The Ancient History category has 310 audiobooks on Listento.it, with an average listener rating of 4.5★ across 2,807 ratings. The most-rated is Magicians of the Gods.
![Cover art for Breve historia de Babilonia [Brief History of Babylon]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61sM7-fcNHL._SL500_.jpg)
Breve historia de Babilonia [Brief History of Babylon]
Summary
"Pienso que esta breve historia de Babilonia merece la pena leerse porque nos ofrece las claves históricas fundamentales que un lector culto de hoy debe tener como base para sustentar las ideas sobre el Antiguo Testamento y también sobre el Nuevo.” (Blogs Periodista Digital) “Montero Fenollós sabe darle un toque ágil a su trabajo, haciendo que sea más amena al compartir con nosotros su amor por esta cultura. Dicho aspecto se contagia al lector, que abre sus ansias de conocimiento para recibir una interesantísima cantidad de datos históricos.” (Web Anika entre libros) Una ciudad tan majestuosa como Atenas o Roma pero absolutamente desconocida. Es poco lo que se sabe de Babilonia a parte de unas cuantas anécdotas, este libro es fundamental para comprender poemas épicos como Gilgamesh, figuras bíblicas y de la música clásica como Nabucodonosor o auténticos enigmas arquitectónicos como la Torre de Babel sobre la que se conocen no pocas leyendas. Montero Fenollós nos intentará desvelar estos y otros misterios de la historia en un libro que supone el primer ensayo en castellano sobre la capital de Mesopotamia. El libro nos presenta la historia de esta ciudad, cosmopolita y majestuosa, de un modo asequible pero sin dejar de tocar todos los puntos fundamentales de la vida de esta urbe desconocida. Parte de la excavaciones de franceses e ingleses para situarnos en el mapa y señalar los lugares más importantes de la ciudad y, desde allí, recorre todos los acontecimientos más importantes desde el reinado de Hammurabi hasta el fin de la ciudad con la invasión de Ciro el persa y de Alejandro Magno dos siglos después, sin dejar de estudiar el reinado de Nabucodonosor II que llevó a la ciudad a su máximo esplendor. Pero además, incluye unos capítulos en los que el autor se mete de lleno en la topografía de la ciudad y las costumbres de sus habitantes, intenta separar el mito de la realidad en torno a la construcción de la Torre de Babel y, por último, nos descubre su religión de la que los judíos tomaron ideas acerca de los ángeles o los demonios. Razones para comprar la obra: Supone el primer ensayo en castellano sobre Babilonia. Presenta una hipótesis novedosa sobre la Torre de Babel. Profundiza en figuras relevantes pero desconocidas como Hammurabi o Nabucodonosor II. Explica la religión mesopotámica que influye al judaísmo y, con él, al cristianismo y al islam. El libro es, en resumen, fundamental para entender la historia de esta ciudad, tan influyente como Atenas y Roma, pero absolutamente desconocida. Devastada por las invasiones persas y macedonias, pervertida en un intento de reconstrucción por Sadam Hussein, Babilonia toma cuerpo en este libro con el brillo de sus años de esplendor. Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish.
©2012 Ediciones Nowtilus S.L. (P)2020 Audible, Inc.
![Cover art for Esparta [Sparta]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xGwRWiYZL._SL500_.jpg)
Esparta [Sparta]
Summary
4 manuscritos completos en 1 audiolibro Espartanos: Una Fascinante Guía Acerca de los Temibles Guerreros de la Antigua Grecia, Que Incluye Tácticas Militares Espartanas, la Batalla de las Termópilas, Cómo Gobernó Esparta y Más Las Guerras Médicas: Una Guía Fascinante de los Conflictos Entre el Imperio Aqueménide y las Ciudades-Estado Griegas, Incluida la Batalla De Maratón, Termópilas, Salamis, Platea y Más La Batalla de las Termópilas: Una Guía Fascinante Sobre Una de las Batallas más Grandes de la Historia Antigua Entre los Espartanos y los persas La Guerra del Peloponeso: Una Guía Fascinante Sobre la Antigua Guerra Griega Entre las Dos Principales Ciudades-Estado de la Antigua Grecia: Atenas y Esparta La primera parte de este audiolibro incluye: Quiénes Fueron los Espartanos La Hegemonía Espartana, la Guerra de Corinto, y el Declive de Esparta Gobierno Espartano, Militar, y Sociedad ¡Y mucho, mucho más! Al leer la segunda parte de este audiolibro: En la víspera de la guerra La revuelta jónica La invasión de Jerjes Parte 1: Las batallas de las Termópilas y el Artemisio La invasión de Jerjes Parte 2: Las batallas de Salamina y Platea La guerra de la Liga de Delos Las secuelas de la guerra El ejército griego El ejército persa ¡Y mucho, mucho más! Tercera parte de este audiolibro: Antes de la batalla de las Termópilas Los personajes principales de la batalla de las Termópilas Mientras tanto, en Artemisio ¡Y mucho, mucho más! Cuatro parte de este audiolibro: Entendiendo el Peloponeso El impacto de la guerra en la cultura griega ¡Y mucho, mucho más! ¡Obtenga ahora este audiolibro para aprender más sobre los espartanos! Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish.
©2020 Captivating History (P)2020 Captivating History
The Siege of Masada
Summary
Many westerners have never even heard of the Siege of Masada, and those who have may simply know it as an obscure reference to a minor battle fought in a remote location of the Roman world. By contrast, virtually all Israeli school children know the story of Masada as a premier example of nationalistic pride. The heroic story of a small band of fighters facing incalculable odds has many elements that are reminiscent of both the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of the Alamo. The refrain "Masada shall not fall again", coined in a poem on the subject by Yitzak Lamdan, became a cry of resolve in battle for Israeli soldiers in the 20th century, just as the cry of "Remember the Alamo" had galvanized Americans. For decades the Israelite military used the site of Masada as the location for swearing in their new recruits; the choice of the site was designed to evoke within the new soldiers a deep sense of connection with their national history. The Siege of Masada was the final battle in a long series of fights that constituted the First Jewish-Roman War. The Roman Empire had established control over the region in the first century BCE, when the Roman proconsul Pompey the Great took control of Jerusalem and ceremonially defiled their temple by entering it. This mix of political control and religious desecration was a contentious issue for the Judeans throughout the Roman period, and militant activists opposed to Roman rule, often espousing strongly held religious beliefs, frequently developed large followings to challenge the Roman authorities. This led to multiple violent clashes between the Judeans and the Romans, and the First Jewish-Roman War (66-73 CE) was one such clash (albeit on a larger scale than most). The Roman troops marched through and made their military might felt, first in the northern region of Galilee, then down the coast where they finally laid siege to the capital city of Jerusalem. This left three Roman fortress outposts, including Masada, that had been built by Herod the Great but had been taken over by various Judean factions. Masada was the last of these fortresses that the Romans attacked and proved the most difficult for them to seize, but seize it they did. However, what made this battle qualitatively different from most was not just the difficulty Rome had in retaking control of it with incredibly disproportional military equipment and numbers, but also the actions of the Judean defenders. In the final hours of the battle, just as the Romans were about to breach the walls of the city, the defenders gathered together and committed mass suicide, rather than being killed or taken captive by the Romans. Josephus, a contemporary historian of the era, vividly described the mass suicide.
©2016 Charles River Editors (P)2017 Charles River Editors
Ancient Rome: A History from Beginning to End
Summary
Rome is a city of myth and legend. The Eternal City, the city of the seven hills, the sacred city, the caput mundi, the center of the world, Roma, Rome, by any of her many names is a city built of history and blood, marble and water, war and conquest. Inside you will hear about.... Legendary Beginnings The Senate and the People Ave Caesar Empire Rulers of the World The Fall Legacy From legendary beginnings, a city rose from the swamp surrounded by the seven hills and split by the Tiber River. Built and rebuilt, a sacred republic and a divine empire, blessed by a thousand gods and by One, the story of her rise and fall has been told and retold for a thousand years and is still relevant in today's world, as echoes of her ancient glory have shaped our culture, laws, lifestyle, and beliefs in subtle and pervasive ways.
©2016 Hourly History (P)2017 Hourly History
Ancient Greek Technology
Summary
"What I would prefer is that you should fix your eyes every day on the greatness of Athens as she really is, and should fall in love with her. When you realize her greatness, then reflect that what made her great was men with a spirit of adventure, men who knew their duty, men who were ashamed to fall below a certain standard. If they ever failed in an enterprise, they made up their minds that at any rate the city should not find their courage lacking to her, and they gave to her the best contribution that they could." ("The Funeral Oration of Pericles", quoted by Thucydides) In virtually all fields of human endeavor, ancient Athens was so much at the forefront of dynamism and innovation that the products of its most brilliant minds remain not only influential but entirely relevant to this day. In the field of medicine, the great physician Hippocrates not only advanced the practical knowledge of human anatomy and care-giving but changed the entire face of the medical profession. The great philosophers of Athens, men like Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato, interrogated themselves with startling complexity about the nature of good and evil, questioned the existence of divinity, advocated intelligent design, and went so far as to argue that all life was composed of infinitesimal particles. The flowering of Greek civilization was further made possible by an increase of trade between the cities and with other civilizations. Trade became a major occupation on account of the scarcity of agricultural land in the largely mountainous regions of the Balkan peninsula. The polis of Athens, in particular, assumed economic dominance in the Aegean from the sixth-century BC. The consequent increase in wealth, resources and population made a cultural renaissance possible. Commerce, in turn, led to the rise of an affluent aristocratic class which had the leisure to devote itself to learning, philosophy, and art. It also led to an industrial class of freemen who were artists and craftsmen. Religion also played a role in the development of Greek culture and technology. The ancient Greeks worshiped a multiplicity of gods, the chief of which dwelt on Mount Olympus in the first mountainous region of central Greece. The city-states would regularly send athletes to compete in the Olympic Games in their honor. Thales of Miletus (c. 524 - 546 BC), named by the classicist John Burnet "the first scientist", observed the natural world and sought rational explanations for it. From him a tradition emerged which explored the world and the actions of humans through natural science, reason, mathematics, metaphysics, and ontology. After Thales a stream of philosophers, mathematicians, and engineers emerged, including names that are well known today, including Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Heraclitus, Epicurus, Diogenes, and Plutarch.
©2019 Charles River Editors (P)2019 Charles River Editors
Soldier of Rome - The Sacrovir Revolt
Summary
It has been three years since the wars against Arminius and the Cherusci. Gaius Silius, legate of the 20th Legion, is concerned that the barbarians - though shattered by the war - may be stirring once again. He also seeks to confirm the rumors regarding Arminius' death. What Silius does not realize is that there is a new threat to the empire, but it does not come from beyond the frontier; it is coming from within, where a disenchanted nobleman looks to sow the seeds of rebellion in Gaul. Legionary Artorius has greatly matured during his five years in the legions. He has become stronger in mind, his body growing even more powerful. Like the rest of the legion, he is unaware of the shadow growing well within the empire's borders, where a disaffected nobleman seeks to betray Emperor Tiberius. A shadow looms, one that looks to envelope the province of Gaul as well as the Rhine legions. The year is AD 20.
©2008, 2012 James Mace (P)2016 James Mace
Ancient Rome
Summary
Ancient Rome covers Roman civilization from the founding of the city of Rome to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, encompassing the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire, until the fall of the Western empire. Inside, you will learn about: A myth evolves into an empire The reign of terror Emperors, able or inept The Roman Empire is born The two faces of Caligula Division, decline, and death And much more! In its many centuries of existence, the Roman state evolved from a monarchy to the classical republic, and then to an increasingly autocratic empire. Rome professionalized and expanded its military and created a government system called res publica, the inspiration for modern republics. It achieved impressive technological and architectural feats, such as the construction of an extensive system of aqueducts and roads, as well as the construction of large monuments, palaces, and public facilities. Buy the audiobook and listen to this story right now! PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2020 Halcyon Time Ltd (P)2020 Halcyon Time Ltd
Ancient Greece: The Greatest Civilization
Summary
The very first democracy in the world found its origins in Ancient Greece. The most exquisite art and architecture of the world had its origins there. While education had its roots in many cultures after the Bronze Age, education found its flowering in the rise of some of greatest literature ever written. From the very small country of Greece came the development of the higher sciences. Even the most celebrated of sports events, the Olympics, started in a small city-state of Athens. In this audiobook you’ll listen about: Wars and Omens of More Early Classic Greece The Persians Greco-Roman and Byzantine Greece And much more! The Doric column was named after the Dorians, one of the root races indigenous to Ancient Greece. The Ionic column was named after their satellite colony, Iona in current-day Turkey. The Corinthian column is named after the ancient city of Corinth on the Southeastern coast of Greece. Live theater entertainment originated in the amphitheaters of Ancient Greece. Nowhere in the civilized world can anyone find no element from this civilization of explorers of the mind and the mysteries of myth. Greece has a history that lies within the experience of everyone. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2018 Halcyon Time Ltd (P)2020 Halcyon Time Ltd
Ancient Civilizations
Summary
Discover the history of ancient civilizations and how they lived! This bundle contains three books: Incas, Maya Civilization, and The Byzantine Empire. Incas Have you always wanted to learn about the great Inca Empire, but your teachers refused to listen? Are you confused between Inca, Aztec, and Maya? Do you want to learn how the Inca people were unique from their Mesoamerican predecessors? Could you even draw the Inca Empire on a map? All this and more will be covered within this audiobook! Inside this book, you will find: How an empire grew from such humble, and hostile, beginnings The geographic location of the empire An in-depth look at the Incan gods The terrible civil war The conquistadors And more Maya Civilization This book’s coverage begins with the development of the Maya through the ancient eras. Inside this book, you will find the following: The history of the Maya people and where their civilization began and expanded from How the name “Maya” came to be used for these people Results of the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica and what it meant for the Maya Why archaeologists believe the Maya empire fell And much more! The Byzantine Empire The history of the Byzantine Empire tells a tale of monumental victories and equally significant defeats - of a phoenix rising from the ashes over and over again, until it simply ran out of miracles. In this book, you will learn about: The division of east and west The Fall of Rome Justinian’s Golden Age Iconoclasm The Crusades The final fall And much more Don’t wait another moment to enjoy this information. Get your copy of Ancient Civilizations right away!
©2018 Eric Brown (P)2018 Eric Brown
24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There
Summary
Walk a day in a Roman's sandals. What was it like to live in one of the ancient world's most powerful and bustling cities - one that was eight times more densely populated than modern day New York? In this entertaining and enlightening guide, best-selling historian Philip Matyszak introduces us to the people who lived and worked there. In each hour of the day we meet a new character - from emperor to slave girl, gladiator to astrologer, medicine woman to water-clock maker - and discover the fascinating details of their daily lives.
©2017 Philip Matyszak (P)2020 Tantor
History of Rome
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of Rome, then pay attention.... Rome started as a kingdom, thrived as a republic, conquered vast territories when it was an empire, and became the Holy City during the Middle Ages. Even today, Rome continues to intrigue us with its rich history, architecture, art, literature, religion, laws, and language. The abundant archaeological findings of Rome and its surrounding are but a fragment of what the city once was. Nevertheless, it is enough to engage us, tickle our imagination, and satisfy our thirst for knowledge. The importance of Rome cannot be argued. Its history is not the history of Italy or its people. Rome is a part of the foundation of Europe, just as Athens is. Without it, the world as we know it today wouldn’t exist. In History of Rome: A Captivating Guide to Roman History, Starting from the Legend of Romulus and Remus Through the Roman Republic, Byzantium, Medieval Period, and Renaissance to Modern History, you will discover topics such as: The founding of Rome: myth and reality The Kingdom of Rome The Roman Republic Social wars and the end of the Roman Republic Pax Romana The third and early fourth centuries The fall of the West; the East thrives Rome in the Middle Ages The Renaissance Modern history of Rome Much, much more
©2020 Captivating History (P)2020 Captivating History
Breve historia de los celtas
Summary
"Una obra que introduce en una larga y desconocida historia de siglos a través de personajes tan conocidos en el imaginario popular como Viriato, Vercingetórix o Boudicca y hechos que han provocado la admiración de la historia como la heroica resistencia de la ciudad de Numancia o el saqueo de Roma". Breve Historia de los Celtas, rubricado por Manuel Velasco es un trabajo que le ayudará a conocer la asombrosa variedad de una nación que se extendió por toda Europa, desde Grecia hasta España, e hizo del mestizaje su bandera. Conocer a los celtas es conocer una parte de aquello que nos hace europeos. El libro nos introduce a la cultura, los héroes, los ritos, la mitología y la vida cotidiana, de un pueblo que se extendió por Austria, Suiza, Francia, Bélgica, España, Reino Unido y, por supuesto, Irlanda. Dividido en tres partes, Manuel Velasco nos narra en la primera la historia de su legendaria resistencia a la conquista romana, a través de tres figuras fundamentales: el hispano-luso Viriato, el galo Vercingetórix, y la británica Boudicca, reina guerrera que arrasó la ciudad de Londinum (Londres); completa este apartado una completa descripción de la vida cotidiana de los celtas en Irlanda. La segunda se ocupa de la religión y la mitología, el paso fundamental de una mitología arcana y politeísta, a un cristianismo impulsado por San Patricio. En la tercera se incluye una valiosísima información complementaria sobre el idioma y la escritura, los nombres celtas y los lugares emblemáticos de esta cultura (finisterres). Fundamental para todos aquellos interesados en misterios como Stonehenge, Carnac o las tradiciones mágicas de los druidas, pero también para aquellos que quieran recrear la vida cotidiana y los ritos de un pueblo que está en la base de autores tan dispares y populares como Goscinny y Uderzo, y J.R.R. Tolkien.
©2009 Ediciones Nowtilus S.L. (P)2020 Audible Studios
Alexander the Great
Summary
In this succinct portrait of Alexander the Great, distinguished scholar and historian Norman Cantor draws on the major writings of Alexander's contemporaries, as well as the most recent psychological and cultural studies, to illuminate this most legendary of men - a great figure in the ancient world, whose puzzling personality greatly fueled his military accomplishments. Cantor describes Alexander's ambiguous relationship with his father, Philip II of Macedon; his oedipal involvement with his mother, the Albanian princess Olympias; and his bisexuality. He traces Alexander's attempts to bridge the East and West, using Achilles, hero of the Trojan War, as his model. Finally, Cantor explores Alexander's view of himself in relation to the pagan gods of Greece and Egypt. More than a biography, Cantor's Alexander the Great is a psychological rendering of a man of his time.
©2005 The Estate of Norman F. Cantor (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
![Cover art for El Imperio Romano [The Roman Empire]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Mq0j75cBL._SL500_.jpg)
El Imperio Romano [The Roman Empire]
Summary
Explora la Fascinante Historia del Imperio Romano. El Imperio Romano fue una de las fuerzas más imponentes del mundo antiguo. Esta no es solo la historia de la conquista o su increíble organización, o de las instituciones que lo hicieron posible. El Imperio Romano no es otro aburrido cuento histórico. Por el contrario, despierta nuestra imaginación, nuestros miedos y hasta nos entretiene. Esta es la historia de los hombres y mujeres fascinantes - los emperadores, sus esposas, padres, hermanos, hermanas e hijos - que constituyen el atractivo de este imperio. Algunos de ellos, como Marco Aurelio y Antonino Pío, eran sabios y virtuosos: otros - como Calígula, Cómodo, y Caracalla - fueron verdaderos monstruos, cuya sed de sangre y apetito sexual no tenían límites. Esta es la historia de los eventos y personajes más relevantes ocurrida en un periodo entre dos acontecimientos importantes: el auge de Augusto en el primer siglo a.C. y el último saqueo de Roma a finales del siglo V d.C. Los temas a tratar incluyen: De la República al Imperio: El ascenso de Octavio La Era de Augusto La Dinastía Julio - Claudia después de Augusto: Desde Tiberio hasta Nerón La Guerra Civil y el Año de los Cuatro Emperadores (AD 68–69) Dinastía Flavia La Dinastía Antonina: Los Cinco Emperadores Buenos (y un par no tan buenos) Algunos Emperadores Nuevos Crisis, guerras Civiles y divisiones: El declive lento y doloroso Los dos imperios: Este y Oeste ¡Todo esto y mucho más que no puedes perderte! ¡Adquiere el libro ya y aprende más sobre el Imperio Romano! Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish.
©2018 Captivating History (P)2019 Captivating History
Prehistoric Burial Rites
Summary
Burial rites underwent a massive change in prehistoric times - find out what happened! Based on evidence from the archaeological record in the UK, Troy Newton takes an in-depth look at how burial rites changed between the second and third millennium BC. You'll find out: What happened to the long barrows When and why grave goods were included When the change occurred from excarnation to inhumation When ancestor worship changed to a more individual focus Page up and order.
©2018 Troy Newton (P)2018 Troy Newton
Roman History: 3 in 1
Summary
In this audiobook bundle, you get the best historical facts and knowledge you deserve. In the first audiobook, various aspects of the Roman Empire, its government, and its place in human history will be discussed. You'll learn more about leaders, habits, and practices. You'll find out how the empire died off and collapsed. In the second audiobook, a number of emperors come to light. Caligula, Nero, Marcus Aurelius, and Julius Caesar are only a few of the many emperors whose Roman lives are detailed in this comprehensive guide. In the third audiobook, Spartacus is covered in the first few sections. His rebellion against his slave owners typified several other rebellious acts, and is the key to what was common in those days to do with slaves, prostitutes, and how families were treated. The ins and outs of Roman society are shown in this elaborate audiobook. All in all, you get over plenty of explanations and clarifications of what the Romans and their empire looked about 2,000 years ago.
©2019 Summaries from History (P)2019 Summaries from History
Fighting the Plague in Antiquity and the Middle Ages
Summary
Plague and pestilence have both fascinated and terrified humanity from the very beginning. Societies and individuals have struggled to make sense of them, and more importantly they’ve often struggled to avoid them. Before the scientific age, people had no knowledge of the microbiological agents - unseen bacteria and viruses - which afflicted them, and thus the maladies were often ascribed to wrathful supernatural forces. Even when advances in knowledge posited natural causes for epidemics and pandemics, medicine struggled to deal with them, and for hundreds of years religion continued to work hand-in-hand with medicine. Inevitably, that meant physicians tried a variety of practices to cure the sick, and many of them seem quite odd by modern standards. By the time Rome was on the rise, physicians understood that contagions arose and spread, but according to Galen, Hippocrates, and other Greco-Roman authorities, pestilence was caused by miasma, foul air produced by the decomposition of organic matter. Though modern scientists have since been able to disprove this, on the face of it there was some logic to the idea. Physicians and philosophers (they were very often the same, Galen being an example) noticed that disease arose in areas of poor sanitation, where filth and rotting matter was prevalent and not disposed of, and the basic measures to prevent disease - waste removal, provision of clean food and water, and quarantining - would have been obvious to them. The scenting of miasmic air with incense and other unguents to expel the foulness would also have thus made sense, though people now know that can’t stop the spread of a disease. Ancient physicians at the time believed that miasma was not the direct cause of disease but rather a catalyst. Maladies were caused by an imbalance of what Galen called the four humors. According to him (and Hippocrates before him), the body contained four kinds of fluids: Black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm. These corresponded to the four elements of which the entire universe was composed: Earth, fire, water, and air. Black bile was tied to earth, yellow bile to fire, blood to air, and phlegm to water. It was believed that the balance of the humors in the body not only determined an individual’s health, but their behavior and temperament as well. A melancholic (from melanos, the word for “black”) disposition was caused by an excess of black bile. Yellow bile made a person fiery or choleric (from khole, the word for bile), while a phlegmatic (from phlegma, body moisture) temperament denoted a surplus of phlegm. The most desirable temperament was the sanguine (sanguis, blood), which exhibited happiness, calm and enthusiasm. The ancient Romans thought miasma caused an imbalance in these fluids, and disease resulted. For the ancient physician, as indeed for all physicians for the next 1,500 years or so, illness was not the direct result of external agents. The High Middle Ages had seen a rise in Western Europe’s population in previous centuries, but these gains were almost entirely erased as the plague spread rapidly across all of Europe from 1346-1353. With a medieval understanding of medicine, diagnosis, and illness, nobody understood what caused Black Death or how to truly treat it. As a result, many religious people assumed it was divine retribution, while superstitious and suspicious citizens saw a nefarious human plot involved. Fighting the Plague in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: The History of Ancient and Medieval Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Diseases looks at the ways past societies have striven to cope with epidemics and the various remedies – some bizarre, some desperate, others logical but nonetheless misguided - they employed. The approaches include an eclectic mix of medicine, supernatural rituals, religion, and philosophy.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Treasures of Greek Mythology
Summary
Unlock your Greek treasure box! Enter a world where gods and goddesses mingle with the humans that worship them in elaborate temples, where heroes fight epic battles and monsters are thwarted, where legendary tales are told with an eye toward eternal glory: The treasure that is Greek mythology is an undeniable pleasure to listen. Explore another world of ancient values, virtues, and vices - never to be forgotten. The motifs of Greek mythology are similar to that of many other mythologies: Supernatural power is a handy way to explain the extraordinary; heroes are larger-than-life, with superhuman strength and wisdom to spare; gods are tricky and should be approached with caution; harrowing journeys are undertaken; battles are fought, and champions are forged. The Greeks developed a highly sophisticated government and developed both the Western epic and the philosophical tradition; their influence is undeniable still yet today. We can see the Greek evolution from their legendary founding, to their epic expansion, to their continued presence in our popular imagination through the thread of their treasure trove of myths and tales. This audiobook can take you through that journey, beginning with an overview of the Greek peoples and cultures, and into an understanding of their pantheon of gods and goddesses, their amazing tales of adventure, restless search for meaning, and a glimpse into who they actually were via the stories they held dear. Some specific elements you will encounter include: Some of the main gods of the Greco-Roman pantheon, with all their quirks and foibles The Greek Council of Twelve Gods and their all-too-human role in the peoples they oversee The first epic tales that have defined Western literary culture for thousands of years The multiple myths surrounding the gods, their heroes, and their foes The unique philosophy and government of ancient Greece, which created the foundation for all of the Western civilization From the Minotaur to Medusa to the Cyclops - fascinating creatures fueling mythological tales Stories about some of the most legendary figures in mythological history: Theseus and Perseus Contemporary visions of Greek characters and how they inform our Western institutions, our literary and artistic history, and our contemporary culture Greek mythology is diverse and fascinating, offering us an insight into how ancient people believed and lived, into what they valued and vilified, and into how they lived and thrived. Finally, if you have enjoyed these treasured tales of Greek mythology, don’t forget to explore the other fantastic realms of mythological magic in this series of books: Treasures of Egyptian Mythology Treasures of Celtic Mythology Treasures of Norse Mythology Treasures of Roman Mythology You will find yourself in awe of the sweeping scope of history and culture represented by these mythological traditions - as well as get a better understanding of how we continually make and re-make these myths for our own times. That’s the fabulous thing about myths: They never truly die.
©2019 Bluesource and Friends (P)2020 Bluesource and Friends
Powerful Women Who Ruled the Ancient World
Summary
What is power and who is allowed to wield it? Why is female power so rare and, often, so feared? What can the women who gained power in the ancient world teach us about the contemporary world and our modern ideas of gender, authority, and equality? Listeners will explore these and other questions as you travel back to the ancient world and uncover the stories of remarkable women who overcame a host of barriers to wield power in a male-dominated world. From Egypt and Mesopotamia to China and Rome, you will meet women who worked strategically to gain unprecedented influence and you will see how their stories echo through the centuries, offering surprising relevance to our understanding of gender and sexual dynamics today. In Powerful Women of the Ancient World, Professor Kara Cooney will share the stories of women who rose to power through ambition; intelligence; skill; and sheer determination. First, you will take a look at what power actually is - how it is defined, how different kinds of power operate, and why women and men are often viewed differently when power is involved. Then, meet the women of the ancient world who challenged the status quo by grasping for and holding authority. Some names listeners will likely already recognize through their “cautionary tales”, such as Cleopatra and Jezebel. Others, though less well-known, will show you the different ways it is possible to be powerful. You will meet rulers like Empress Lü of China and Hatshepsut of Egypt, rebel leaders such as Boudica of Britain, religious leaders like the Hebrew prophetess Deborah, and more. As listeners will learn, times may have changed since antiquity, but the past has a long reach - and in many ways, our cultural ideas about women and power are surprisingly slow to change.
©2020 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.
The Byzantine Army
Summary
It would be hard if not outright impossible to overstate the impact Roman Emperor Constantine I had on the history of Christianity, Ancient Rome, and Europe as a whole. Best known as Constantine the Great, the kind of moniker only earned by rulers who have distinguished themselves in battle and conquest, Constantine remains an influential and controversial figure to this day. He achieved enduring fame by being the first Roman emperor to personally convert to Christianity, and for his notorious Edict of Milan, the imperial decree which legalized the worship of Christ and promoted religious freedom throughout the Empire. More than 1500 years after Constantine’s death, Abdu'l-Bahá, the head of the Bahá'í Faith, wrote, “His blessed name shines out across the dawn of history like the morning star, and his rank and fame among the world's noblest and most highly civilized is still on the tongues of Christians of all denominations” The Byzantine Army: The History and Legacy of the Byzantine Empire’s Military during the Middle Ages examines the history of the Byzantine military machine, why it was so successful, and why, in the end, it failed to preserve a civilization that had lasted a thousand years.
©2019 Charles River Editors (P)2019 Charles River Editors