The history of the ancient world : from the earliest accounts to the fall of Rome

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 new 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 result is an engrossing tapestry of human behavior from which we may draw conclusions about the direction of world events and the causes behind them. 13 illustrations, 80 maps Preface Part One: The Edge of History Chapter Two: The Earliest Story Chapter Three: The Rise of Aristocracy Chapter Four: The Creation of Empire Chapter Five: The Age of Iron Chapter Six: The Philosopher King Part Two: Firsts Chapter Eight: The First War Chronicles Chapter Nine: The First Civil War Chapter Ten: The First Epic Hero Chapter Eleven: The First Victory over Death Chapter Twelve: The First Reformer Chapter Thirteen: The First Military Dictator Chapter Fourteen: The First Planned Cities Chapter Fifteen: The First Collapse of Empire Chapter Sixteen: The First Barbarian Invasions Chapter Seventeen: The First Monotheist Chapter Eighteen: The First Environmental Disaster Part Three: Struggle Chapter Twenty: The Mesopotamian Mixing Bowl Chapter Twenty-One: The Overthrow of the Xia Chapter Twenty-Two: Hammurabi’s Empire Chapter Twenty-Three: The Hyksos Seize Egypt Chapter Twenty-Four: King Minos of Crete Chapter Twenty-Five: The Harappan Disintegration Chapter Twenty-Six: The Rise of the Hittites Chapter Twenty-Seven: Ahmose Expels the Hyksos Chapter Twenty-Eight: Usurpation and Revenge Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Three-Way Contest Chapter Thirty: The Shifting Capitals of the Shang Chapter Thirty-One: The Mycenaeans of Greece Chapter Thirty-Two: Struggle of the Gods Chapter Thirty-Three: Wars and Marriages Chapter Thirty-Four: The Greatest Battle in Very Ancient Times Chapter Thirty-Five: The Battle for Troy Chapter Thirty-Six: The First Historical King of China Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Rig Veda Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Wheel Turns Again Chapter Thirty-Nine: The End of the New Kingdom Chapter Forty: The Dark Age of Greece Chapter Forty-One: The Dark Age of Mesopotamia Chapter Forty-Two: The Fall of the Shang Part Four: Empires Chapter Forty-Four: The Bharata War Chapter Forty-Five: The Son of David Chapter Forty-Six: From Western to Eastern Zhou Chapter Forty-Seven: The Assyrian Renaissance Chapter Forty-Eight: New Peoples Chapter Forty-Nine: Trading Posts and Colonies Chapter Fifty: Old Enemies Chapter Fifty-One: Kings of Assyria and Babylon Chapter Fifty-Two: Spectacular Defeat Chapter Fifty-Three: The Decline of the King Chapter Fifty-Four: The Assyrians in Egypt Chapter Fifty-Five: Medes and Persians Chapter Fifty-Six: Conquest and Tyranny Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Beginnings and End of Empire Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Brief Empire Chapter Fifty-Nine: Cyrus the Great Chapter Sixty: The Republic of Rome Chapter Sixty-One: Kingdoms and Reformers Chapter Sixty-Two: The Power of Duty and the Art of War Chapter Sixty-Three: The Spreading Persian Empire Chapter Sixty-Four: The Persian Wars Part Five: Identity Chapter Sixty-Six: The First Sack of Rome Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Rise of the Ch’in Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Macedonian Conquerors Chapter Sixty-Nine: Rome Tightens Its Grasp Chapter Seventy: Alexander and the Wars of the Successors Chapter Seventy-One: The Mauryan Epiphany Chapter Seventy-Two: First Emperor, Second Dynasty Chapter Seventy-Three: The Wars of the Sons Chapter Seventy-Four: Roman Liberators and Seleucid Conquerors Chapter Seventy-Five: Between East and West Chapter Seventy-Six: Breaking the System Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Problems of Prosperity Chapter Seventy-Eight: New Men Chapter Seventy-Nine: Empire Chapter Eighty: Eclipse and Restoration Chapter Eighty-One: The Problem of Succession Chapter Eighty-Two: The Edges of the Roman World Chapter Eighty-Three: Children on the Throne Chapter Eighty-Four: The Mistake of Inherited Power Chapter Eighty-Five: Savior of the Empire Notes Works Cited Permissions The First Volume In A New 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. Historian Bauer Provides Both Sweeping Scope And Attention To The Individual Lives That Give Flesh To Abstract Assertions About Human History. Dozens Of Maps Provide A Geography Of Great Events, While Timelines Give The Reader An Ongoing Sense Of The Passage Of Years And Cultural Interconnection. This 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 Result Is A Tapestry Of Human Behavior From Which We May Draw Conclusions About The Direction Of World Events And The Causes Behind Them.--from Publisher Description. The Origin Of Kingship -- The Earliest Story -- The Rise Of Aristocracy -- The Creation Of Empire -- The Age Of Iron -- The Philosopher King -- The First Written Records -- The First War Chronicles -- The First Civil War -- The First Epic Hero -- The First Victory Over Death -- The First Reformer -- The First Military Dictator -- The First Planned Cities -- The First Collapse Of Empire -- The First Barbarian Invasions -- The First Monotheist -- The First Environmental Disaster -- The Battle For Reunification -- The Mesopotamian Mixing Bowl -- The Overthrow Of The Xia -- Hammurabi's Empire -- The Hyksos Seize Egypt -- King Minos Of Crete -- The Harappan Disintegration -- The Rise Of The Hittites -- Ahmose Expels The Hyksos -- Usurpation And Revenge -- The Three-way Contest -- The Shifting Capitals Of The Shang -- The Mycenaeans Of Greece -- Struggle Of The Gods -- Wars And Marriages -- The Greatest Battle In Very Ancient Times -- The Battle For Troy -- The First Historical King Of China -- The Rig Veda -- The Wheel Turns Again -- The End Of The New Kingdom -- The Dark Age Of Greece -- The Dark Age Of Mesopotamia -- The Fall Of The Shang. The Mandate Of Heaven -- The Bharata War -- The Son Of David -- From Western To Eastern Zhou -- The Assyrian Renaissance -- New Peoples -- Trading Posts And Colonies -- Old Enemies -- Kings Of Assyria And Babylon -- Spectacular Defeat -- The Decline Of The King -- The Assyrians In Egypt -- Medes And Persians -- Conquest And Tyranny -- The Beginnings And End Of Empire -- A Brief Empire -- Cyrus The Great -- The Republic Of Rome -- Kingdoms And Reformers -- The Power Of Duty And The Art Of War -- The Spreading Persian Empire -- The Persian Wars -- The Peloponnesian Wars -- The First Sack Of Rome -- The Rise Of The Ch'in -- The Macedonian Conquerors -- Rome Tightens Its Grasp -- Alexander And The Wars Of The Successors -- The Mauryan Epiphany -- First Emperor, Second Dynasty -- The Wars Of The Sons -- Roman Liberators And Seleucid Conquerors -- Between East And West -- Breaking The System -- The Problems Of Prosperity -- New Men -- Empire -- Eclipse And Restoration -- The Problem Of Succession -- The Edges Of The Roman World -- Children On The Throne -- The Mistake Of Inherited Power -- Savior Of The Empire. Susan Wise Bauer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 779-829) And Index. The first volume in a new 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. Historian Bauer provides both sweeping scope and attention to the individual lives that give flesh to abstract assertions about human history. Dozens of maps provide a geography of great events, while timelines give the reader an ongoing sense of the passage of years and cultural interconnection. This 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 result is a tapestry of human behavior fromwhich we may draw conclusions about the direction of world events and the causes behind them.--From publisher description.An overview of the ancient world offers detailed timelines, an analysis of cultural interconnections, profiles of key figures, and a study of literary, artistic, cultural, political, economic, and social institutions.