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The Far Edges of the Known World: A New History of the Ancient Past
What was it like to live on the edges of ancient empires, at the boundaries of the known world?
When Ovid was exiled from Rome to a border town on the Black Sea, he despaired at his new bleak and barbarous surroundings. Like many Greeks and Romans, Ovid thought the outer reaches of his world was where civilisation ceased to exist. Our fascination with the Greek and Roman world, and the abundance of writing that we have from it, means that we usually explore the ancient world from this perspective too. Was Ovid's exile really as bad as he claimed? What was it truly like to live on the edges of these empires, on the boundaries of the known world?
Thanks to archaeological excavations, we now know that the borders of the empires we consider the 'heart' of civilisation were in fact thriving, vibrant cultures – just not ones we might expect. This is where the boundaries of 'civilised' and 'barbarians' began to dissipate; where the rules didn't always apply; where normally juxtaposed cultures intermarried; and where nomadic tribes built their own cities.
Taking us along the sandy caravan routes of Morocco to the freezing winters of the northern Black Sea, from Co-Loa in the Red River valley of Vietnam to the rain-lashed forts south of Hadrian's Wall, Owen Rees explores the powerful empires and diverse peoples in Europe, Asia and Africa beyond the reaches of Greece and Rome. In doing so, he offers us a new, brilliantly rich lens with which to understand the ancient world.
When Ovid was exiled from Rome to a border town on the Black Sea, he despaired at his new bleak and barbarous surroundings. Like many Greeks and Romans, Ovid thought the outer reaches of his world was where civilisation ceased to exist. Our fascination with the Greek and Roman world, and the abundance of writing that we have from it, means that we usually explore the ancient world from this perspective too. Was Ovid's exile really as bad as he claimed? What was it truly like to live on the edges of these empires, on the boundaries of the known world?
Thanks to archaeological excavations, we now know that the borders of the empires we consider the 'heart' of civilisation were in fact thriving, vibrant cultures – just not ones we might expect. This is where the boundaries of 'civilised' and 'barbarians' began to dissipate; where the rules didn't always apply; where normally juxtaposed cultures intermarried; and where nomadic tribes built their own cities.
Taking us along the sandy caravan routes of Morocco to the freezing winters of the northern Black Sea, from Co-Loa in the Red River valley of Vietnam to the rain-lashed forts south of Hadrian's Wall, Owen Rees explores the powerful empires and diverse peoples in Europe, Asia and Africa beyond the reaches of Greece and Rome. In doing so, he offers us a new, brilliantly rich lens with which to understand the ancient world.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 23, 2025
At the beginning of this book the author comments that we have a great deal more information about some ancient civilisations than others, the difference being accounted for by the extent of the written records they left. In this book (I listened to the audio version) he looks at 3 such civilisations, Egypt, Greece and Rome, and considers how they interacted with the peoples they encountered on their periphery. Given the lack of written records, he uses mainly archaeological evidence to draw his conclusions, and goes on a sort of world tour, gradually extending further and further away from the Mediterranean.
I must say I thought this was good. The book opens with a look at the southern frontier of Egypt, at Egyptian forts and nearby Nubian settlements. The author notes that Egyptian and Nubian pottery styles were different, and the pottery within the forts was overwhelmingly Egyptian in style with one exception – cooking pots – which were predominantly Nubian. The most likely explanation is that Egyptian soldiers were cohabiting with Nubian women. The subsequent chapter examines the Canaanite (later Israelite) city of Megiddo, and provides the (to me) remarkable information that analysis of skeletal teeth found at the site and dated to the second millennium BCE, revealed that at least some of the inhabitants consumed products such as vanilla, turmeric and banana, which at the time were only grown in SE Asia. This suggests that either these products arrived in Megiddo as a result of trade, (though bananas would not have kept fresh) or that merchants from the city travelled to SE Asia. We’re talking well over 3000 years ago here. Amazing!
Later chapters look at the Greek colonies of Olbia (present-day Ukraine), Naucratis (Egypt) and Massalia (Marseilles). I found the latter particularly interesting in terms of how the Greeks interacted with the Gauls. The section on Rome looks at Hadrian’s Wall (where there seem to have been some rather disturbing goings-on) and, in another excellent chapter, the city of Volubilis, in present-day Morocco.
The final section of the book takes us beyond the classical world, and the interrelations of Greeks and Romans with cultures outwith their control, including those of the Eurasian steppe, present day Pakistan and India, and the Axumite Empire of Ethiopia/Eritrea. The book also features the city of Co Loa, in Vietnam. The Romans had a good knowledge of the Indian subcontinent but only the haziest knowledge of SE Asia. Nevertheless, the region was connected to western Europe by trade, even if that trade was indirect.
I suppose you could say that the book gives the reader a different perspective on the classical world, by showing us that world through its periphery. A perfect sort of book for my taste.
I must say I thought this was good. The book opens with a look at the southern frontier of Egypt, at Egyptian forts and nearby Nubian settlements. The author notes that Egyptian and Nubian pottery styles were different, and the pottery within the forts was overwhelmingly Egyptian in style with one exception – cooking pots – which were predominantly Nubian. The most likely explanation is that Egyptian soldiers were cohabiting with Nubian women. The subsequent chapter examines the Canaanite (later Israelite) city of Megiddo, and provides the (to me) remarkable information that analysis of skeletal teeth found at the site and dated to the second millennium BCE, revealed that at least some of the inhabitants consumed products such as vanilla, turmeric and banana, which at the time were only grown in SE Asia. This suggests that either these products arrived in Megiddo as a result of trade, (though bananas would not have kept fresh) or that merchants from the city travelled to SE Asia. We’re talking well over 3000 years ago here. Amazing!
Later chapters look at the Greek colonies of Olbia (present-day Ukraine), Naucratis (Egypt) and Massalia (Marseilles). I found the latter particularly interesting in terms of how the Greeks interacted with the Gauls. The section on Rome looks at Hadrian’s Wall (where there seem to have been some rather disturbing goings-on) and, in another excellent chapter, the city of Volubilis, in present-day Morocco.
The final section of the book takes us beyond the classical world, and the interrelations of Greeks and Romans with cultures outwith their control, including those of the Eurasian steppe, present day Pakistan and India, and the Axumite Empire of Ethiopia/Eritrea. The book also features the city of Co Loa, in Vietnam. The Romans had a good knowledge of the Indian subcontinent but only the haziest knowledge of SE Asia. Nevertheless, the region was connected to western Europe by trade, even if that trade was indirect.
I suppose you could say that the book gives the reader a different perspective on the classical world, by showing us that world through its periphery. A perfect sort of book for my taste.
January 9, 2026
Rather than talking about the well-known ancient empires and their history, this book with its clear and easy-to-follow narrative, draws our attention to lesser known worlds, focusing on the citizens and their communities.
December 27, 2024
The Far Edges of the Known World is a multicultural history of the ancient world, exploring border-town civilisations beyond the map of the famous Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires.
As a relative newbie to ancient history, I found this an accessible and engaging read, despite the huge amount of historical research that has clearly gone into it. The writing is rich in detail and references, using the literature and artefacts of the past to really bring those long-lost worlds to life. Rees fully acknowledges the limitations of the Western historic tradition, but is able to use those classical parameters to provide context to the world beyond.
A smart and striking take on ancient history, I found The Far Edges of the Known World a fascinating read.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
As a relative newbie to ancient history, I found this an accessible and engaging read, despite the huge amount of historical research that has clearly gone into it. The writing is rich in detail and references, using the literature and artefacts of the past to really bring those long-lost worlds to life. Rees fully acknowledges the limitations of the Western historic tradition, but is able to use those classical parameters to provide context to the world beyond.
A smart and striking take on ancient history, I found The Far Edges of the Known World a fascinating read.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
September 18, 2025
3.5 stars
June 6, 2025
Thus, he had a decision to make. He could embrace the situation he was in, soak in the undiluted beauty of the Black Sea coast and explore the peaks and valleys that guide the mighty Danube to the west; or become the victim in his own self-pitying narrative. He picked the latter, and at times his writings read like the petulant protestations of a spoiled teenager. He considered his exile as a brutal punishment, and his views of Tomis were particularly scathing: “This bitter place than which there can be nothing more sad in all the world.”
The Far Edges of the Known World must work with the far edge of our known sources, but it makes a good fist of it. I suspect twenty years ago such a book would be significantly sparser, so to see it come out now with its reference to new methods of seeing the past reminds us that as history moves forward, so does our understanding of it.
The Ethiopian/Kenyan and Vietnamese sections are perhaps the most “informative” in terms of introducing new perspectives, but there’s enough reworking of “well known” parts such as Hadrian’s Wall to keep it interesting. Rees works hard to switch our perspective, which broke through to me most in terms of the “city” in the middle of Scythian lands.
What we find beyond the edges of the map are similar stories to our own. Ones that highlight human perseverance, ingenuity and resourcefulness. We see the same power imbalances at play and the need to adapt in order to survive. We also find cultures that do not live up to some of the stories told by our classical authors. These are not barbaric, uncivilised harbingers of chaos: they are complex societies, some of whom chose very different social infrastructures.
As the main theme is that we should change our perspective generally rather than a focus on one group of people through the ages, that does mean there is no overarching narrative that explains the course of history. The book is not trying to do that, so it would feel harsh to penalise it for that “failure”, but it is worth noting in terms of its limitations (again a reminder to me that only assigning stars to a book can be quite limiting). Rees is making a suggestion that you look away from the social/political/cultural centres of power and their perceptions of reality without fully immersing you in any far flung region in particular (though Africa gets some nice overrepresentation).
I enjoyed the teaser to a different way of thinking.
The Far Edges of the Known World must work with the far edge of our known sources, but it makes a good fist of it. I suspect twenty years ago such a book would be significantly sparser, so to see it come out now with its reference to new methods of seeing the past reminds us that as history moves forward, so does our understanding of it.
The Ethiopian/Kenyan and Vietnamese sections are perhaps the most “informative” in terms of introducing new perspectives, but there’s enough reworking of “well known” parts such as Hadrian’s Wall to keep it interesting. Rees works hard to switch our perspective, which broke through to me most in terms of the “city” in the middle of Scythian lands.
What we find beyond the edges of the map are similar stories to our own. Ones that highlight human perseverance, ingenuity and resourcefulness. We see the same power imbalances at play and the need to adapt in order to survive. We also find cultures that do not live up to some of the stories told by our classical authors. These are not barbaric, uncivilised harbingers of chaos: they are complex societies, some of whom chose very different social infrastructures.
As the main theme is that we should change our perspective generally rather than a focus on one group of people through the ages, that does mean there is no overarching narrative that explains the course of history. The book is not trying to do that, so it would feel harsh to penalise it for that “failure”, but it is worth noting in terms of its limitations (again a reminder to me that only assigning stars to a book can be quite limiting). Rees is making a suggestion that you look away from the social/political/cultural centres of power and their perceptions of reality without fully immersing you in any far flung region in particular (though Africa gets some nice overrepresentation).
I enjoyed the teaser to a different way of thinking.
October 16, 2025
History's common narrative is frequently focused on the major empires, often starting from Mesopotamia before focusing on Egypt, Greece, and Rome. But, Earth has always been bigger then this suggests, with peoples throughout the world. Owen Rees' The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization considers this premise of what life for the 'barbarians' or 'savages' actually meant, drawn from surviving sources or archeological findings.
The narrative both begins and ends in Africa, but travels throughout the world, moving chronologically from prehistory to the mid-seventh century. Each chapter focuses on a specific settlement, exploring the different powers that operated in or near it and how its history was shaped by this relationship between or near an empire. Stories of warfare, trade or the assimilation or creation of new people. Some sections are studies of matrioska doll civilizations such as the Egyptian reliance on Greek traders and merchant.
A welcome expansion of life in the ancient world that addresses the misapprehensions of empires as the zenith of civilization.
Recommended to readers of history, archeology or travel writing.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
The narrative both begins and ends in Africa, but travels throughout the world, moving chronologically from prehistory to the mid-seventh century. Each chapter focuses on a specific settlement, exploring the different powers that operated in or near it and how its history was shaped by this relationship between or near an empire. Stories of warfare, trade or the assimilation or creation of new people. Some sections are studies of matrioska doll civilizations such as the Egyptian reliance on Greek traders and merchant.
A welcome expansion of life in the ancient world that addresses the misapprehensions of empires as the zenith of civilization.
Recommended to readers of history, archeology or travel writing.
I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.
October 15, 2025
This book focuses on life along the boundaries and frontiers of the famous ancient civilizations such the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Each chapter is a different site and discusses its history and archaeology. I loved the premise of taking the spotlight away from the traditional favorites and instead showcasing a broader perspective, but I definitely found some chapters more interesting than others. Some chapters covered the daily lives of people while others seemed more like a general overview of that place. Overall I found this book informative and enjoyed my experience reading it.
November 23, 2025
The Far Edges of the Known World analyses the ancient world through an interesting lens - rather than the core empires of Greek, Rome, or Egypt, this book demonstrates how societies and cities on the periphery of these empires can inform us about history that often gets left behind. I love a good ancient history book, and this one taught me about parts of the world and its history that I hadn't heard of before.
September 18, 2025
Picture each chapter as a different roll at an all-you-can-eat sushi place. One where you’re excited to devour some of them but others you’re just really not into at all. However, you need to finish each and everyone one because if you don’t, PUNISHMENT! That’s what I got from this.
October 11, 2025
A tour de force of the farthest edges of the ancient known world. Brilliantly researched and compellingly written!
January 7, 2026
Great content, uninspiringly written.
November 25, 2025
Pfoe hé wat een kutboek. Zo saai en slecht geschreven, zo niet prikkelend en verbeeldend. Slechts een suffe opsomming als een droog Wikipedia-artikel. "Eerst deed de Farao dit. Maar toen deden de Nubiërs dat. En toen deed Farao weer..." Gaap. Ik had kunnen weten dat het niks was: op de kaart van Europa tijdens de Romeinse tijd staat Nederland in haar volle glorie met Flevoland en de Afsluitdijk. Was het zó moeilijk om een kaart van die tijd te vinden?
May 1, 2025
In dit boek neemt Rees je mee naar 'de verre uithoeken' van de bekende wereld, al moet ik zeggen dat ik dat toch wel met een korrel zout neem. Ik had gedacht dat we het over plekken zouden hebben die heel ver verwijderd van de Middellandse Zee zouden hebben - centraal staat de klassieke oudheid - maar dat is toch niet zo. Je moet het niet ruimtelijk bekijken, maar eerder cultureel. Alleen, dat is toch wel iets anders, vind ik, en je creëert de verkeerde verwachtingen.
Het komt er namelijk op neer dat het uiteindelijk toch nog heel vaak gaat over plekken waar een sterke aanwezigheid van de Egyptische, Griekse en Romeinse cultuur is, en waar die cultuur ook omgekeerd wordt beïnvloed door de lokale bevolking. Ik had eerder gedacht dat het over plekken zou gaan die helemaal niks met de klassieke volkeren te maken zouden hebben.
Desondanks is het wel een heel interessant boek, omdat het grotendeels focust op het 'gewone leven', niet dat van koningen en dergelijke, maar van soldaten, kooplieden en gewone inwoners. Het gaat over belastingen, handel en voorwerpen voor bij het dagelijks gebruik. Dat biedt een andere invalshoek, en er valt ook genoeg uitzonderlijks en opmerkelijks te zeggen over de plaatsen op zich en hun geschiedenis, zowel lokaal als in het grotere geheel. Wat dat betreft is de auteur zeker wel in zijn opzet geslaagd en heeft hij me aangenaam verrast.
De vertaling is van Aad Janssen & Joost Pollman en die hebben dat goed gedaan. De terminologie en naamgeving is goed overgenomen, de tekst loopt vlot, er staan geen kromme zinnen in. Alleen bij de redactie heeft de uitgeverij wat steken laten vallen, want er staan nogal wat hinderlijke typfouten in de uitgave. Je ziet op gezette tijden wel een punt te veel of een letter te weinig. Dat kon beter. Maar verder: puike Nederlandse versie!
8/10
Het komt er namelijk op neer dat het uiteindelijk toch nog heel vaak gaat over plekken waar een sterke aanwezigheid van de Egyptische, Griekse en Romeinse cultuur is, en waar die cultuur ook omgekeerd wordt beïnvloed door de lokale bevolking. Ik had eerder gedacht dat het over plekken zou gaan die helemaal niks met de klassieke volkeren te maken zouden hebben.
Desondanks is het wel een heel interessant boek, omdat het grotendeels focust op het 'gewone leven', niet dat van koningen en dergelijke, maar van soldaten, kooplieden en gewone inwoners. Het gaat over belastingen, handel en voorwerpen voor bij het dagelijks gebruik. Dat biedt een andere invalshoek, en er valt ook genoeg uitzonderlijks en opmerkelijks te zeggen over de plaatsen op zich en hun geschiedenis, zowel lokaal als in het grotere geheel. Wat dat betreft is de auteur zeker wel in zijn opzet geslaagd en heeft hij me aangenaam verrast.
De vertaling is van Aad Janssen & Joost Pollman en die hebben dat goed gedaan. De terminologie en naamgeving is goed overgenomen, de tekst loopt vlot, er staan geen kromme zinnen in. Alleen bij de redactie heeft de uitgeverij wat steken laten vallen, want er staan nogal wat hinderlijke typfouten in de uitgave. Je ziet op gezette tijden wel een punt te veel of een letter te weinig. Dat kon beter. Maar verder: puike Nederlandse versie!
8/10
September 15, 2025
"There is a fundamental problem when considering the edges of the world: the edges are determined by where we think the centre is."
With this observation, Owen Rees sets the stage for his revisionist history of the ancient past. The line does more than introduce a theme—it dismantles the blocks upon which many conventional histories of antiquity are built. By questioning who decides what counts as the "centre," Rees forces us to reconsider how histories of Greece and Rome have been written, and, perhaps more importantly, who has been left out.
Rees structures the book as a series of case studies that stretch from Lake Turkana to Aksum, from Hadrian's Wall to Co Loa. Each site is presented as a dynamic locus of interaction, where cultural borders are blurred and societies adapt to political, environmental, and economic pressures. Rees's arguments are grounded in archaeological evidence—in lived realities rather than the prejudiced accounts of elite classical authors. In doing so, he critiques the "civilised-barbarian" dichotomy and demonstrates the complex, multicultural lives of people who existed beyond the gaze of Ovid and his peers.
One of the book's strengths is its human focus—veterans in Karanis writing petitions against injustice, Nubian women in Egyptian garrisons reshaping food culture, or the multicultural soldiers along Hadrian's Wall. These vignettes are personalizing and remind us that ancient history is not just about the study of empires but of the lives of ordinary persons. Rees excels in making these stories accessible without oversimplifying them, weaving together archaeological data, inscriptions, and literary fragments into narratives that are rigorous and immediate.
Rees writes as someone who trusts his readers' intelligence. He introduces technical archaeological concepts—strontium isotope analysis, dental calculus examination—without condescension, while his narrative voice remains conversational and direct. Most effectively, he lets archaeological evidence speak against literary bias: where Ovid describes Tomis as a barbaric wasteland, Rees presents the material culture of a thriving Greek settlement, allowing the contrast to make his point about the unreliability of elite sources.
The revisionist argument is persuasive. Rees makes clear that the obsession with Greece and Rome as cultural "centres" has distorted the past. By shifting the focus to the peripheries, he reveals a landscape of innovation and resilience—not the empty frontier portrayed in many histories. Aksum's Christianity, Taxila's fusion of Greek and Buddhist art, or the continued flourishing of Volubilis after Rome's retreat each show how societies at the so-called "edges" shaped the ancient world on their own terms.
Rees is candid about the limits of his approach—no book can cover everything. His definition of "pre-history" as beginning before Herodotus is necessarily tied to a classical benchmark, even as he critiques classical bias. The disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine forced his reliance on secondary research for some regions. However, he turns this into a strength by highlighting the collaborative nature of historical scholarship. Also, the sheer breadth of material sometimes means that not every site receives equal depth. Yet these limitations do not undermine Rees's work. If anything, they point toward future research. The histories of Co Loa, Bilsk, or Aksum are far from fully told, and Rees's work opens the door for others to continue exploring them.
Ultimately, what emerges is a complex narrative, not a tidy replacement history that swaps one center for another. Rees demonstrates that there is no neat categorization of the ancient world: cultural lines were porous, trade networks spanned continents, and identities were constantly in motion. Rees presents a way of thinking about the past that embraces uncertainty and multiplicity. This approach has implications for how we understand historical knowledge itself. By foregrounding voices and sites often overlooked, Rees argues not just for a more inclusive history, but for a fundamental shift in how we conceive of historical authority—from the pronouncements of elite chroniclers to the patient accumulation of material evidence from ordinary lives.
By questioning who gets to define the 'centre' and the 'edge,' Rees ultimately advocates for a global history that does not reinforce divisions but reveals how interconnectedness has always defined the human story.
With this observation, Owen Rees sets the stage for his revisionist history of the ancient past. The line does more than introduce a theme—it dismantles the blocks upon which many conventional histories of antiquity are built. By questioning who decides what counts as the "centre," Rees forces us to reconsider how histories of Greece and Rome have been written, and, perhaps more importantly, who has been left out.
Rees structures the book as a series of case studies that stretch from Lake Turkana to Aksum, from Hadrian's Wall to Co Loa. Each site is presented as a dynamic locus of interaction, where cultural borders are blurred and societies adapt to political, environmental, and economic pressures. Rees's arguments are grounded in archaeological evidence—in lived realities rather than the prejudiced accounts of elite classical authors. In doing so, he critiques the "civilised-barbarian" dichotomy and demonstrates the complex, multicultural lives of people who existed beyond the gaze of Ovid and his peers.
One of the book's strengths is its human focus—veterans in Karanis writing petitions against injustice, Nubian women in Egyptian garrisons reshaping food culture, or the multicultural soldiers along Hadrian's Wall. These vignettes are personalizing and remind us that ancient history is not just about the study of empires but of the lives of ordinary persons. Rees excels in making these stories accessible without oversimplifying them, weaving together archaeological data, inscriptions, and literary fragments into narratives that are rigorous and immediate.
Rees writes as someone who trusts his readers' intelligence. He introduces technical archaeological concepts—strontium isotope analysis, dental calculus examination—without condescension, while his narrative voice remains conversational and direct. Most effectively, he lets archaeological evidence speak against literary bias: where Ovid describes Tomis as a barbaric wasteland, Rees presents the material culture of a thriving Greek settlement, allowing the contrast to make his point about the unreliability of elite sources.
The revisionist argument is persuasive. Rees makes clear that the obsession with Greece and Rome as cultural "centres" has distorted the past. By shifting the focus to the peripheries, he reveals a landscape of innovation and resilience—not the empty frontier portrayed in many histories. Aksum's Christianity, Taxila's fusion of Greek and Buddhist art, or the continued flourishing of Volubilis after Rome's retreat each show how societies at the so-called "edges" shaped the ancient world on their own terms.
Rees is candid about the limits of his approach—no book can cover everything. His definition of "pre-history" as beginning before Herodotus is necessarily tied to a classical benchmark, even as he critiques classical bias. The disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine forced his reliance on secondary research for some regions. However, he turns this into a strength by highlighting the collaborative nature of historical scholarship. Also, the sheer breadth of material sometimes means that not every site receives equal depth. Yet these limitations do not undermine Rees's work. If anything, they point toward future research. The histories of Co Loa, Bilsk, or Aksum are far from fully told, and Rees's work opens the door for others to continue exploring them.
Ultimately, what emerges is a complex narrative, not a tidy replacement history that swaps one center for another. Rees demonstrates that there is no neat categorization of the ancient world: cultural lines were porous, trade networks spanned continents, and identities were constantly in motion. Rees presents a way of thinking about the past that embraces uncertainty and multiplicity. This approach has implications for how we understand historical knowledge itself. By foregrounding voices and sites often overlooked, Rees argues not just for a more inclusive history, but for a fundamental shift in how we conceive of historical authority—from the pronouncements of elite chroniclers to the patient accumulation of material evidence from ordinary lives.
By questioning who gets to define the 'centre' and the 'edge,' Rees ultimately advocates for a global history that does not reinforce divisions but reveals how interconnectedness has always defined the human story.
October 12, 2025
[4.5 stars rounded up]
I have never really in my adult life had the need to “disprove” the idea that all cultures of the ancient world (or any point onwards) were completely homogenous, nor did I have a need to be shown that areas outside of the Egypt/Greece/Roman trifecta were important as well (though, this is definitely an excellent book if you do hold these notions). Usually in nonfiction books like these I find that the author leans too heavily into needing to completely disprove this common idea to the detriment of readers that don’t share that misconception. The Far Edges of the Known World never bothered me in this regard. Though Rees does take the time to explicitly point out how the information that he’s presenting goes against this notion, it never becomes the only thing that he’s saying. He stays focused on the information that he is exploring and how it is an example of non-homogenous societies or large trade networks in the ancient world. His analysis is excellent and his storytelling skills are just as good.
I just love how the author writes. He hits a great balance between delivering information and just nice sounding prose. Surprisingly evocative and quite emotional at points without turning into any sort of novelization. His focus on “ordinary people" is the real heart of this book. Yes, sometimes he needs to take some of what Herodotus or another prominent figure wrote, but he uses these to enhance the ordinary stories, not to pull focus away from them. He takes the time to reconstruct a scene or situation - such as reading a found letter by a Roman woman living on Hadrian’ Wall to a friend back home and exploring its meaning or identifying the presence of Kush cookware specifically (not servingware or decorative vessels) in Egyptian forts up the Nile as evidence of Kush women living and cooking their local foods in these forts to the Egyptian men either as wives or servants - but does not novelize these moments. These moments add so much to the book and I really appreciated how Rees uses these moments both for their emotional effect and as a way to contextualize the information he’s presented so far. He uses actual assumptions sparingly and makes it very clear when he is going off on assumptions right from the start (unlike some other history books that I have read that only reveal the level of assumptions made after telling the whole story…).
There were a few times when he leaned towards an anecdote or example and it doesn’t fully click with me why we’re talking about it or how it connects to the chapter (I love John and Revelations, but I still don’t know why he ended an early chapter examining it), but I may just have missed the leading up points of these parts. This happened just a few times and it never greatly affected my experience with the book as a whole.
This was an excellent and comfortable read that dove into the various areas of the ancient world that get overlooked and, beyond that, how they influenced the main trifecta of civilizations that we hear so much about. It also let me know just how much I need to read up on Ancient Aksum, Vietnam, and - embarrassingly - the Scythians. Also, is the fact that Marseilles was a Greek colony and was founded in 600BC common knowledge because that was a shock to me (not that I’ve been there or have any preconceptions about Marseilles, but still). A phenomenal book.
“We often visualize the ancient world as one filled with boundaries and borders, but those borders were not empty places. They were filled with life, families and cultures, but it does not always look the way we may expect … away from the prying eyes of their fellow countrymen, people living at the edge of civilization were able to adapt and change their ways in keeping with the environment around them.”
I have never really in my adult life had the need to “disprove” the idea that all cultures of the ancient world (or any point onwards) were completely homogenous, nor did I have a need to be shown that areas outside of the Egypt/Greece/Roman trifecta were important as well (though, this is definitely an excellent book if you do hold these notions). Usually in nonfiction books like these I find that the author leans too heavily into needing to completely disprove this common idea to the detriment of readers that don’t share that misconception. The Far Edges of the Known World never bothered me in this regard. Though Rees does take the time to explicitly point out how the information that he’s presenting goes against this notion, it never becomes the only thing that he’s saying. He stays focused on the information that he is exploring and how it is an example of non-homogenous societies or large trade networks in the ancient world. His analysis is excellent and his storytelling skills are just as good.
I just love how the author writes. He hits a great balance between delivering information and just nice sounding prose. Surprisingly evocative and quite emotional at points without turning into any sort of novelization. His focus on “ordinary people" is the real heart of this book. Yes, sometimes he needs to take some of what Herodotus or another prominent figure wrote, but he uses these to enhance the ordinary stories, not to pull focus away from them. He takes the time to reconstruct a scene or situation - such as reading a found letter by a Roman woman living on Hadrian’ Wall to a friend back home and exploring its meaning or identifying the presence of Kush cookware specifically (not servingware or decorative vessels) in Egyptian forts up the Nile as evidence of Kush women living and cooking their local foods in these forts to the Egyptian men either as wives or servants - but does not novelize these moments. These moments add so much to the book and I really appreciated how Rees uses these moments both for their emotional effect and as a way to contextualize the information he’s presented so far. He uses actual assumptions sparingly and makes it very clear when he is going off on assumptions right from the start (unlike some other history books that I have read that only reveal the level of assumptions made after telling the whole story…).
There were a few times when he leaned towards an anecdote or example and it doesn’t fully click with me why we’re talking about it or how it connects to the chapter (I love John and Revelations, but I still don’t know why he ended an early chapter examining it), but I may just have missed the leading up points of these parts. This happened just a few times and it never greatly affected my experience with the book as a whole.
This was an excellent and comfortable read that dove into the various areas of the ancient world that get overlooked and, beyond that, how they influenced the main trifecta of civilizations that we hear so much about. It also let me know just how much I need to read up on Ancient Aksum, Vietnam, and - embarrassingly - the Scythians. Also, is the fact that Marseilles was a Greek colony and was founded in 600BC common knowledge because that was a shock to me (not that I’ve been there or have any preconceptions about Marseilles, but still). A phenomenal book.
November 7, 2025
This is quite an interesting history book. Rather than focusing on the major threads of ancient civilization we all have read about so many times—the Greeks, the Romans, etc.—this one treats us to stories of what we know of several smaller regions or civilizations around their periphery. The book’s description promises a “revisionist” history, which always raises some mental red flags for me, but fortunately all that’s meant in this case is that the book treats us to lesser-known historic societies.
The book is presented largely as local vignettes, treating each region or group of people briefly but thoroughly before moving on to the next. It’s structured in an organized way, and all the tales are quite interesting—admittedly, some more than others, though I suspect each reader will form his or her own independent opinion as to which is which—but there’s relatively little through-line or overarching story connecting them.
In a way, that may be the author’s point—perhaps reading history as leading inexorably from Greece and Rome to ourselves is too “just so” and leaves too much unspoken. However, if one wants to take the book’s description at its word that this work intends to revise rather than merely to expand our understanding of history, then I don’t think the disconnected tales of largely disconnected societies accomplishes the task without more connective tissue between those chapters to further build the thesis. For my part, though, I’m actually glad it didn’t take that approach because I find the expansionist rather than revisionist approach more interesting and palatable.
It's clearly well researched. And indeed, readers looking to do any further reading will find it thoroughly documented. Further, though the tone is semi-academic, the language is accessible and the author writes with clear passion for his subject. Visually inclined readers will also appreciate several useful maps and full-color insert pages with photographs of some of the locations, ruins, or artifacts under discussion.
The book is presented largely as local vignettes, treating each region or group of people briefly but thoroughly before moving on to the next. It’s structured in an organized way, and all the tales are quite interesting—admittedly, some more than others, though I suspect each reader will form his or her own independent opinion as to which is which—but there’s relatively little through-line or overarching story connecting them.
In a way, that may be the author’s point—perhaps reading history as leading inexorably from Greece and Rome to ourselves is too “just so” and leaves too much unspoken. However, if one wants to take the book’s description at its word that this work intends to revise rather than merely to expand our understanding of history, then I don’t think the disconnected tales of largely disconnected societies accomplishes the task without more connective tissue between those chapters to further build the thesis. For my part, though, I’m actually glad it didn’t take that approach because I find the expansionist rather than revisionist approach more interesting and palatable.
It's clearly well researched. And indeed, readers looking to do any further reading will find it thoroughly documented. Further, though the tone is semi-academic, the language is accessible and the author writes with clear passion for his subject. Visually inclined readers will also appreciate several useful maps and full-color insert pages with photographs of some of the locations, ruins, or artifacts under discussion.
October 15, 2025
Check out my video on the book: Were foreigners in the Ancient World savages and troglodytes?
Owen Rees offers readers a grand journey around the fringes of the well-known Ancient World civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece, cultures who regarded most outsiders as barbarians or blockheaded troglodytes. But who were these maligned peoples living on the outskirts of empires, were they actual cannibalistic savages or the mere victims of historical discrimination?
Common sense would answer that people are people (brave of me to say, I know) no matter where they live or what culture they partake of. In *The Far Edges of the Known World*, Rees shines a light on ten such sites operating in the peripheries of "civilization", showing that there were many complex multicultural societies of which it is a crime that there is a dearth of historical scholarship. From Sub-Saharan Africa to travelling up the Nile deltas, through Israel and above the Black Sea to the nomadic peoples of Ukraine, to Pakistan, Vietnam, and Roman Britain, evidence is gathered in support of these locations being key stimulants in the spread of trade, language, and religion.
While the ideas in this book are accessible to the beginner history reader, the subject matter itself outpaces common knowledge and may prove confusing to one not well-versed in Ancient World geography and timelines. Rees often glosses over contextual remarks and he plays fast and loose with his chronology, making it often difficult to place the relevance of the data he is presenting.
For the more advanced student of history this book may prove an insightful spotlight into lesser studied societies, yet the thesis may be too simple for a non-historian to endure pages of Scythian dental records or Ethiopian religious tablets.
Owen Rees offers readers a grand journey around the fringes of the well-known Ancient World civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece, cultures who regarded most outsiders as barbarians or blockheaded troglodytes. But who were these maligned peoples living on the outskirts of empires, were they actual cannibalistic savages or the mere victims of historical discrimination?
Common sense would answer that people are people (brave of me to say, I know) no matter where they live or what culture they partake of. In *The Far Edges of the Known World*, Rees shines a light on ten such sites operating in the peripheries of "civilization", showing that there were many complex multicultural societies of which it is a crime that there is a dearth of historical scholarship. From Sub-Saharan Africa to travelling up the Nile deltas, through Israel and above the Black Sea to the nomadic peoples of Ukraine, to Pakistan, Vietnam, and Roman Britain, evidence is gathered in support of these locations being key stimulants in the spread of trade, language, and religion.
While the ideas in this book are accessible to the beginner history reader, the subject matter itself outpaces common knowledge and may prove confusing to one not well-versed in Ancient World geography and timelines. Rees often glosses over contextual remarks and he plays fast and loose with his chronology, making it often difficult to place the relevance of the data he is presenting.
For the more advanced student of history this book may prove an insightful spotlight into lesser studied societies, yet the thesis may be too simple for a non-historian to endure pages of Scythian dental records or Ethiopian religious tablets.
December 16, 2025
There are insightful stories in this book from the fringes of most venerated ancient civilizations from classical texts. Aksum, Co Loa, Ukraine and Egypt stand out in particular. Stories of multiculturalism and engagement between dominant civilizations and the lesser known tribes at the fringes, showcasing the best of adaptability, survival and that life endured for the most part almost the same beyond the cataclysmic collapses of the Western Roman Empire and the Han dynasty.
Each locale lacks depth and feels like they could be a novel with central characters in their own right. Vietnam was the most fascinating to me and I would love to read a historical novel on the Truang sisters, worthy source material. Alternatively, an interconnected 1000 page detailed historical novel book would be wonderful and I would purchase in an instant.
Rees has an affable writing style showing the importance of constantly adapting to new surroundings, respecting other peoples' cultures and constantly learning for a harmonious life. Multifarious insightful examples are put forth showing multiculturalism enhancing the greatest civilizations from Rome, Egypt to the Han. Venerable civilizations adopting the customs of lesser known barbarians to survive and thrive on the fringes. Nubian cooking pots, learning to ride in Ukraine, irrigation while innocuous were worthy insights into multicultural engagement to ameliorate society. The world has inveterately been multicultural and Rees shines a light on how adapting and blending cultures can bring out the best of humanity and enhance already great civilizations such as the Han and Romans. A resonant timeless message from an antediluvian epoch.
Each locale lacks depth and feels like they could be a novel with central characters in their own right. Vietnam was the most fascinating to me and I would love to read a historical novel on the Truang sisters, worthy source material. Alternatively, an interconnected 1000 page detailed historical novel book would be wonderful and I would purchase in an instant.
Rees has an affable writing style showing the importance of constantly adapting to new surroundings, respecting other peoples' cultures and constantly learning for a harmonious life. Multifarious insightful examples are put forth showing multiculturalism enhancing the greatest civilizations from Rome, Egypt to the Han. Venerable civilizations adopting the customs of lesser known barbarians to survive and thrive on the fringes. Nubian cooking pots, learning to ride in Ukraine, irrigation while innocuous were worthy insights into multicultural engagement to ameliorate society. The world has inveterately been multicultural and Rees shines a light on how adapting and blending cultures can bring out the best of humanity and enhance already great civilizations such as the Han and Romans. A resonant timeless message from an antediluvian epoch.
March 31, 2025
What an interesting book!!
What really struck me, and what I appreciated the most about this is the length of research and commitment to a very nuanced and broad multicultural history. While there’s an (expectantly, given Rees’ background) strong focus on bordering cities in Greece and Rome, Rees very consciously also explores other areas including Vietnam, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and other areas often forgotten in the Western canon.
I found this really heartening. One of the most challenging things I find with writing on ancient history is the work it takes to humanise and actualise these ancient people in the modern day, and this sweeping view across the globe on all these different people, intermingling, and creating little microcosms of culture felt incredibly familiar. It really feeds into Rees’ overarching argument too, that the growth and development of civilisation isn’t just significant in the big known cities, (Athen’s, Cairo, Rome, etc.), but is just as significant in the outskirts, in these posts where cultures bleed and merge and transform. It’s harkening to modern globalisation so acutely that when Reese spoke about art styles changing in one town, or differences in trade, I thought about how my own city is so affected by different cultures, and how much richer the culture of my city is as a result.
At times I did find the writing somewhat dry, but I think that is a symptom of the depth of research Rees references and uses (which is all fascinating, even in the moments where it did melt my brain a bit), rather than his writing technique. Overall I really enjoyed this.
What really struck me, and what I appreciated the most about this is the length of research and commitment to a very nuanced and broad multicultural history. While there’s an (expectantly, given Rees’ background) strong focus on bordering cities in Greece and Rome, Rees very consciously also explores other areas including Vietnam, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and other areas often forgotten in the Western canon.
I found this really heartening. One of the most challenging things I find with writing on ancient history is the work it takes to humanise and actualise these ancient people in the modern day, and this sweeping view across the globe on all these different people, intermingling, and creating little microcosms of culture felt incredibly familiar. It really feeds into Rees’ overarching argument too, that the growth and development of civilisation isn’t just significant in the big known cities, (Athen’s, Cairo, Rome, etc.), but is just as significant in the outskirts, in these posts where cultures bleed and merge and transform. It’s harkening to modern globalisation so acutely that when Reese spoke about art styles changing in one town, or differences in trade, I thought about how my own city is so affected by different cultures, and how much richer the culture of my city is as a result.
At times I did find the writing somewhat dry, but I think that is a symptom of the depth of research Rees references and uses (which is all fascinating, even in the moments where it did melt my brain a bit), rather than his writing technique. Overall I really enjoyed this.
December 24, 2025
Man denkt, man kennt die Antike. Säulen, Toga, Lorbeerkranz, Rom halt. Und dann kommt dieses Buch daher, nimmt den ganzen vertrauten Kram, schiebt ihn freundlich beiseite und sagt: Schau mal da hinten, da passiert gerade Geschichte. Genau dort, wo man bisher nie hingesehen hat.
Owen Rees erzählt die Antike nicht von oben herab, nicht aus Marmorsälen und Triumphbögen, sondern aus Staub, Alltag und Begegnungen. Volubilis in Marokko, Co Loa in Vietnam oder Grabstätten im Rift Valley – Orte, die im Schulunterricht maximal eine Fußnote wären, werden hier zu Hauptdarstellern. Und plötzlich fühlt sich Geschichte nicht mehr fern oder elitär an, sondern überraschend nah.
Besonders stark ist dieses leise Staunen, das sich beim Lesen einstellt. Wie unterschiedlich Menschen lebten, glaubten, handelten – und wie ähnlich sie sich trotzdem waren. Handel, Macht, Angst, Hoffnung, Neugier. Alles da. Keine trockenen Jahreszahlen, sondern Geschichten, die hängen bleiben und im Kopf weiterspinnen.
Der Ton bleibt angenehm klug, ohne belehrend zu werden. Man merkt, wie gründlich recherchiert wurde, aber nichts wirkt schwer oder akademisch. Eher wie ein sehr guter Erzähler, der weiß, wann man Details braucht und wann man einfach laufen lassen muss. Mehrmals ertappt man sich dabei, gedanklich abzuschweifen und sich zu fragen, wie viele solcher Orte heute noch übersehen werden.
Am Ende bleibt das Gefühl, dass dieses Buch nicht nur die Antike neu erzählt, sondern auch den Blick auf Geschichte insgesamt verändert. Weg von den Zentren, hin zu den Rändern. Und genau dort wird es plötzlich richtig spannend.
Owen Rees erzählt die Antike nicht von oben herab, nicht aus Marmorsälen und Triumphbögen, sondern aus Staub, Alltag und Begegnungen. Volubilis in Marokko, Co Loa in Vietnam oder Grabstätten im Rift Valley – Orte, die im Schulunterricht maximal eine Fußnote wären, werden hier zu Hauptdarstellern. Und plötzlich fühlt sich Geschichte nicht mehr fern oder elitär an, sondern überraschend nah.
Besonders stark ist dieses leise Staunen, das sich beim Lesen einstellt. Wie unterschiedlich Menschen lebten, glaubten, handelten – und wie ähnlich sie sich trotzdem waren. Handel, Macht, Angst, Hoffnung, Neugier. Alles da. Keine trockenen Jahreszahlen, sondern Geschichten, die hängen bleiben und im Kopf weiterspinnen.
Der Ton bleibt angenehm klug, ohne belehrend zu werden. Man merkt, wie gründlich recherchiert wurde, aber nichts wirkt schwer oder akademisch. Eher wie ein sehr guter Erzähler, der weiß, wann man Details braucht und wann man einfach laufen lassen muss. Mehrmals ertappt man sich dabei, gedanklich abzuschweifen und sich zu fragen, wie viele solcher Orte heute noch übersehen werden.
Am Ende bleibt das Gefühl, dass dieses Buch nicht nur die Antike neu erzählt, sondern auch den Blick auf Geschichte insgesamt verändert. Weg von den Zentren, hin zu den Rändern. Und genau dort wird es plötzlich richtig spannend.
June 30, 2025
Note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley
Mainly as a result of having an Asian Studies focus as an undergraduate, I didn't come into this book with a specifically Greco-Roman-centric view of the ancient world that needed to be shed. As a result, The Far Edges of the Known World did not end up being the eye-opening experience for me that I think was intended by the author, and I foresee many other readers having a very similar experience depending on factors like their own respective educational experiences, or even just based on where they were born and raised or where their ancestors originated from.
That being said, I do feel that this will be effective read for those who do heavily view the past as a time and place where civilization was far more Mediterranean-centric and homogeneous than it actually ever was. Also, even though I wasn’t awakened from any oversimplified historic viewpoints, I still found this to be an interesting reading experience overall. While I already come in with a decent sense of just how far more intermixed, interconnected, and diverse the past was than what is commonly thought, I never refuse any opportunity to read about any new examples of these historical realities, and thoroughly enjoyed the fresh array provided here by Rees.
Mainly as a result of having an Asian Studies focus as an undergraduate, I didn't come into this book with a specifically Greco-Roman-centric view of the ancient world that needed to be shed. As a result, The Far Edges of the Known World did not end up being the eye-opening experience for me that I think was intended by the author, and I foresee many other readers having a very similar experience depending on factors like their own respective educational experiences, or even just based on where they were born and raised or where their ancestors originated from.
That being said, I do feel that this will be effective read for those who do heavily view the past as a time and place where civilization was far more Mediterranean-centric and homogeneous than it actually ever was. Also, even though I wasn’t awakened from any oversimplified historic viewpoints, I still found this to be an interesting reading experience overall. While I already come in with a decent sense of just how far more intermixed, interconnected, and diverse the past was than what is commonly thought, I never refuse any opportunity to read about any new examples of these historical realities, and thoroughly enjoyed the fresh array provided here by Rees.
September 1, 2025
We see ancient civilizations through the eyes of Greek and Roman writers, including their observations and biased inaccuracies. Some cultures have (had) an air of superiority such as the ancient Egyptians, Athenians and Romans. When reading about such civilizations, my mind usually doesn't go to the Rome/China or the Greek/India connections as described here. Author Owen Rees describes them with beautiful insight. Other topics include migration, trade, military outposts, citizenship to foreigners, monuments, religions, boundaries, cultural adaptation, storage pits, fortification, Nubia flooding, the important of the Jezreel Valley, Olbia, Scythians, the "Vix Krater", Vindolanda Tablets, and Megiddo. But there is so much more.
Excerpts of personal letters written thousands of years ago added such a fresh and personal touch. People are people everywhere! Rees' copious research shows...and it taught me a lot, especially about the adaptation of civilizations of others while keeping the best parts of their own. Something we know but may not dive into as we should. I like the reminder to look beyond boundaries into the periphery which is where one learns so much more. The world is beyond those countries considered central. Each has influence and so much to offer. I delve into the history of each country I visit and enjoy exploring the ties with the rest of the world.
Excerpts of personal letters written thousands of years ago added such a fresh and personal touch. People are people everywhere! Rees' copious research shows...and it taught me a lot, especially about the adaptation of civilizations of others while keeping the best parts of their own. Something we know but may not dive into as we should. I like the reminder to look beyond boundaries into the periphery which is where one learns so much more. The world is beyond those countries considered central. Each has influence and so much to offer. I delve into the history of each country I visit and enjoy exploring the ties with the rest of the world.
December 13, 2025
In this fascinating new take on the history of the ancient world, Owen Rees explores the multicultural civilizations that bordered the Roman empire from a strictly non-Roman lens. Rejecting the dichotomy of barbarian and civilized, the book explores civilizations in Morocco, the Black Sea, Vietnam’s Red River valley, along Hadrian’s Wall, and beyond in order to highlight the cultural depth of the ancient world outside the Mediterranean. With each chapter highlighting a different civilization, Rees creates a fascinatingly diverse and complex map of the many societies of the ancient world that history fans will love. The meticulous research and archaeological take will really pull readers into the book, and the absolutely incredible details really bring all of the civilizations to life. Rees is an engaging and well-informed writer, and the book’s structure and prose will really pull readers into this brilliant and fascinating story. The book’s viewpoint sets it apart from other ancient history books, and readers will enjoy how the book acts as a starting point for further research into these fascinating ancient cultures. Detailed, immersive, and brilliant, history readers will enjoy this fascinating, informative, and incredibly written new book from Owen Rees and the many ancient cultures within its pages.
Thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the advance copy.
August 8, 2025
Thanks to WW Norton & Co and Net Galley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.
3.5 stars
This book has a great premise and a lot of great information. It contains a nice collection of chapters highlighting sites/cities outside of traditional Classical focus. The material in each site is well consolidated and did a good job of hitting the high points and interesting details without devolving into unnecessary tangents.
The writing style is a little dusty and academic for a popular book, but I didn't feel it would be inaccessible to a lay reader.
My main complaint about the work is that most of the sites discussed are heavily framed by their interactions with the traditional classical world. The author does acknowledge that bias and explains that it is heavily impacted by the sources available. I did feel though that archaeological evidence could have been weighted more heavily in these chapters. And perhaps the locations under discussion could have included more sites that weren't so reliant on textual sources. But I'm an archaeologist so I'm always biased there.
Overall, very interesting and worth the read. This book will definitely give the reader a broader scope of the ancient world and teach all of us new things.
3.5 stars
This book has a great premise and a lot of great information. It contains a nice collection of chapters highlighting sites/cities outside of traditional Classical focus. The material in each site is well consolidated and did a good job of hitting the high points and interesting details without devolving into unnecessary tangents.
The writing style is a little dusty and academic for a popular book, but I didn't feel it would be inaccessible to a lay reader.
My main complaint about the work is that most of the sites discussed are heavily framed by their interactions with the traditional classical world. The author does acknowledge that bias and explains that it is heavily impacted by the sources available. I did feel though that archaeological evidence could have been weighted more heavily in these chapters. And perhaps the locations under discussion could have included more sites that weren't so reliant on textual sources. But I'm an archaeologist so I'm always biased there.
Overall, very interesting and worth the read. This book will definitely give the reader a broader scope of the ancient world and teach all of us new things.
August 12, 2025
What an incredibly well-researched and well-organized book Rees has created!
The Far Edges of the Known World is jammed packed with short, but interesting stories of less commonly known cities that existed (Rees would argue, thrived) outside the reaches of classical civilization. It is evident that Rees has spent a lot of time researching each of the cities he discusses individually. Although this book is information-dense, I don't feel that this resulted in the narrative feeling dry or heavy. Instead, I feel that Rees did a good job of inserting commentary at regular intervals to offset quantity of information provided. And, while Rees' traditional topics from other books he's authored lean more towards Ancient Greece, this book does not focus on that area alone. Rather, it does a good job discussing locations throughout Europe and Asia.
Overall, I learned a lot of interesting information about each of the cities. However, this is one of the few books I would re-read just to pick up on new or additional information I may have missed on the first read. I would recommend this book to any history lover out there!
Thanks to NetGalley, Owen Rees and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Far Edges of the Known World is jammed packed with short, but interesting stories of less commonly known cities that existed (Rees would argue, thrived) outside the reaches of classical civilization. It is evident that Rees has spent a lot of time researching each of the cities he discusses individually. Although this book is information-dense, I don't feel that this resulted in the narrative feeling dry or heavy. Instead, I feel that Rees did a good job of inserting commentary at regular intervals to offset quantity of information provided. And, while Rees' traditional topics from other books he's authored lean more towards Ancient Greece, this book does not focus on that area alone. Rather, it does a good job discussing locations throughout Europe and Asia.
Overall, I learned a lot of interesting information about each of the cities. However, this is one of the few books I would re-read just to pick up on new or additional information I may have missed on the first read. I would recommend this book to any history lover out there!
Thanks to NetGalley, Owen Rees and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2025
Civilisation in the margins
—
Rees’s book questions the idea that civilisation is a function of urbanism, of giant metropolitan gatherings where trade, religion and politics happen. In this deep and wide-ranging book, Rees shows that the margins, the edges, the barriers between cultures—barriers which are entirely artificial—are where cultures bleed into each other and make things, structures, cultures of their own that are new and different and, in some cases, dangerous.
Using examples from places that I was aware of but had previously put no thought into, Rees demonstrates that the history of any one culture is often dominated by a seemingly single narrative, for example, that Ancient Greece and Athens are the same thing, when in reality there are multiple and overlapping narratives. Rees demonstrates that there are stories from the ancient past that are yet to come to light.
—
Rees’s book questions the idea that civilisation is a function of urbanism, of giant metropolitan gatherings where trade, religion and politics happen. In this deep and wide-ranging book, Rees shows that the margins, the edges, the barriers between cultures—barriers which are entirely artificial—are where cultures bleed into each other and make things, structures, cultures of their own that are new and different and, in some cases, dangerous.
Using examples from places that I was aware of but had previously put no thought into, Rees demonstrates that the history of any one culture is often dominated by a seemingly single narrative, for example, that Ancient Greece and Athens are the same thing, when in reality there are multiple and overlapping narratives. Rees demonstrates that there are stories from the ancient past that are yet to come to light.
August 31, 2025
Thank you to the publishers for the e-ARC!
In The Far Edges of the Known World, Owen Rees carefully and empathetically examines the edges of the “great” ancient empires (primarily Egypt, Greece, and Rome). Rees’ reach is multicultural and trans-historical, from pre-history to the Middle Ages.
The massive undertaking pays off, makes sense, and enlightens the reader. The information is shared in approachable tidbits; while there is some level of background knowledge assumed, Rees gently guides the reader through complex historical thinking. He examines his vast sources attentively, drawing readers attentions to the biases in the historical record, further sharpening his points that the “far edges” of our knowledge are worth learning. While there are sections on pre-history, and they are interesting, I felt that the narrative was at its best when there were concrete historical figures to ground the story. This is an enlightening expansion for any ancient history fan!
In The Far Edges of the Known World, Owen Rees carefully and empathetically examines the edges of the “great” ancient empires (primarily Egypt, Greece, and Rome). Rees’ reach is multicultural and trans-historical, from pre-history to the Middle Ages.
The massive undertaking pays off, makes sense, and enlightens the reader. The information is shared in approachable tidbits; while there is some level of background knowledge assumed, Rees gently guides the reader through complex historical thinking. He examines his vast sources attentively, drawing readers attentions to the biases in the historical record, further sharpening his points that the “far edges” of our knowledge are worth learning. While there are sections on pre-history, and they are interesting, I felt that the narrative was at its best when there were concrete historical figures to ground the story. This is an enlightening expansion for any ancient history fan!
December 20, 2025
It's a 3.5.
The good: I love the premise of zooming out from the main thread of widely embraced Western history. Visualizing this world from the outside looking in (those "outsiders" were, of course, not on the outside in their own minds, but instead leaving meaningful lives within their own perfectly valid existence) was an interesting change of perspective.
And the narrator of the Audible book was great. He should be reading the Silmarillion or something - he's got the pipes for it.
The bad: There's often just not quite enough information. It's not Rees' fault, he does his best to aggregate scant source materials.
The good: I love the premise of zooming out from the main thread of widely embraced Western history. Visualizing this world from the outside looking in (those "outsiders" were, of course, not on the outside in their own minds, but instead leaving meaningful lives within their own perfectly valid existence) was an interesting change of perspective.
And the narrator of the Audible book was great. He should be reading the Silmarillion or something - he's got the pipes for it.
The bad: There's often just not quite enough information. It's not Rees' fault, he does his best to aggregate scant source materials.
December 23, 2025
Owen Rees's "The Far Edges of the Known World: Life Beyond the Borders of Ancient Civilization" examines history in regions far from the established Greek and Roman civilizations. Rees discusses thirteen cities and areas where people established multicultural communities, engaged in commerce along established trade routes to both Athens and Rome, and thrived in the borderlands of the ancient world. Rees describes the spheres of influence in these far-flung locations and how they contributed to the expansion of knowledge of the ancient world. Readers interested in ancient history should seek "The Far Edges of the Known World."
July 8, 2025
Owen Rees steps back beyond the beginnings of ‘written’ history, and relying much on archeological evidence, shows that civilizations other than the Roman and Greek were much in evidence around the world. It’s a fascinating read even if I chuckled a little when the book started to consider how come a banana protein was found in the teeth of a excavated skeleton in Africa when bananas were only found in New Guinea at that time period. ‘Prehistory’ studies are a great place for imaginative historians and this is an enjoyable and informative read.
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