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.
Ancient Greece: From Beginning to End (Greek History, Ancient Greek, Aristotle, Socrates, Greece History, Plato, Alexander The Great, Macedonian)
Summary
The foundation of democracy; the genesis of the Olympic Games; the cradle of Western thinking; the inspiration of the Renaissance - the world owes Ancient Greece a lot more than one might think. Home to humanities greatest philosophers like Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, this era is enriched with a wealth of fascinating events. Spanning over a period of seven centuries and reigning over large territories stretching as far as Southwest Asia and the entire Mediterranean, the kingdoms of Greece were able to imbue half the world with their beautiful culture, art, literature, and innovative thinking. Inside you will learn about: The rise of Ancient Greece Archaic Greece Classical Greece Hellenistic Greece The fall of Ancient Greece Ten little-known facts about Ancient Greece This audiobook discusses each epoch of this electrifying era from beginning to end: The Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, and the fall of Ancient Greece. Enriched with riveting details of the era, this audiobook will not only edify you but also keep you entranced.
©2015 Stephan Weaver (P)2018 Stephan Weaver
The Romans in Scotland
Summary
The Romans were master builders, and much of what they built has stood the test of time. Throughout their vast empire, they have left grand structures, from the Forum and Pantheon in Rome, to the theatres and hippodromes of North Africa, and the triumphal gates in Anatolia and France. Wherever they went, the Romans built imposing structures to show their power and ability, and one of their most impressive constructions was built on the northernmost fringe of the empire. Shortly after Emperor Hadrian came to power in the early second century CE, he decided to seal off Scotland from Roman Britain with an ambitious wall stretching from sea to sea. To accomplish this, the wall had to be built from the mouth of the River Tyne - where Newcastle stands today - 80 Roman miles (76 miles or 122 kilometers) west to Bowness-on-Solway. The sheer scale of the job still impresses people today, and Hadrian’s Wall has the advantage of being systematically studied and partially restored. Of course, the masterful architecture of the wall belied the fact that it was built for defense, because Scotland (known as Caledonia to the Romans) was never fully conquered or incorporated into the Roman Empire, a fact that many modern Scots remain quite proud of today. While the Romans made several efforts to subdue Scotland, it is not entirely clear whether their failure to complete the subjugation of the northern part of the British Isles was due to the ferocity of the Caledonian/Pictish tribesmen or whether the Romans simply came to the conclusion that the region had far too little to offer in the way of resources (either minerals, metals, or slaves) to warrant repeated major campaigns. Scotland in the first century CE had no settlements of any size, so profitable trade was not easy to establish, and so, did not offer any major motivation for military conquest.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
A Macat Analysis of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War
Summary
Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War is generally acknowledged as the first great work in the fields of both history and political theory. It uses a combination of narrative, debate, and analysis to document the war between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BC). But the importance of the work lies less in the story than in the way Thucydides tells it. History was the first major work of political inquiry that did not relate events to divine influences. It introduced instead a critical method of looking to the facts of human actions as the basis of our understanding - a method that continues to be used today, more than two millennia later. Many of the most important political thinkers in the Western tradition cite Thucydides as an influence, and major figures including Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, and Friedrich Nietzsche have praised his writing.
©2016 Macat Inc (P)2016 Macat Inc
Basque Country
Summary
It would not be a stretch to say that for a very tiny geographical territory (just 20,747 square kilometers), the Basque Country has inspired a plethora of intense stereotypes. Some of these stereotypes have been cast upon its people from the outside, while others have been strategically propagated by the people themselves. For such a small area of land that is home to only 3,000,000 people, the Basque Country is anything but small in terms of its history, which is why opinions about its people are so intense, so consequential, and so contradictory. The Basque people have been called “the people who sing and dance at the foot of the Pyrenees”, a description that evokes not only their geographical location but also their strong folk traditions. Those words, said by the famous French writer Victor Hugo, infuriate the Basque people to this day. They have also been described pejoratively as “Europe’s aboriginals”, a reference to the age-old status of their culture, which has led many people to fetishize them and their language as ancient. In a much loftier vein, they also have been thought to be the “original” true European natives, the people who established the most prestigious, celebrated elements of European culture. While such small-minded stereotypes rightly tend to antagonize the Basque people, many Basque nationalists have been eager to cultivate an image of their culture as unique and separate from Spain and from France, the larger nations that engulf its territory and that threaten its autonomy. Basque nationalists are eager to point to the rich tradition of archeologists, politicians, anthropologists, nationalists and folklorists who have grown out of their culture. They have embraced their status as the oldest surviving European people, and they have celebrated their language, Euskera, as one of the world’s oldest spoken languages, a non-Indo-European tongue that can brag about having no other related languages in existence. At the same time, even as the Basque Country seems to be commonly used as a synonym for all that is old, it is important to keep in mind the fact that the Basques have long been at the avant-garde of European history and culture, not to mention trade. During the wars against the Islamic caliphate during the Spanish Reconquista, the Basque kings often led the charge against the enemy. It was a Basque captain Juan Sebastian de Elcano, who first made a journey around the globe. Moreover, Bilbao - a major city in the Basque Country - is not only the birthplace of Basque nationalism, but also of Spanish socialism. Beyond politics, the Basque Country is responsible for the start of the industrial revolution in Spain, thanks to their iron mines. Add to that the fact that some of the best writers of Spanish literary history - Miguel de Unamuno and Pio Baroja - come from the Basque Country, not to mention the political legacy left by Henry III of Navarre who became Henry IV of France, and brought an era of religious peace to France through the Bourbon dynasty. Basque Country: The Turbulent History and Legacy of the Basque Autonomous Community in Spain looks at the region, the most important events there, and the ongoing political tensions.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Soldier of Rome
Summary
Rome's Vengeance. In the year A.D. 9, three Roman Legions under Quintilius Varus were betrayed by the Germanic war chief, Arminius, and destroyed in the forest known as Teutoburger Wald. Six years later, Rome is finally ready to unleash her vengeance on the barbarians. The Emperor Tiberius has sent his adopted son, Germanicus Caesar, into Germania with an army of 40,000 legionaries. They come not on a mission of conquest, but one of annihilation. With them is a young legionary named Artorius. For him the war is a personal vendetta; a chance to avenge his brother, who was killed in Teutoburger Wald. In Germania Arminius knows the Romans are coming. He realizes that the only way to fight the legions is through deceit, cunning, and plenty of well-placed brute force. In truth he is leery of Germanicus, knowing that he was trained to be a master of war by the Emperor himself. The entire Roman Empire held its collective breath as Germanicus and Arminius faced each other in what would become the most brutal and savage campaign the world had seen in a generation; a campaign that could only end in a holocaust of fire and blood.
©2006, 2012 James Mace (P)2014 James Mace
Roman Arches
Summary
Some of the most iconic symbols of the Roman Empire that have survived into the modern world today are the arches that Romans erected to commemorate military victories and glorify individual emperors. The story of how arches came to be used throughout the Roman world in such a way is one that involves the evolution of the military and its leaders into the political forces that came to dominate the state, and those arches, along with the triumphs that came to be associated with many of them, were key parts in the process of exhibiting the might of Rome. At the same time, they were meant to mark the individual achievements of Rome’s rulers, making them an enormous and expensive PR exercise that steadily grew over the years. At its most basic, and in its earliest incarnation, the arch was a celebration of achievement and, as such, was part of a whole series of methods used by the Romans to record, reward, and publicize success. However, as the imperial period progressed, the arch came to symbolize much more and became exclusively associated with imperial might through the building of triumphal arches. The story of those arches is inextricably linked to the promotion of Rome as the greatest of all powers, and of its leaders as the most worthy and able of all commanders. Triumphal arches in Rome provided a centerpiece for triumphs that were restricted to the emperors and their immediate families after the establishment of the Roman Empire, but arches in the wider empire did not have this specific function. That said, as with those in Italy, foreign arches were strategically placed to ensure they were seen and passed through by the maximum number of people, subjecting them to scenes depicting Roman victories on a regular basis. These arches were inextricably linked to promoting Rome as the greatest of all powers, and also bound up in the policy of Romanization and assimilation of conquered territories and populations. Of course, these arches have intrigued historians for years. Franz Botho Graef, a German classical archaeologist and art historian, a prominent expert in the area, devoted his life to the identification and cataloging of Roman arches. He documented 125 extant arches, and 30 further examples discerned from the literature or other sources, scattered throughout Rome and its provinces. Graef’s listing is usually taken as the starting point for subsequent researchers, but another eminent historian in the field, A. Frothingham, has disputed Graef´s listings, arguing that only 115 of the 125 identified arches actually existed. He also claimed to have identified 280 further “monuments and arches,” the majority of which were located within Asia Minor, North Africa, and Syria. However, this methodological approach introduced a new category - monuments - into the cataloging process, which has only served to complicate the debate. The building process of arches was long and protracted, but it typically served the empire well. Indeed, the success of this physical statement can perhaps be best measured by the number of similar arches erected around the world centuries after the end of the Roman Empire, including the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Narva Triumphal Arch in Saint Petersburg, the Wellington Arch in London, and the India Gate in Delhi. Roman Arches: The History of the Famous Monuments in Rome and Throughout the Roman Empire examines the events surrounding the celebrations, accounts of them, and how the arches influenced other architectural monuments. You will learn about Roman arches like never before.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
A Statement with Regard to the Moorish Prince, Abduhl Rahhahman
Summary
Ibrahima Abdul Rahman or Abd al-Rahmana was born around 1762 in the African kingdom of Timbuktu, a region now part of Mali. At the age of 26, he was captured in an ambush, enslaved, and eventually transported to Mississippi, where he became a field worker on a cotton plantation. The manumission of Ibrahima and his wife Isabella was obtained prior to the publication of this 1828 work.
Public Domain (P)2018 Museum Audiobooks
![Cover art for Antigua Grecia [Ancient Greece]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61+Po8twD5L._SL500_.jpg)
Antigua Grecia [Ancient Greece]
Summary
Explora la fascinante historia de la Antigua Grecia La cultura y los acontecimientos que tuvieron lugar en Grecia fueron tan influyentes que tienen un efecto significativo en la población actual de todo el mundo. Los griegos antiguos crearon la democracia, un sistema político usado frecuentemente y considerado por muchos como la mejor forma de gobierno. Las grandes mentes de Grecia también hicieron increíbles y vitales descubrimientos, como el molino de agua, la geometría básica, y el uso de la medicina para curar enfermedades. Los filósofos de la antigua Grecia establecieron los cimientos de un nuevo campo de pensamiento y estudios. La antigua Grecia inauguró los juegos olímpicos, que aún se celebran regularmente. Figuras históricas particularmente famosas, tales como Alejandro Magno y Cleopatra, también tuvieron lazos con la antigua Grecia y jugaron un papel significativo durante su historia, a través del curso de guerras y la expansión del imperio. Debido a la influencia de la antigua Grecia, mientras aprendes sobre este periodo y lugar, aprenderás también sobre tu historia y sobre los orígenes de las personas, lugares e instituciones que probablemente estudias de manera regular en la escuela. Empezando en la Edad Oscura, este libro te guiará a lo largo de un emocionante viaje a través de la oscuridad, la democracia, el descubrimiento y el desarrollo de la civilización occidental. Algunos de los temas que se cubren en este libro incluyen: El amanecer de la Edad Oscura De la Oscuridad a la Democracia Orígenes Olímpicos Grecia Crece de Guerra en Guerra La Lucha por la Democracia La Guerra del Peloponeso Entra Alejandro El Grande Grandes Mentes de la Antigua Grecia Roma Toma el Control Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish.
©2018 Captivating History (P)2018 Captivating History
The Persian Wars, Volume 2
Summary
Starting with Book Five, Volume 2 of The Persian Wars enters directly into the intrigues between the Greeks and Persians. Darius, infuriated with Athens because of her support for the liberation of the Ionian Greeks, initiates the first invasion of Greece, which ends with the Athenian victory at Marathon in 490 B.C. When Xerxes ascends the Persian throne a few years later, the war is resumed on a vastly greater scale. In some of the most wonderful prose of all time, Herodotus describes the events culminating in the naval battle of Salamis and the clash of armies at Plataea. Translation by George Rawlinson.
©2003 Audio Connoisseur
The History of the Byzantine Empire: From Its Glory to Its Downfall
Summary
The book covers the history of the Byzantine Empire from late antiquity until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. The author provides a comprehensive view of this great empire which was characterized by Orthodox Christianity, Greek culture and language, and Roman traditions. Museum Audiobooks strives to present audiobook versions of authentic, unabridged historical texts from prior eras which contain a variety of points of view. The texts do not represent the views or opinions of Museum Audiobooks, and in certain cases may contain perspectives or language that is objectionable to the modern listener.
Public Domain (P)2019 Museum Audiobooks
Classical Antiquity
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of classical antiquity, then pay attention.... From about the ninth to fifth centuries BCE, the population of Greece grew unprecedentedly large, expanding from about 800,000 people to as many as 13 million. About a quarter million of these lived in Athens. The average size of urban households during this period grew considerably, a fact that suggests that food was suddenly available in excesses sufficient to keep larger families healthy and alive much more effectively than just a millennium earlier. Bigger families meant bigger armies and larger communities that would eventually grow into the metropolises of Classical Greece. This incredible stretch of time is called classical antiquity, the age in which Western civilization first realized its potential and place in the world. The era brought on big changes for all the people of the Mediterranean. Thanks to new agricultural methods, seafaring technology, and trade, great civilizations sprang up around the sea, building large urban centers full of artists, merchants, political thinkers, scientists, and philosophers. As Greco-Roman culture grew, the relationships each city and realm had with one another also developed and changed. In Classical Antiquity: A Captivating Guide to Ancient Greece and Rome and How These Civilizations Influenced Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, you will discover topics such as A blind poet from Ionia Athens, Greece Slavery The Golden Age of Athens Pericles at war The Socratic method Plato Alexander the Great The Hellenistic period From Greece to Rome The Roman Republic The gladiators Julius Caesar Remnants of classical antiquity And much, much more! So if you want to learn more about classical antiquity, listen to this audiobook!
©2019 Captivating History (P)2019 Captivating History
Ancient Anatolia
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of ancient Anatolia, then pay attention.... What sparks curiosity about ancient Anatolia, which makes up most of modern-day Turkey, in the minds of history lovers is the diversity of its peoples throughout its territories and time. This audiobook seeks to present the most current view on the events that unfolded through the centuries of the Bronze and Iron Ages of Anatolia. The listener can follow the rise of some of the most famous empires in the world, as well as learn about the circumstances that led to their fall. From early settlements of nomadic tribes to the creation of vast empires, Anatolia changed its face numerous times throughout history. Not just territories and kingdoms changed, but the people inhabiting it also did so as well, in their language, culture, and religion. Even though they were faced with a lack of evidence for certain periods of ancient Anatolia, or for certain peoples, historians seek to accurately paint the picture of the lives in all the various kingdoms of Anatolia. This audiobook follows the Hittite Empire in its rise and fall. It discusses the Arameans and the influence of their culture on the civilized world, as well as the influence of the Luwians and their dispersion throughout Anatolia. Even if they were never able to organize a united Luwian Empire, they changed all the kingdoms they came in contact with. The effects of this ancient civilization can still be felt today as certain dialects of the Luwian language still exist in Anatolia. If you want to learn more about ancient Anatolia, buy this book today!
©2019 Captivating History (P)2020 Captivating History
The Maya (Ninth Edition)
Summary
The Maya has long been established as the best, most accessible introduction to the New World's greatest ancient civilization. Coe and Houston update this classic by distilling the latest scholarship for the general listener and student. This new edition incorporates the most recent archaeological and epigraphic research, which continues to proceed at a fast pace. Among the finest new discoveries are spectacular stucco sculptures at El Zotz and Holmul, which reveal surprising aspects of Maya royalty and the founding of dynasties. Dramatic refinements in our understanding of the pace of developments of the Maya civilization have led scholars to perceive a pattern of rapid bursts of building and political formation. Other finds include the discovery of the earliest known occupant of the region, the Hoyo Negro girl, recovered from an underwater cavern in the Yucatan peninsula, along with new evidence for the first architecture at Ceibal.
©1966, 1980, 1984, 1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, and 2011 Michael D. Coe; this edition copyright 2015 by Michael D. Coe and Stephen Houston (P)2020 Tantor
Hannibal Barca: A Captivating Guide to the Carthaginian General Who Fought in the Second Punic War Between Carthage and Ancient Rome
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating life of Hannibal Barca, then pay attention... One of the names most synonymous with brilliant military strategy is Hannibal. He was the legendary Carthaginian general who marched elephants over the snowy Alps and took on Rome, the growing power in Europe at the time. He outsmarted the best strategists that Rome had to offer and twice sat in front of the gates of Rome with his army. There was never any doubt that Hannibal would serve his country in the military, but no one could have predicted just how well he would serve Carthage. Even centuries later, Romans used the phrase “Hannibal’s at the gates!” as a way of indicating misfortune or fear. Even natural disasters were compared to him. His actions would go on to haunt the Romans for centuries. Because of the threat he had been to them, the Roman Republic was forced to learn how to outsmart their opponents and not just beat them. The actions of Hannibal helped to shape and form Rome into the military power that it became because they realized early on that they were not as safe as they had thought they were. In Hannibal Barca: A Captivating Guide to the Carthaginian General Who Fought in the Second Punic War Between Carthage and Ancient Rome, you will discover topics such as: Rome Versus Carthage - The First Punic War Born into an Uncertain World The Element of Surprise - The Beginning of a Legend Panic in Rome and the Subsequent Raiding of Roman Territory The Rivalry Between Hannibal and Fabius Defeating Hannibal Using Politics to Improve Carthage and a Final Betrayal Cat and Mouse with Rome - Roles Reversed Speculation on Hannibal’s End and the End of Carthage in the Third Punic War And much, much more... So if you want to learn more about Hannibal Barca, scroll up and click the "Add to Cart" button!
©2019 Captivating History (P)2019 Captivating History
Greek Mythology
Summary
Before science, there were myths. Today we see them as fiction, but in the past myths were a way to explain all the natural phenomena that surrounded mankind. History Academy’s brand-new book will tell you all about ancient Greek mythology. Let yourselves be amazed by the wonderful stories about gods and goddesses like Zeus and Athena, heroes like Perseus and monsters like Medusa. Every myth present in the book is supported by additional material regarding ancient Greeks’ history and culture to help our listeners understand the cultural background of the time. The book also includes a genealogical tree to clarify the relationships between the different characters. Greek Mythology is a modern collection of ancient Greek myths gathered by History Academy to let the new generations enjoy these ancient immortal tales. Every myth is full of adventures that will amaze both experienced listeners and occasional ones. This book is perfect for anyone who’s passionate about mythology and art and wishes to know more about myths like Pandora’s box or Prometheus’ theft of fire. Enjoy, dear listeners.
©2020 History Academy (P)2020 History Academy
The Phoenicians
Summary
If you want to discover the captivating history of the Phoenicians, then pay attention... The Phoenicians remain one of the most enigmatic ancient civilizations, with historians and scholars prone to speculation and educated guesses. Although many Greek, Roman, and Egyptian writers reference the Phoenicians in trade records, military battles, and artistic transactions, few records were left by the original Phoenicians themselves, leaving modern scholars to fill in the blanks through educated guesses and material culture. The ancient perception about this civilization was mixed. For every writer like Pomponius Mela who lavished praise upon the Phoenicians, there was another who derided the people as nothing more than cheats and hucksters who kept other states’ trade stymied through stranglehold networks and ridiculous deals. In The Phoenicians: A Captivating Guide to the History of Phoenicia and the Impact Made by One of the Greatest Trading Civilizations of the Ancient World, you will discover chapters, such as: Origins The World of the Phoenicians Political and Legal Structures Daily Life Beauty and Apparel An Unwritten Early History Vassal to the Empires Trade and the Economy Language and Alphabet Religion Warfare Artistry in Multiple Mediums And much, much more! So, if you want to learn more about the Phoenicians, scroll up and click the "buy now" button!
©2019 Captivating History (P)2020 Captivating History
Norse Mythology
Summary
The Norse god Odin was a relentless seeker of knowledge and wisdom, willing to sacrifice almost anything for this pursuit. Odin’s hunger for wisdom is evident in many of the stories that involve him, and I invite you to share his willingness to let go of your reality and jump into the mysterious world of Norse Mythology. Norse Mythology presents a rich and complex collection of stories derived from Germanic roots. A fascination with the history and life of the Norse is growing. Movies and television series about their way of life have surged in popularity. What makes it so fascinating is not the stories in themselves, although some are truly a feast to the eyes, but how they came to be and what they mean for the people that live by them. Let’s drink from the well of knowledge and jump into a realm of wonder, where nothing is as it seems! By the end of this book, you will be familiar with Norse Mythology and its ancient heritage of sagas, myths, and legends. You’ll discover who the Norse were, how they lived, and how they influenced the modern world. All this and much more including: The Most Important & Powerful Gods & Goddess Discover The Vikings - Facts & Myths The Legend of Sigurd The Dragon Hunter + Sigurd Runes The Dangerous Draugr Creatures That Killed Any Humans They Laid Eyes Upon How Freya’s Beauty Led to Mjolin’s Theft Thor The God of Thunder & The Story of How He Got His Hammer Ragnarok - All You Need to Know About the End of the World And much, much more.... Open a door to another world...a world of adventure, heroism, romance, and mystery. Norse Mythology. Your calling has been answered with this book.
©2020 Sofia Visconti (P)2021 Sofia Visconti
Technological Advances in Metallurgy During the Bronze Age
Summary
Find out how metal working developed during the Bronze Age. Find out what changes occurred and how methods and techniques developed in metal working. The Bronze Age is defined by the three-age system dates from 2500 BC to 600 BC and originally provided a convenient chronology of the subdivision of technological advances. The period is important in that it sees the spread of the use of metals and witnesses the development of metallurgy techniques to make the most of these new resources.
©2018 Troy Newton (P)2018 Troy Newton
The Annals
Summary
The Annals, written by Gaius Cornelius Tacitus (56c-120 CE), is regarded as one of the great literary works of history in the Roman world. Tacitus is considered by many to be the greatest of Roman historians, and The Annals is his’ outstanding achievement. Originally comprising 18 volumes, books 7 to 10 and parts of books 5, 6, 11 and 16 have been lost, but those that remain, read here by Martyn Swain, tell the fascinating tale of the Julio Claudian emperors and their times. Writing many years after their deaths, in the reign of the emperor Trajan, but still within living memory of his subjects, Tacitus describes the corrupting nature of Roman society with an analytical eye and a critical mind, seeking to present an accurate and considered view of the key events and characters of the preceding century. Beyond the scope of any Hollywood epic, his canvas is vast, and he paints the picture of the incipient decline of Roman values and society following the death of the Divine Augustus. His descriptions of the lives and deaths of the Julio Claudian emperors (14-68 CE) paint portraits of some of the most monstrous and notorious individuals the world has ever seen: he describes the gradual moral decay and corruption of the hypocritical Tiberius; the weakness of the unfortunate Claudius and his infamous wives Messallina and Agrippina; and the unmitigated malignant evil of the despicable Nero. Tacitus, who was also known as Publius Cornelius Tacitus, chronicles the intrigues and excesses of the rulers of empire as well as their overpowering pride and vanity within the setting of fabulous wealth, absolute power and a range of pernicious wickedness of unparalleled variety. The Annals are remarkable as a work of literary accomplishment written by a master of rhetoric and have a poetic, tragic quality often focusing on the seemingly implacable nature of fate and the widespread bloodshed, disaster and doom so often unleashed by intransigent human greed and malevolence. John Jackson’s translation of The Annals chronicles a series of events filled with multiple examples of the limitless appetite for power, wealth and glory and the interplay between the rulers of the state, its populace, its institutions and its military. As well as detailing the conflicts, battles and conquests of the empire stretching from North Africa to Persia and from Palestine to Britain, Tacitus recounts fascinating details of insurrection, mutiny and rebellion in the armies of Rome; battles won and lost; storms at sea; shipwrecks; suicides; assassinations; torture; executions; murder by poison, rope and blade; incest and worse; and the commonplace of family members scheming, plotting, and killing each other to satisfy their lusts and achieve their ambitions.
Public Domain (P)2019 Ukemi Productions Ltd
The Lost City of Mari
Summary
For a period of just under 100 years, the city of Mari in northern Mesopotamia (Eastern Syria) was one of the most - if not the most - important cities in the Near East. Mari was ruled by a dynasty of powerful Amorite kings who were not afraid to use their military power to keep subordinate provinces in line and their enemies at bay, but more often, they relied upon a combination of diplomacy and trade to establish their dominance. Founded by seminomadic Amorite tribes, Mari was gradually transformed over the span of centuries from a sleepy stop along the Euphrates River to the premier power in Near East during the early second millennium BCE. It remained a relatively obscure city for quite some time, overshadowed by more powerful dynasties and city-states in Akkad and Ur, until its kings took advantage of the collapse of the Ur III Dynasty and the return to the process of competing city-states that so often marked interregnum periods throughout ancient Mesopotamian history. If it were not for some very fortunate events and circumstances, the modern world might never have known about Mari. After Mari was conquered by Babylonian King Hammurabi, its cultural and political influence quickly diminished, until it was literally relegated to being a backwater on the Euphrates. As time went on, later rulers ignored the site, and it was eventually all but forgotten, so when modern scholars began deciphering and studying the enigmatic cuneiform script in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they noticed that though the city of Mari was mentioned in numerous important texts, no one knew where it was nor how big it was. The city was finally discovered and excavated in the 1930s, and almost as soon as the first picks went into the soil, there was the realization that it was one of the most important sites of its time was made. When archaeologists uncovered one of the greatest caches of cuneiform documents from ancient Mesopotamia at the site of Mari, it instantly expanded modern scholarly knowledge, not just of the city, but of ancient Mesopotamia in the early second millennium BCE. The “Mari Archives”, as they became known, brought the lost city to life, relating many different aspects of the city-state’s culture and what made it important and unique, as well as what made it similar to other Mesopotamian city-states of the era. The Mari archives ultimately showed the world that for a brief moment in history, there was no other city as important as Mari. The Lost City of Mari: The History and Legacy of an Ancient Mesopotamian Power Center chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the mysterious city and why it was forgotten for so long.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors