A Guide to the Ancient World

by Michael Grant

Incorporating much more than the twin spheres of ancient Greece and Rome, the frontiers of the classical world extended from Caledonia (Scotland) to Cyrenaica (eastern Libya) and far beyond. In this unique atlas, one of our most distinguished classical historians describes nearly 900 locations throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa that figure prominently in the history and literature of the ancient world. Covering a period from the first millennium B.C., when the Greek city-states emerged, to the fall of the western Roman Empire in the late fifth century A.D., Grant re-creates these geographical sites in detail, relating events, recounting stories, and providing profiles of the people inextricably linked to the history of each place. Based on such varied sources as classical writings, contemporary history, and evidence from archaeology, this fascinating gazeteer opens a window onto a long-vanished world of farflung and varied influences.

Genres: History, Reference, Nonfiction, Ancient History, World History

728 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1986

About the author

Michael Grant was an English classisist, numismatist, and author of numerous popular books on ancient history. His 1956 translation of Tacitus’s Annals of Imperial Rome remains a standard of the work. He once described himself as "one of the very few freelances in the field of ancient history: a rare phenomenon". As a popularizer, his hallmarks were his prolific output and his unwillingness to oversimplify or talk down to his readership.

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Reviews

[Thomas Fortenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite reference to the ancient world. Indespensible for research.

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference

[C.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient history is easier to understand when you know where things were and what they're called now (or then). Good reference.

[Windsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of the ancient world. Not much else to say. Love Michael Grant too. Man doesn't make a bad book in my opinion :)