 b.c. an exploration of the end of the old kingdom and first intermediate period, from 2345 b.c. to 2055 b.c. an analysis of the second intermediate period and the hyksos between 1700 b.c. and 1550 b.c. a discussion of greek and roman egypt between 332 b.c. and a.d. 395. perfect for students of introductory courses in ancient egyptian history and as background material for students of courses in egyptian art, archaeology, and culture, a history of ancient egypt will also earn a place in the libraries of students taking surveys of the ancient world and those seeking a companion volume to a history of the ancient near east.

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.

The legacy of the ancient greeks has shaped our world. classical greece's military prowess, political sophistication and cultural innovations continue to influence modern society. the first half of the book focuses on political and military history, from mycenae and the golden age of athens to the campaigns of alexander the great. the second half concerns ancient greece's buildings, sculptures, mythology and dramas, including the parthenon, the erechtheum and the works of aristophanes and euripides. this is an outstanding exploration of the world of the ancient greeks and an indispensable resource for both the general and specialist reader.

With stylistic brilliance and historical imagination, the first five books of livy's monumental history of rome record events from the foundation of rome through the history of the seven kings, the establishment of the republic and its internal struggles, up to rome's recovery after the fierce gallic invasion of the fourth century b.c. livy vividly depicts the great characters, legends, and tales, including the story of romulus and remus. reprinting robert ogilvie's lucid 1971 introduction, this highly regarded edition now boasts a new preface, examining the text in light of recent livy scholarship, informative maps, bibliography, and an index.for more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,700 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

You can make history come alive in your classroom with the evan-moor history pockets: ancient civilizations, grades 1-3. our book is organized using discovery pockets, each of which introduces a new civilization to your students, including the ancient worlds of mesopotamia, egypt, greece, rome, china and the aztecs. the discovery pockets include illustrations for students, puppets to demonstrate the clothing worn in the time period and crafts projects. students will love learning about ancient civilizations, including what they ate, what they wore and where they lived.

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 book is intended for roman history courses in classics or history departments, but is also ocassionally used in roman civ classes. the romans gives a thorough account of the political and military history of ancient rome down to the fall of the empire in 476, while also providing a solidgrounding in the social and cultural history of the period. the art and map program have been updated and slightly expanded, with a new 8-page color insert.

Helping students succeed in three main parts: class involvement activities, reading this book, and writing about your learning in an interactive notebook.

Take a journey through ancient egypt and see how the pharaohs once lived! an enticing and insightful guide that covers 3,000 years of life under the pharaohs (c. 3200-30 bce) from the early kings of egypt to the reign of cleopatra and the roman conquest, this book explains it all! written by a team of respected egyptologists, this book includes the following exciting things: – themed spreads explore developments in areas like religion, writing, painting, ceramics and medicine. – biography spreads feature the lives of the most influential pharaohs and queens. – detailed maps set the main sites in context, and show the growth of the civilization and its trade network. – an optional 80-page reference section provides a directory of the pharaohs and gods and goddesses. unlock every aspect of ancient egypt, from pharaohs and pyramids to ordinary people’s everyday lives and beliefs. with 31 egyptian dynasties and 3,000 years of history, from the time of narmer to that of cleopatra and so much more, this is the perfect comprehensive guide to egypt’s ancient civilization.there's so much to learn and experience with this up-to-date biography on ancient egypt. with more than 850 photos, illustrations and maps, this is the perfect book for thinkers, borrowers, life-long learners or anyone with an interest in ancient civilizations and egyptology.

This used book is in good condition. this book is missing its dust jacket. 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.

This used book is in good condition. this book is missing its dust jacket. 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.

In this superbly illustrated volume, distinguished egyptologist zahi hawass guides you through the architectural landscape of ancient egypt. from houses and palaces, to the temples of the gods, to the tombs, hundreds of photographs and a compelling text unveil the mysteries of ancient egypt as unearthed through major excavations. as it leads you on a tour of important sites–the pyramids at giza, abu simbel, the valley of the kings–the great book of ancient egypt offers fresh insight into how people lived, prepared for death, and perceived their place within the universe. it recounts the history of the most famous kings and queens and shares details of people's everyday lives. zahi hawass makes his story all the more compelling by including his own archaeological adventures, sharing details of his illustrious career and revealing his own sense of awe of the magic and mystery of the pharaohs.

This fascinating guide chronicles the rise and fall of ancient greece and rome and its cultural influence today. from palace-based societies in minoan crete to the germanic invasion of rome, it tells the story of these classical civilizations, covering their political development, the rise of the city state and the growth of their empires. also included are insights into the architectural, artistic and cultural impact of early greece and rome and vignettes of key political and cultural figures. accompanied by features on major developments, detailed maps and superb photographs, this is a fascinating introduction to the two great empires that shaped the modern world.

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.