The Ancient Mediterranean World: From the Stone Age to A.D. 600

by Robin W. Winks

What is a city, and what forms did urbanization take in different times and places? How do peoples and nations define themselves and perceive foreigners? Questions like these serve as the framework for The Ancient Mediterranean From the Stone Age to A.D. 600 . This book provides a concise overview of the history of the Mediterranean world, from Paleolithic times through the rise of Islam in the seventh century A.D. It traces the origins of the civilizations around the Mediterranean--including ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome--and their interactions over time.
The Ancient Mediterranean World goes beyond political history to explore the lives of ordinary men and women and investigate topics such as the relationships between social classes, the dynamics of the family, the military and society, and aristocratic values. It introduces students not only to the ancient texts on which historians rely, but also to the art and architecture that reveal how people lived and how they understood ideas like love, death, and the body. Numerous illustrations, chronological charts, excerpts from ancient texts, and in-depth discussions of specific art objects and historical methods are included. Text boxes containing primary source materials examine such diverse subjects as warfare in early Mesopotamia, sculpting the body in classical Greece, the young women of Sappho's chorus, and early descriptions of the Huns. Combining excellent chronological coverage with a clear, concise narrative, The Ancient Mediterranean World is an ideal text for undergraduate
courses in ancient history and ancient civilization.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

Robin W. Winks was an American academic, historian, diplomat, writer on the subject of fiction, especially detective novels, and advocate for the National Parks.

Reviews

[RWM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delicious but efficient first course in western ancient history. It covers pre history to 1500 bc in the first 42 pages using only 4 figures to illustrate the geography or summarize timelines. 2nd chapter is Greek/ Hellenic history. 3rd Rome and 4th Christianity into 600 AD and the emergence of Islam. The text wastes no words but restates the big themes in history. I followed this book by the Old Testament followed by Morris. The Greeks: History, Culture and Society, and Charles Gates. Ancient Cities: The Archeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Nest East, Egypt, Greece and Rome. I finished with the New Testament. These 5 books do relate the foundations of western civilization. Any educated US citizen should have a command of their content.

[Can Şarman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a bit conflicted about this one. As a draft and as a textbook, the book is actually solid. If you’re looking for clear, topic-focused information, it’s genuinely useful.

However, when evaluated as a whole, it skips over too many important details and selectively focuses on topics the authors prefers, without really considering the reader’s existing level of knowledge. That imbalance makes the experience feel uneven.

[Riversue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good concise with good coverage

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I good quick read that will give a nice structure and context to more specific histories that focus on smaller chunks of time.

[Chris S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history. Nice to read something concise about such a huge area and long time scale.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how concise this book was. One of my favorite college texts. Practical and interesting.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much an introductory text for college students. That made it a bit dull for me but I don't know how it would come across to someone unfamiliar with the subject.

[QR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, orderly, concise, interesting, and descriptive. Anything you can ask for in a Classics textbook.

[Kevin Menzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only problem with this introductory taste into the classics is the uneven pacing.

[Kazia]

It was my textbook. I didn't like how the information was presented. And it gave a dull view of the ancient civilizations in study. Some typos were found too.