An Introduction to the Ancient World

by Lukas De Blois, R. Van der Spek, Susan Mellor (Translator)

Integrating the results of scholarly work from the past decade, the authors of An Introduction to the Ancient World , Lukas de Blois and R.J. van der Spek, have fully-updated and revised all sixteen chapters of this best-selling introductory textbook. Covering the history and culture of the ancient Near East, Greece and Rome within the framework of a short narrative history of events, this book offers an easily readable, integrated overview for students of history, classics, archaeology and philosophy, whether at college, at undergraduate level or among the wider reading public. This revised second edition offers a new section on early Christianity and more specific information on the religions, economies, and societies of the ancient Near East. There is extended coverage of Greek, Macedonian and Near Eastern history of the fourth to second centuries BC and the history of the Late Roman Republic. The consequences of Julius Caesar’s violent death are covered in more detail, as are the history and society of Imperial Rome. This new edition

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, School, Classics, Academic

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Mahdi Lotfi · Rating 3 out of 5]

اثر حاضر، کتابی‌ موجز و مفید است‌ درباره جهان‌ باستان‌ از هزاره سوم‌ پیش‌ از میلاد تا سده پنجم‌ میلادی‌. در بخش‌ یکم‌ تاریخ‌ خاورمیانه باستان‌ بررسی‌ و معرفی‌ شده‌ است‌ و مولفان‌ در آن‌ از جمله‌ به‌ خاستگاه‌ های‌ تمدن‌ های‌ مصر و بین‌ النهرین‌، ممفیس‌، سومر، و اکد، مصر، آشور و بابل‌، میتانی‌، هیتی‌، کرت‌ و میسن‌ پرداخته‌ اند.
در فصل‌ مربوط‌ به‌ هزاره نخست‌ پیش‌ از میلاد تمدن‌ های‌ سوریه‌ و فنیقیه‌، امپراتوری‌ هخامنشی‌، پادشاهی‌ های‌ هلنیستی‌، امپراتوری‌ پارت‌، امپراتوری‌ ساسانی‌ و امپراتوری‌ روم‌ مورد بررسی‌ قرار گرفته‌ است‌. مولفان‌ در بخش‌ های‌ دوم‌ و سوم‌ به‌ ترتیب‌ به‌ تاریخ‌ یونان‌ باستان‌ و روم‌ پرداخته‌ اند. تصاویر متعدد و نقشه‌ ها بر غنای‌ کتاب‌ افزوده‌ اند و کار را بر خواننده‌ تسهیل‌ کرده‌ اند

[Aurora]

dit boek samenvatten is me een klus 😀

[Lucien Vanserra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Afgezien van de tentamenstress, niet mijn boek man. Te grote feitjesdichtheid, chronologische chaos, droge teksten.

[Kyo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, okay...

I think it covered all the basics, but it was very dry and not that interesting to read. Furthermore I felt that they went too quickly over some stuff or that they over simplified some developments...
But then again, if this had been any longer I don't think I'd have had the time to study this enough, so that was okay.

[Wout]

ça va, beetje sec geschreven, maar een jaar na mijn examen toch eens uitgelezen :)

[Emma_h]

Can't believe I actually finished the whole thing

[Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essentially this is intended for year one undergraduates and provides a good basic introduction to Ancient History in a simple, succinct style. Some sections however are too basic and thus woefully short, even for an introductory book. Consequently, it will quickly lose its worth to an undergraduate student.

A far more useful choice in my opinion would be 'A Companion to Ancient History' by Andrew Erskine (ISBN:9781118451366) which, whilst certainly going into more depth than 'An Introduction to', does not overload the reader - especially one who has genuine interest in ancient history. It will therefore be of far more worth to the undergraduate or enthusiast.

[Phillida Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik las de 7de editie.
Oké, ik heb geschiedenis gestudeerd; ik ben afgestudeerd als leerkracht geschiedenis maar dit boek was een njet. In de eerste hoofdstukken was de toevoeging van v.C. niet gebruikt, wat heel spijtig is want soms werd het enorm verwarrend. Ook de splitsing van het West-Romeinse en Oost-Romeinse Rijk kwam niet aan bod, oké, in die tijd was dit niet echt geweten maar nu weten we dit al. Het laatste stuk over de Kelten en Germanen was echt saai, ook al is dat nogal interessant. Dit was echt een minder goed boek... en dit moesten we lezen in de studies, spijtig want ik had hoge verwachtingen van dit boek.

[Quinten Bourjou · Rating 3 out of 5]

14/20 🫡

[Araik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dit boek hopelijk nooit meer. Net een samenvatting, wat vermoedelijk de bedoeling is maar errug stug leest.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the parts on the Ancient Near East and Greece. Learned some interesting little facts about some civilizations I knew little about (Akkad, Old Assyria). Learned that the pyramids were made during, and only during, the Old Kingdom. The sections were a bit short and dry, but that’s expected from a textbook.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch war die Grundlage für ein Seminar in meinem Geschichtsstudium. Als Übersichtslektüre war es gut. Die schnelle Aneinanderreihung von Namen und Kriegen erschwert das lesen allerdings. Für die Uni hab ich es gerne gelesen, aber privat würde ich es nicht noch einmal tun.

[Linde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Echt heel droog boek dit. En het taalgebruik is soms echt wat je verwacht wat ze 100 jaar geleden gebruikte. Ik heb hem alleen uitgelezen omdat het tentamenstof is.
Het is echt interessante stof, dus hoe ze dit zo droog kunnen overmaken vind ik erg knap. Je kan het veel leuker maken.

[Rijk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Van alle eerstejaars studieboeken toch wel het fijnst. Mooie kaarten, heldere kaders, fijne appendices en registers. Prima leesbaar, weinig academisch taalgebruik.

[Veikkous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry.

[Louisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like this one that much. Read it for uni. Also, it's ugly.

[Mahshad · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب در سه بخش اصلی و جداگانه به بررسی تاریخ خاورمیانه باستان، یونان و روم می‌پردازد. البته بخش یونان و روم با جزییات بیشتر و شرح مفصل‌تری نگارش شده است.

[Niek de Haan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handboek voor eerstejaars geschiedenis studenten voor het vak 'Oude Geschiedenis'.

[Jiske · Rating 2 out of 5]

je kan op zn minst je BEST doen om het leuk te maken

[Katja]

Gelezen voor studie.

[Evi · Rating 3 out of 5]

ik denk dat ik het een leuker boek had gevonden als ik het niet had hoeven samenvatten

[Aniek · Rating 3 out of 5]

ontzettend droog boek maar drie sterren voor mezelf omdat ik het uitgelezen heb :)

[hanna]

mega taai

[Lotus Ederveen · Rating 2 out of 5]

eerlijk is eerlijk heeft dit boek mij nou niet echt plezier gegeven

[william · Rating 4 out of 5]

if only ik nu ook door was opt examen smh

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've used this book as a text book.

+ Lots of factual information; you'll know a whole lot more when you've read and studied this book. This is exactly what you need when you take an introductory course in The History of Classical Antiquity.
- Does not focus on insight; only on (dry) facts
- Presents history as 'this is the way it was'; should pay a little bit more attention to (absence of) sources in the study of Classical Antiquity

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read this book because I had to read it for school.
I think it's a very clear book on ancient history and that it doesn't make things complicated at all.
Nevertheless as you can guess, reading it, wasn't the thrill of a lifetime...

[Lennard · Rating 3 out of 5]

kennis 1% toegenomen, tja.

[verweven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duidelijk overzicht van de Oude Geschiedenis.

[Yana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indien iemand een samenvatting nodig heeft, hit me up (VUB, prof. Erdkamp)