The Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires: 15 History Books
Fifteen Landmark Histories of Rome, Greece, Persia, Mesopotamia, and ByzantiumBy Theodor Mommsen, Edward Gibbon, George Rawlinson, L. W. King, John Bagnell Bury, Arrian, Charles Oman
Length455h 5m
About this audiobook
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires: 15 History Books assembles a capacious archive of imperial history, moving from the ancient Mediterranean and Near East to the later historiographical traditions that interpreted them. Its selections range from classical narrative and imperial biography to documentary-minded reconstruction, comparative political analysis, and sweeping reflections on decline. Accounts of Macedonian expansion, Roman power, Assyrian and Babylonian civilization, and the transformations of late antiquity make the volume especially valuable as a study of conquest, administration, cultural exchange, and political fragility. The collection brings ancient testimony into conversation with major modern historians whose methods helped establish classical and ancient Near Eastern history as scholarly fields. Arrian offers a foundational classical perspective on empire and command, while Mommsen, Gibbon, Rawlinson, King, Bury, and Oman represent philological, archaeological, constitutional, military, and narrative approaches. Together, these voices reflect the enduring nineteenth- and early twentieth-century effort to explain imperial formation and collapse through institutions, leadership, religion, warfare, and social change. Recommended for students and general readers alike, this volume offers the rare opportunity to compare distinct historical idioms within one expansive anthology. It invites readers to assess not only why empires rose and fell, but also how historians have framed that recurring question. Its breadth supports informed study and a productive dialogue between ancient sources and later interpretation.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.4 (14)
Includes Amazon
GenreHistory, Literary Classics
Length455 hrs 5 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 31, 2024
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The History of Ancient Egypt
2I. The Land of Egypt.
3II. The People of Egypt.
4III. The Dawn of History.
5IV. The Pyramid Builders.
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6V. The Rise of Thebes to Power, and the Early Theban Kings.
7VI. The Good Amenemhat and His Works.
8VII. Abraham in Egypt.
9VIII. The Great Invasion—The Hyksôs or Shepherd Kings—Joseph and Apepi.
10IX. How the Hyksôs were Expelled from Egypt.
11X. Thothmes I., The First Great Egyptian Conqueror.
12XI. Queen Hatasu and Her Merchant Fleet.
13XII. Thothmes the Third and Amenhotep the Second.
14XIII. Amenhotep III. And His Great Works—The Vocal Memnon.
15XIV. Khuenaten and the Disk-Worshippers.
16XV. Beginning of the Decline of Egypt.
17XVI. Menephthah I., The Pharaoh of the Exodus.
18XVII. The Decline of Egypt Under the Later Ramessides.
19XVIII. The Priest-Kings—Pinetem and Solomon.
20XIX. Shishak and His Dynasty.
21XX. The Land Shadowing With Wings—Egypt Under the Ethiopians
22XXI. The Fight Over the Carcase—Ethiopia v. Assyria.
23XXII. The Corpse Comes to Life Again—Psamatik I. and His Son Neco.
24XXIII. The Later Saïte Kings.—Psamatik II., Apries, and Amasis.
25XXIV. The Persian Conquest.
26XXV. Three Desperate Revolts.
27XXVI. A Last Gleam of Sunshine—Nectanebo I.
28XXVII. The Light Goes Out in Darkness.
29A History of Sumer and Akkadian Empire
30CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY: THE LANDS OF SUMER AND AKKAD
31CHAPTER II THE SITES OF EARLY CITIES AND THE RACIAL CHARACTER OF THEIR INHABITANTS
32CHAPTER III THE AGE AND PRINCIPAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION
33CHAPTER IV THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS IN SUMER; THE DAWN OF HISTORY AND THE RISE OF LAGASH
34CHAPTER V WARS OF THE CITY-STATES; EANNATUM AND THE STELE OF THE VULTURES
35CHAPTER VI THE CLOSE OF UR-NINÂ'S DYNASTY, THE REFORMS OF URUKAGINA, AND THE FALL OF LAGASH
36CHAPTER VII EARLY RULERS OF SUMER AND KINGS OF KISH
37CHAPTER VIII THE EMPIRE OF AKKAD AND ITS RELATION TO KISH
38CHAPTER IX THE LATER RULERS OF LAGASH
39CHAPTER X THE DYNASTY OF UR AND THE KINGDOM OF SUMER AND AKKAD
40CHAPTER XI THE EARLIER RULERS OF ELAM, THE DYNASTY OF ISIN, AND THE RISE OF BABYLON
41CHAPTER XII THE CULTURAL INFLUENCE OF SUMER IN EGYPT, ASIA AND THE WEST
42APPENDICES
43The History of Babylon
44Chapter I. Extent of the Empire
45Chapter II. Climate and Productions
46Chapter III. The People
47Chapter IV. The Capital
48Chapter V. Arts and Sciences
49Chapter VI. Manners and Customs
50Chapter VII. Religion
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