An Introduction to the Ancient World

Covering the history and culture of the ancient Near East, Greece and Rome, this book offers an overview for students of history, classics, archaeology and philosophy. It contains a section on early Christianity, and also includes information on the religions, economies, and societies of the ancient Near East.

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Integrating the results of scholarly work from the past decade, the authors of An Introduction to the Ancient World, Lukas de Blois and R.J. van der Spek, have fully-updated and revised all sixteen chapters of this best-selling introductory textbook. Covering the history and culture of the ancient Near East, Greece and Rome within the framework of a short narrative history of events, this book offers an easily readable, integrated overview for students of history, classics, archaeology and philosophy, whether at college, at undergraduate level or among the wider reading public.


This revised second edition offers a new section on early Christianity and more specific information on the religions, economies, and societies of the ancient Near East. There is extended coverage of Greek, Macedonian and Near Eastern history of the fourth to second centuries BC and the history of the Late Roman Republic. The consequences of Julius Caesar’s violent death are covered in more detail, as are the history and society of Imperial Rome.


This new edition is:








comprehensive: covers 3,000 years of ancient history and provides the basis for a typical one-semester course







lavishly illustrated: contains maps, line drawings and plates to support and supplement the text, with updated captions







clearly and concisely written: two established and respected university teachers with thirty years' experience in the subject areas







well-organized: traces the broad outline of political history but also concentrates on particular topics







user-friendly: includes chapter menus, an extensive and expanded bibliography organized by subject area and three appendices, an improved introduction and the addition of an epilogue.