Ancient History Books

Showing 1-50 of 17,787
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (Paperback)
by (shelved 506 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.06 — 81,952 ratings — published 2015
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The Histories The Histories (Paperback)
by (shelved 348 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.01 — 55,727 ratings — published -430
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Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic (Paperback)
by (shelved 323 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.23 — 27,537 ratings — published 2003
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History of the Peloponnesian War History of the Peloponnesian War (Paperback)
by (shelved 306 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.94 — 40,665 ratings — published -411
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The Twelve Caesars The Twelve Caesars (Paperback)
by (shelved 241 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.03 — 22,871 ratings — published 121
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1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed (Hardcover)
by (shelved 232 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.74 — 12,856 ratings — published 2014
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Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West (Hardcover)
by (shelved 217 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.16 — 11,819 ratings — published 2005
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The Iliad The Iliad (Hardcover)
by (shelved 211 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.93 — 511,175 ratings — published -800
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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt (Hardcover)
by (shelved 210 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.13 — 6,637 ratings — published 2010
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The Odyssey The Odyssey (Paperback)
by (shelved 200 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.83 — 1,196,607 ratings — published -800
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The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome (Hardcover)
by (shelved 185 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.11 — 6,643 ratings — published 2007
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The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Paperback)
by (shelved 182 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.02 — 15,501 ratings — published 1776
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Caesar: Life of a Colossus Caesar: Life of a Colossus (Hardcover)
by (shelved 178 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.24 — 13,261 ratings — published 2006
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The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic (Hardcover)
by (shelved 169 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.25 — 15,902 ratings — published 2017
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Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization (Hardcover)
by (shelved 164 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.89 — 3,299 ratings — published 2010
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Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization Carthage Must Be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization (Hardcover)
by (shelved 160 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.95 — 4,744 ratings — published 2011
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Cleopatra: A Life Cleopatra: A Life (Hardcover)
by (shelved 154 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.73 — 123,362 ratings — published 2010
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The Punic Wars The Punic Wars (Hardcover)
by (shelved 147 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.20 — 4,523 ratings — published 2000
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The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War (Paperback)
by (shelved 146 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.13 — 5,311 ratings — published 2003
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Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 144 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.17 — 7,178 ratings — published 2015
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The Conquest of Gaul The Conquest of Gaul (Paperback)
by (shelved 132 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.02 — 13,592 ratings — published -50
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The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians (Paperback)
by (shelved 127 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.16 — 4,355 ratings — published 2005
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Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire (Hardcover)
by (shelved 126 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.28 — 3,110 ratings — published 2011
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The Persian Expedition The Persian Expedition (Paperback)
by (shelved 123 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.11 — 9,940 ratings — published -400
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Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician (Paperback)
by (shelved 118 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.90 — 8,308 ratings — published 2001
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The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome (Paperback)
by (shelved 115 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.96 — 9,899 ratings — published -29
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The Song of Achilles The Song of Achilles (Paperback)
by (shelved 113 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.30 — 2,000,161 ratings — published 2011
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The Aeneid The Aeneid (Kindle Edition)
by (shelved 112 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.87 — 143,796 ratings — published -19
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Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Empire Assyria: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Empire (Hardcover)
by (shelved 108 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.07 — 1,503 ratings — published 2023
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The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found (Hardcover)
by (shelved 108 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.10 — 5,417 ratings — published 2008
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The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh (Paperback)
by (shelved 104 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.75 — 119,435 ratings — published -2000
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The Campaigns of Alexander The Campaigns of Alexander (Paperback)
by (shelved 104 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.16 — 5,354 ratings — published 150
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Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor (Hardcover)
by (shelved 102 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.95 — 8,345 ratings — published 2006
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Augustus: First Emperor of Rome Augustus: First Emperor of Rome (Hardcover)
by (shelved 101 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.28 — 5,047 ratings — published 2014
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I, Claudius (Claudius, #1) I, Claudius (Claudius, #1)
by (shelved 101 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.24 — 73,289 ratings — published 1934
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Meditations Meditations (Hardcover)
by (shelved 100 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.28 — 351,292 ratings — published 180
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How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower (Hardcover)
by (shelved 99 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.02 — 3,215 ratings — published 2009
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The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire (Hardcover)
by (shelved 97 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.96 — 3,486 ratings — published 2012
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Alexander the Great Alexander the Great (Paperback)
by (shelved 97 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.10 — 4,264 ratings — published 1973
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Alexander the Great Alexander the Great (Hardcover)
by (shelved 96 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.33 — 5,895 ratings — published 2010
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The Rise of the Roman Empire The Rise of the Roman Empire (Paperback)
by (shelved 96 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.06 — 4,863 ratings — published -170
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The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian The Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian (Hardcover)
by (shelved 95 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.91 — 2,380 ratings — published 2005
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The Annals of Imperial Rome The Annals of Imperial Rome (Paperback)
by (shelved 93 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.99 — 9,322 ratings — published 116
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Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World (Hardcover)
by (shelved 91 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.08 — 7,178 ratings — published 2023
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A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome (Hardcover)
by (shelved 88 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.08 — 6,244 ratings — published 2020
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The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic (Hardcover)
by (shelved 87 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.08 — 2,814 ratings — published 2010
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The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World (Hardcover)
by (shelved 86 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.99 — 3,977 ratings — published 2007
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In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire (Paperback)
by (shelved 86 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.11 — 2,411 ratings — published 2003
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A War Like No Other: How the Athenians & Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War A War Like No Other: How the Athenians & Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War (Paperback)
by (shelved 85 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 4.12 — 3,160 ratings — published 2005
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Pax Romana Pax Romana (Hardcover)
by (shelved 85 times as ancient-history)
avg rating 3.94 — 2,301 ratings — published 2016
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“The fact that Ishtar's sexual encounters usually mingle eroticism with violence was pointed out by Harris (1990: 264). However, it is not because Ishtar shatters the boundaries of her sex by proposing marriage (a masculine act) that Gilgamesh is frightened.
-Women of Babylon: Gender and representation in Mesopotamia”
Zainab Bahrani

“One early terracotta statuette from Catal Huyuk in Anatolia depicts an enthroned female in the act of giving birth, supported by two cat-like animals that form her seat (Plate 1). This figure has been identified as a 'birth goddess' and it is this type of early image that has led a number of feminist scholars to posit a 'reign of the goddess' in ancient Near Eastern prehistory. Maria Gimbutas, for whom such images are proof of a perfect matriarchal society in 'Old Europe' , presents an ideal vision in which a socially egalitarian matriarchal culture was overthrown by a destructive patriarchy (Gimbutas 1991). Gerda Lerner has argued for a similar situation in the ancient Near East; however, she does not discuss nude figurines at any length (Lerner 1986a: 147). More recently, critiques of the matriarchal model of prehistory have pointed out the flaws in this methodology (e.g. Conkey and Tringham 1995; Meskell 1995; Goodison and Morris 1998). In all these critiques the identification of such figures as goddesses is rejected as a modern myth. There is no archaeological evidence that these ancient communities were in fact matriarchal, nor is there any evidence that female deities were worshipped exclusively. Male gods may have worshipped simultaneously with the 'mother goddesses' if such images are indeed representations of deities. Nor do such female figures glorify or show admiration for the female body; rather they essentialise it, reducing it to nothing more nor less than a reproductive vessel. The reduction of the head and the diminution of the extremities seem to stress the female form as potentially reproductive, but to what extent this condition was seen as sexual, erotic or matriarchal is unclear.
....Despite the correct rejection of the 'Mother Goddess' and utopian matriarchy myths by recent scholarship, we should not loose track of the overwhelming evidence that the image of female nudity was indeed one of power in ancient Mesopotamia. The goddess Ishtar/Inanna was but one of several goddesses whose erotic allure was represented as a powerful attribute in the literature of the ancient Near East. In contact to the naked male body which was the focus of a variety of meanings in the visual arts, female nudity was always associated with sexuality, and in particular with powerful sexual attraction, Akkadian *kuzbu*. This sexuality was not limited to Ishtar and her cult. As a literary topos, sensuousness is a defining quality for both mortal women and goddesses. In representational art, the nude woman is portrayed in a provocative pose, as the essence of the feminine. For femininity, sexual allure, *kuzbu*, the ideal of the feminine, was thus expressed as nudity in both visual and verbal imagery. While several iconographic types of unclothed females appear in Mesopotamian representations of the historical period - nursing mothers, women in acts of sexual intercourse, entertainers such as dancers and musicians, and isolated frontally represented nudes with or without other attributes - and while these nude female images may have different iconographic functions, the ideal of femininity and female sexuality portrayed in them is similar.

-Zainab Bahrani, Women of Babylon: Gender and Representation in Mesopotamia”
Zainab Bahrani

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