A Short History of the Ancient World examines the emergence of urban civilizations on the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia. Tracing developments from prehistoric times through the end of antiquity, the book investigates the unique social, cultural, religious, economic, and political characteristics of each civilization. Employing a social historical approach, Rauh argues that the ancient world encompassed more than simply Greece and Rome, and that urban populations across Eurasia and northern Africa were linked by an ancient world system. He explores the interconnectivity between societies in the Roman Mediterranean, East Africa, India, and China as they attained urban development, material prosperity, and cultural achievement. This beautifully designed full-color book includes an impressive range of images, as well as chronologies, timelines, overviews of dynasties, and chapter reviews.

A Short History of the Ancient World examines the emergence of urban civilizations on the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia. Tracing developments from prehistoric times through the end of antiquity, the book investigates the unique social, cultural, religious, economic, and political characteristics of each civilization. Employing a social historical approach, Rauh argues that the ancient world encompassed more than simply Greece and Rome, and that urban populations across Eurasia and northern Africa were linked by an ancient world system. He explores the interconnectivity between societies in the Roman Mediterranean, East Africa, India, and China as they attained urban development, material prosperity, and cultural achievement. This beautifully designed full-color book includes an impressive range of images, as well as chronologies, timelines, overviews of dynasties, and chapter reviews.

During the 1st century BC the Romans dominated the Mediterranean, largely due to their extraordinary success in trade. However, sailors must have dreaded the pirates who flourished in equal measure during these years. This scholarly yet accessible study focuses on the Mediterranean at a time when it was transformed from a Hellenistic to a Roman powerbase. Rauh identifies Rome's most important trading centers around the coasts, pirates' coves and strongholds, and the forts that were built by the Romans to counteract them.