Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Oxford University Press (1996), Hardcover, 696 pages
Description
Egypt, Greece, and Rome is regarded as one of the best general histories of the ancient world. It is written for the general reader and the student coming to the subject for the first time and provides a reliable and highly accessible point of entry to the period. Beginning with the early Middle Eastern civilizations of Sumer, and continuing right through to the Islamic invasions and the birth of modern Europe after the collapse of the Roman empire, the book ranges beyond political history to cover art and architecture, philosophy, literature, society, and economy. A wide range of maps, illust
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jthierer
Good overview of the three major civilizations of the ancient world. Freeman does a good job of spanning a wide swath of history in a way that captures enough detail to give the reader a solid grasp of the history but no so much that he gets bogged down.
LibraryThing member justindtapp
I started this book when I was in college and made a determined effort to finish it as part of a New Year's resolution. It is a long book with small print covering 4,000 B.C. to 640ish A.D. and has to be the most comprehensive history of the three civilizations ever written.
Freeman covers
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everything from governments & conquests, to literature and pottery, economic life, cultural & religious life, and the enduring impact these civilizations have on society today. There are plenty of aside chapters on philosophers and artisans, architecture, etc. I feel there are very few details he leaves out. Whether you're interested in specific battles or historical figures, you'll find plenty of info and further recommended readings in the back. A comprehensive timeline is also included and plenty of maps.In the closing chapters there is a history of the rise of Christianity. It's interesting to read from a secular perspective and I appreciate how little I know about the early church and the development of the major manifestations of the Christian religious orders.
I give this book 5 stars out of 5. I am now glad to move down the list of other dusty books on my shelves asking to be read.
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LibraryThing member JHemlock
If you are looking for a thick, ribeye steak of a history book then look no further. This book lays it out without being boring and it goes on forever. Just when you think you might be getting stale with it, the subject changes. It is long and drawn out. But in return you get a ton of good
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refringences that lead you to other history tomes. It does what a history book should by showing you a much broader world. The author encourages the reader to pick up other history books to round out the ideas he formulates. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1996
Physical description
696 p.; 9.5 inches
ISBN
0198150032 / 9780198150039
Local notes
READIN