From the ancient Greeks to the Aztecs and from the indigenous peoples of Oceania to native North Americans, people across the world have created a rich tapestry of stories, characters and beliefs to explain the mysteries of creation and the forces of nature and death. In this important volume, the mythologies of the ancient worlds are brought vividly to life. Here, one of the foremost experts on world mythology, Arthur Cotterell, brings together a team of authors to depict the world's most significant mythological figures and most enthralling stories. Special illustrated features focus on unifying mythological themes such as Creation and the Universe, Ordering the World, Death and Sacrifice, and Oracles and Prophecies. Illustrated with more than 1500 photographs and works of art, this comprehensive guide to the myths and legends of the world is both accessible and timeless in its universal appeal.

Bloody fighting between rival tribes and clans has existed since the dawn of Homo sapiens, but war as we knew it began to take the more organized forms we recognize today in the ancient Near East, starting in the vital region near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern Iraq) and ultimately extending west to the Mediterranean Sea through what became the Holy Land of the Bible, a region eventually contested by Egypt, the Roman Empire, and others, and extending north and east into the mountains of Persia (modern Iran). In this informed and accessible history, Arthur Cotterell tells the story of how the story of the development of civilization is also the story of the development of organized warfare This story begins around 4,000 to 3,000 BC with the Sumerians, one of the first dominant civilizations of fertile Mesopotamia, and their wars with their neighbors. The Sumerians eventually gave way to the Babylonians, whose period of dominance saw rudimentary "great power" rivalries begin to form with the likes of Egypt and the Hittites and the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BC). This period resolved with the fall of Babylon and the rise of other powers, ultimately the Persian Empire of Cyrus and Darius, one of the great ancient dynasties, which battled the Greeks directly (as chronicled in Herodotus) and indirectly as rival Persian factions battled each other (e.g., as chronicled in Xenophon's account of the storied Ten Thousand). In the period that followed, the Near East was dominated by Alexander the Great, whose legendary campaigns conquered Persia and ventured east into modern India. This era saw the refinement of the Greek hoplite tactics that remained standard for many hundreds of years. After Alexander the Great, and the rise of the Seleucids and Parthians where Persians once reigned, the Roman Empire began to exert its power in the region, especially at its colonies in Judea and Syria. Spanning some 4,000 years and drawing anecdotes and quotations from ancient sources, Where War Began is a lively narrative of the origins of war in a region that is still afflicted by war and that still shapes global politics.

Now reissued in new covers, Arthur Cotterell's fascinating book sets out clearly the chief myths of the world and explains why different mythologies arose in different lands, from the powerful gods of Greece, Rome, and Scandinavia to the mystical deities of Buddhist and Hindu India.

This is a comprehensive reference source to the ancient world's most fascinating mythologies. It is a visual dictionary with 1000 entries and more than 600 fine-art images. It covers every aspect of Classical, Celtic and Norse mythology, folklore and legend, bringing the past to life. It is a lively and informed narrative by one of the world's leading authorities on the subject. Special spreads compare and contrast key mythological and archetypal themes in the different cultures. Hundreds of beautiful images highlight every aspect of these heroic characters and their tales, from the Olympian Gods to the Nordic warriors and nature gods of the Celts. This encyclopedia of mythology brings together the three outstanding traditions of Europe: the Classical legends of ancient Greece and Rome; the fairytale myths of the Celtic world; and from Northern Europe, tales of Germanic gods, Nordic warriors and giants. They form the core of European mythological thought, revealing the power of love in Helen of Troy, the mystery of death in the tale of King Arthur and the challenge of the unknown in the voyages of Brendan the Navigator. Pictorial features focus on recurring mythological themes, such as Oracles, Magic, Voyages, Heroes, and Spells, making this book universal in theme and timeless in appeal. The A-Z structure of the book makes it easy to find hundreds of characters, significant events, locations and sites of interest, stories and symbols.

From one of the world's leading historians?a comprehensive narrative of the 3,000 years that have formed Asia's people, culture, and global destiny

Tracing its origins in Mesopotamia to its modern role on the global geopolitical stage, historian Arthur Cotterell offers a compelling, lively, and readable account of one of the most culturally diverse, and often misunderstood, parts of the world. Beginning with the emergence of the world's earliest civilization in 3000 BC, Asia: A Concise History provides a fascinating look at the global convulsions?like the rise and fall of Assyria and Persia, the medieval states that flourished after the advent of Islam, and the modern transformations triggered by the lightning conquests of imperial Japan?that have shaped the continent. Covers the great events and figures of Asian history, along with a look at the monumental remains that bear witness to those times: the ziggurats of Iraq, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the temple of Angkor WatIncludes fascinating slices of history, including funeral arrangements for Qin Shi Huangdi in 210 BC; an extract from Lord Macartney's journal of his 1793 diplomatic mission to the Qing emperor Qian Long; and Toyotomi Hideyoshi's edict of 1587 banning firearms in JapanFeatures boxed inserts of special interest?like a Babylonian recipe for lamb stew circa 1500 BCContains over 100 illustrations, maps, and photosOther books by Cotterell: "The Minoan World," "The First Emperor of China," "The Encyclopedia of Mythology," and "Chariot"

Destined to become a reference staple for history buffs and students of Asian history, Asia: A Concise History offers readers a breathtaking narrative and wealth of detail that make the formative periods, key events, and personalities from this once remote part of the world come alive.

This ambitious and wide-ranging popular history is the first narrative account of the entire Near East (Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States), from the genesis of civilisation in the fourth millennium BCE until modern times. It provides an historical outline of the civilisations and cultures that dominated the region, one that has had an immense impact on the development of humankind, ever since the ancient Sumerians invented urban living and writing around 3200 BCE. Later, the Babylonians and the Assyrians built upon the Sumerian legacy. They were the world's earliest great powers, whose actions in the cradle of monotheism influenced Judaism and, eventually, Christianity and Islam. The Near East discusses the long eras of Arab, Persian and Ottoman rule, and the destabilising intervention of Western colonial powers. Cotterell's book is a timely reminder of how historical events have shaped the outlooks of various peoples, just as political turbulence in the Near East is challenging both neighbouring countries and the wider world.