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Step back in time and take a walk through the sites and structures
of this ancient city that reveal its fascinating history. In this
expert guide to the ancient city, Dr Philip Matyszak takes us on a
tour of all ancient Rome’s most historically significant sites
and locations, revealing the dramatic stories behind the capital of
the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and, later, the Roman Empire.
Made up of fourteen chapters, each chapter will focus on one of
Rome’s fourteen districts and feature a map of the area, with a
key detailing specific buildings and locations where notable
historic events occurred. The reader will then be taken on a guided
tour of these locations and their historical importance, as if they
were walking through the city itself.
A fascinating tour of cities that have been lost to history, from
the Neolithic period up to the late Roman Empire, that offers a
fresh new perspective on the roots of urban life. The ruins of
ancient Athens, Luxor and Rome are familiar cornerstones of world
history, visited by travellers from across the globe. But what
about the cities that have dropped off the map – that have been
submerged under water, or swallowed up by the sands of time? Where
are they, and what can they tell us about our past? In this
compendium of forgotten cities, Philip Matyszak explores the
trials, tribulations and triumphs they faced, revealing how people
have embarked on the shared endeavour of living together since we
first settled down 12,000 years ago. Illustrated throughout with
important artefacts, ruins and maps, Lost Cities of the Ancient
World brings to life the sites and settlements across Europe, the
Middle East and beyond that time forgot, from the sunken city of
Ropotamo in the Black Sea to the deep cave dwellings of Derinkuyu
in Turkey. Some have survived only in ancient literature, such as
the lost city of Zoar by the Dead Sea, known from the Bible but not
yet found. Others have been located, allowing archaeologists to
trace their changing fortunes through centuries of occupation.
Matyszak reveals a dynamic network of peoples and cultures who
fought and traded between themselves, exchanging inventions, ideas
and philosophies, with the result that peoples as far apart as
Çatalhöyük in Turkey and Skara Brae in the Orkney islands in
Scotland shared much of a common heritage. By examining the
motivations that first drew people to gather and settle together,
as well as the challenges that led to their cities’ abandonment,
this visually striking and often surprising book offers us a fresh
perspective on our urban origins.
Bestselling author Philip Matyszak explores how the Greeks and
Romans used magic, who performed it – and why. Magic was
everywhere in the ancient world. The supernatural abounded, turning
flowers into fruit and caterpillars into butterflies. Magic packed
a cloud of water vapour with energy enough to destroy a house with
one well-aimed thunderbolt. It was everyday magic, but it was still
magical. Philip Matyszak takes readers into that world. He shows us
how to make a love potion or cast a curse, how to talk to the dead
and how to identify and protect oneself from evil spirits. He takes
us to a world where gods, like humans, were creatures of space and
time; where people could not just talk to spirits and deities, but
could even themselves become divine; and where divine beings could
fall from – or be promoted to – full godhood. Ancient Magic
offers us a new way of understanding the role of magic, looking at
its history in all of its classical forms. Drawing on a wide array
of sources, from Greek dramas to curse tablets, lavishly
illustrated throughout, and packed with information, surprises,
lore and learning, this book offers an engaging and accessible way
into the supernatural for all.
An overview of the lost peoples and cultures who flourished and
fought for survival alongside the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.
Beyond the Greeks, Romans and Hebrews of the Classical and Biblical
eras, a rich diversity of peoples helped lay the foundations of the
modern world. Philip Matyszak brings to life these cultures and
individuals that made up the busy, brawling multicultural mass of
humanity that emerged from the ancient Middle East and spread
across the Mediterranean and Europe. He explores the origins of
forty forgotten peoples, their great triumphs and defeats, and
considers the legacy they have left to us today, whether it be in
fine art or everyday language. This carefully researched and
illuminating history is the perfect introduction for the modern
reader, packed with surprising facts and fascinating stories,
detailed maps and beautiful illustrations of artefacts and sites of
interest. Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World offers a new
understanding of these important civilizations that have been
obscured by the passage of time.
The gripping stories of the most colourful and formidable
characters to challenge the might of Rome. Until recently, it was
assumed that Rome carried the torch of civilization into the
barbarian darkness, bringing law, architecture, and literature to
conquered peoples. The alternative view now suggests that many of
Rome's enemies - the Celts, Hebrews, and Phoenicians, for example -
were developing civilizations in their own right before
obliteration at the Roman sword. Indeed, as Philip Matyszak argues,
had Rome not crushed rivals so completely, the drop into the Dark
Ages might not have occurred; at Rome's collapse, no other powerful
civilizations remained to absorb the impact. This engrossing book
looks at the growth and eventual demise of Rome from the viewpoint
of those vanquished by Rome. They varied from the highly cultivated
Greeks and Egyptians to wild and rebellious Britons and Germans, to
the Asiatic empires of the Persians and Parthians. Their leaders
were driven by ambition, vindictive hatred, fear, political
calculation, or naked greed. Some fought to preserve their
heritage, some for personal survival, and others from a warrior's
love of battle. Defying the might of Rome was a dangerous business,
and few of the men and women described here died in their beds.
Some, like Vercingetorix and Jugurtha, were captured, exhibited in
triumph, and then, while their conquerors sat down to a festive
dinner, killed in the dungeons below. Rather than face such an end,
some of Rome's greatest adversaries, including Hannibal, Boudicca,
and Cleopatra, killed themselves. Here is the reality behind
legends such as Spartacus the gladiator, and the stories of Shapur
the conqueror and Mithridates the connoisseur of poisons. Some
enemies of Rome were noble heroes, others were murdering villains,
but each has a unique and fascinating story.
Discover the lives of the ancient Romans, pieced together from
inscriptions, discarded letters, biographies and myth over two
thousand years of history. The Roman empire witnessed a huge
diversity of human experience over its history. At its pinnacle, it
exerted its rule across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, from
Britannia to the Black Sea. In this collection of 100 lives, Philip
Matyszak and Joanne Berry give voice not only to famed rulers and
generals whose names and deeds have been enshrined in classical
texts but also to the ordinary citizens – centurions, scholars,
Christian martyrs and civil servants – who made up the fabric of
Roman society. The biographies of these individuals, whose stories
range from the happy and uneventful to the tragic and dramatic, are
pieced together from ancient art, artefacts and myths. Matyszak and
Berry illuminate the sometimes surprising exploits of Rome’s
women, such as Amazonia, a sword-swinging gladiator, and Metila, a
priestess of the cult of Cymbele. Romans of every class and creed
are represented, from Faustulus, a shepherd said to have adopted
the infant Romulus and Remus, to the poet Virgil, whose words still
echo down the ages. Each of these lives forms part of a larger
picture, together making up a rich mosaic that gives us a glimpse
of what it meant to be a Roman.
Packed with cleverly designed graphics, charts and diagrams,
Ancient Rome: Infographics uses data visualization to tell the epic
tale of the city of Rome and its empire. Every aspect of the Roman
world is explored, from the birth of the Republic to the imperial
dynasties, from the political and legal system to Rome's military
might. Drawing on international sources, this complex history is
made clear and comprehensible to modern readers, while offering the
insights and rigour that historians demand. Original, accessible
and fascinating, Ancient Rome: Infographics will delight history
buffs, graphic design aficionados, and everyone seeking an overview
of a civilization that shaped the world.
'Accessible, informative, enjoyable' - All About History
_____________________ Spend 24 hours with the ancient Athenians.
See the city through their eyes as it teeters on the edge of the
fateful war that would end its golden age. Athens, 416 BC. A
tenuous peace holds. The city-state's political and military might
are feared throughout the ancient world; it pushes the boundaries
of social, literary and philosophical experimentation in an era
when it has a greater concentration of geniuses per capita than at
any other time in human history. Yet even geniuses go to the
bathroom, argue with their spouse and enjoy a drink with friends.
During the course of a day we meet 24 Athenians from all strata of
society - from the slave-girl to the councilman, the vase painter
to the naval commander, the housewife to the hoplite - and get to
know what the real Athens was like by spending an hour in their
company. We encounter a different one of these characters every
chapter, with each chapter forming an hour in the life of the
ancient city. We also get to spy on the daily doings of notable
Athenians through the eyes of regular people as the city hovers on
the brink of the fateful war that will destroy its golden age.
Here is an informative and entertaining guide to everything that
any tourist needs for a journey back in time to ancient Rome in AD
200. You need only pack your imagination and a toothbrush - this
guide provides the rest, describing all the best places to stay and
shop, what to do, and what to avoid. Brought to life with wonderful
computergenerated reconstructions of ancient Rome, this highly
original, witty book will appeal to tourists, armchair travellers
and history buffs.
Experience a remarkable year among the real people of ancient
Greece, as they prepare for the most important event in their
calendar. It is 248 BC, the year of the 133rd Olympic Games. At
this time the Hellenistic world is at its peak, with Greek
settlements spread across the Middle East, Egypt and Spain. As
ever, the world is politically troubled, with Rome locked in a war
with Carthage and a major conflict brewing between Egypt and Syria.
However, ordinary people are still preoccupied with the crops,
household affairs - and in some cases, with winning an Olympic
crown. Starting at the autumn equinox, in this imagined account of
a year in the life of eight fascinating characters, Philip Matyszak
reveals what life was really like at this time. Rather than
focusing on the kings and generals from the histories of Thucydides
and Polybius, we are invited into the homes of ordinary Greek
citizens. From the diplomat who is using the Games as a cover to
engage in political skulduggery to the sprinter who dreams of
glory, A Year in the Life of Ancient Greece takes us through a
dramatic twelve months to reveal the opportunities and the perils
of everyday life during this period.
Who was Pandora and what was in her famous box? How did Achilles
get his Achilles heel? What exactly is a Titan? And why is one
computer virus known as a Trojan horse? The myths of ancient Greece
and Rome can seem bewilderingly complex, yet they are so much a
part of modern life and discourse that most of us know fragments of
them. This comprehensive companion takes these fragments and weaves
them into an accessible and enjoyable narrative, guiding the reader
through the basic stories of classical myth. Philip Matyszak
explains the sequences of events and introduces the major plots and
characters, from the origins of the world and the labors of
Hercules to the Trojan War and the voyages of Odysseus and Aeneas.
He brings to life an exotic cast of heroes and monsters, wronged
women and frighteningly arbitrary yet powerful gods. He also shows
how the stories have survived and greatly influenced later art and
culture, from Renaissance painting and sculpture to modern opera,
literature, movies, and everyday products.
The essential illustrated guide to the gods and goddesses of
ancient Greece and Rome, vividly retelling their stories and
exploring their origins. Who were the gods and goddesses of ancient
Greece and Rome? What did they mean to the people who worshipped
them? Although their time of widespread worship has long passed,
the Greek and Roman gods have fascinated and inspired writers and
artists for millennia. From Aphrodite to Apollo, Poseidon to Zeus,
these are some of the most recognizable characters in Western
culture, yet there is a much richer past behind famous paintings of
the birth of Aphrodite or the bold iconography of Zeus and his
thunderbolts. The Greek and Roman gods are enthralling characters
in the enduringly powerful Iliad, Odyssey and Metamorphoses. They
are immortal and powerful yet also vain, vindictive and vulnerable.
Moreover, as manifestations of death, fertility, love and war, the
gods are also our key to understanding how the Greeks and Romans
saw their world. Philip Matyszak presents this pantheon in all
their complexity, guiding us from Mount Olympus to the depths of
Hades. Each chapter focuses on an individual god or goddess,
beginning with their 'biography' as understood by the Greeks and
Romans and exploring the origins of the legends. Matyszak mixes
history with vivid retellings of the myths in which the gods have a
starring role, from stories of cosmic creation and universal war to
disastrous weddings and freak discus accidents. This sumptuously
illustrated guide to the gods of Greece and Rome is a must-have for
anyone interested in mythology and classical civilization.
Partly as a result of poor commanders and partly because the Romans
had an innate and misguided belief in the invincibility of their
legions, the first battles against the Cimbri were a series of
disasters. These culminated in the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC when
two Roman armies were utterly destroyed. Rome finally realized that
their republic faced an existential threat, and made the necessary
painful political and military changes that were needed to face
that threat. Rome also found a commander who could take on the
Cimbri. Caius Marius was a deeply flawed man - scheming, cautious
to the point of cowardice, and quick to claim credit for the
achievements of others. Nevertheless, he was a massive improvement
on the leaders who had preceded him. The reshaped Roman army
eventually worked out how to weather the savage onrush of the
initial barbarian assault. Thereafter, the grim discipline of the
legions was enough to wear down the opposition. It helped that
Marius never fought unless the situation favoured him, and as a
result his army gradually became accustomed to victory. Had the
Cimbri overwhelmed Rome, as at one time it seemed inevitable that
they would, then European history would have been very different.
This is ancient Greece - but not as we know it. Few people today
appreciate that Greek civilization was spread across the Middle
East, and that there were Greek cities in the foothills of the
Himalayas. This book tells the story of the Greeks outside Greece,
such as Sappho, the poet from Lesbos; Archimedes, a native of
Syracuse; and Herodotus, who was born in Asia Minor as a subject of
the Persian Empire. From the earliest times of prehistoric Greek
colonies around the Black Sea, through settlements in Spain and
Italy, to the conquests of Alexander and the glories of the
Hellenistic era, Philip Matyszak illuminates the Greek soldiers,
statesmen, scientists and philosophers who, though they seldom - if
ever - set foot on the Greek mainland, nevertheless laid the
foundations of what we call 'Greek culture' today. Instead of
following the well-worn path of describing Athenian democracy and
Spartan militarism, this book offers a fresh look at what it meant
to be Greek by telling the story of the Greeks abroad, from India
to Spain.
No other political entity has shaped the modern world like the
Roman Empire. Encompassing close to a quarter of the world's
population and 3 million km2 of land, it represented a diverse and
dynamic collection of nations, states and tribes, all bound to Rome
and the ideal of a Roman identity. In the lively and engaging style
that he's known for, Philip Matyszak traces the history of the
Roman Empire from the fall of the Assyrians and the rise of the
Roman Republic through to the ages of expansion, crisis and
eventual split. Breathing new life into these extraordinary events,
Matyszak explains how the empire operated, deploying its incredibly
military machine to conquer vast territory then naturalizing its
subject peoples as citizens of Rome. It was a method of rule so
sophisticated that loyalty to Rome remained strong even afters its
collapse creating an expansive legacy that continues to this day.
At the heart of this history of the Julio-Claudian dynasty are the
lives of six men - Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius
Caligula, Claudius and Nero - men who mastered Rome and changed it
from a democracy to a personal possession. It was no easy task:
Caesar and Caligula were assassinated, Nero committed suicide and
Claudius was poisoned. Only Augustus and Tiberius died natural
deaths - and even that is uncertain. The Julio-Claudian saga has a
host of other characters, from Cicero, the last great statesman of
the Republic, to Livia, matriarch of the Empire; the passionate
Mark Antony and the scheming Sejanus; and Agrippina, mother of Nero
and sister of Caligula, who probably murdered her husband and in
turn was killed by her son. Set against a background of foreign
wars and domestic intrigue, the story of Rome's greatest dynasty is
also the story of the birth of an imperial system that shaped the
Europe of today.
A military biography of Mithridates VI 'the Great' of Pontus,
Rome's most persistent enemy. The Mithridiatic wars stretched over
half a century and two continents, and have a fascinating cast of
pirates, rebels, turncoats and poisoners (though an unfortunate
lack of heroes with untarnished motives). There are pitched
battles, epic sieges, double-crosses and world-class political
conniving, assassinations and general treachery. Through it all,
the story is built about the dominant character of Mithridates,
connoisseur of poisons, arch-schemer and strategist; resilient in
defeat, savage and vindictive in victory. Almost by definition,
this book will break new ground, in that nothing has been written
on Mithridates for the general public for almost half a century,
though scholarly journals have been adding a steady trickle of new
evidence, which is drawn upon here. Few enough leaders went to war
with Rome and lived long to tell the tale, but in the first half of
the first century BC, Mithridates did so three times. At the high
point of his career his armies swept the Romans out of Asia Minor
and Greece, reversing a century of Roman expansion in the
region.Even once fortune had turned against him he would not
submit. Upto the day he died, a fugitive drive to suicide by the
treachery of his own son, he was still planning an overland
invasion of Roman itself.
In 48 BC the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great fought a
decisive battle at Pharsalus in Greece. Pompey was comprehensively
defeated and fled to the last power in the Mediterranean world that
was independent of Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt. Caesar pursued Pompey and
was presented with his severed head, which the Egyptians hoped
would make Caesar leave them in peace. Instead, Caesar - as if he
did not have enough to do already - plunged gleefully into the
world of Egyptian palace politics, riven by dynastic dispute. He
quickly sided with the beguiling Queen Cleopatra (after her famous
carpet trick), despite having little more than a bodyguard with
him. Most of his army was still in Greece, leaving him massively
outnumbered by the Egyptian forces. The Romans were besieged in
Alexandria for seven months before reinforcements could get through
to them. Julius Caesar in Egypt is a true story of double-cross,
assassination and intrigue accompanied by lively battles, daring
escapes, disastrous fires (the Great Library of Alexandria was
largely destroyed in one fracas) and, if not a love story, at least
a tale of sex and power as Caesar and Cleopatra's relationship
shaped these world-changing events.
Walk a day in a Roman's sandals.
What was it like to live in one of
the ancient world's most powerful and bustling cities - one that
was eight times more densely populated than modern day New York? In
this entertaining and enlightening guide, bestselling historian
Philip Matyszak introduces us to 24 characters who lived and worked
there. In each hour of the day we meet a new character - from a
senator to slave girl, gladiator to astrologer, watchmen to
washerwomen - and discover the fascinating details of their daily
lives.
This humorous and handy guide contains all the information aspiring
legionaries need to know about life in the Roman army. Expert tips
include: how to care for your Roman sandals; how to operate a
catapult; what to wear and not to wear on campaign; how to sack a
city; and how to avoid getting a javelin through your skull. Based
on the bestselling book Legionary, by Roman history scholar, Philip
Matyszak, So you want to be a Roman soldier? features the latest
scholarship and is illustrated throughout with the zany
illustrations of Japanese cartoonist, Takayo Akiyama. The result is
a book that brings to life the experience of being a Roman soldier
in 100 ce – from dealing with stinky bunk mates to surviving
bloody battles – through a crew of likeable (as well as highly
disagreeable) characters.
When, after a brutal civil war, the dictator Sulla took power in
Rome (82 BC), among the many who refused to accept his rule was a
young army officer called Quintus Sertorius. Sertorius fled, first
to Africa and then to Spain, where he made common cause with the
native people who had been savagely oppressed by a succession of
corrupt Roman governors. Discovering a genius for guerilla warfare
(he claimed he received divine guidance from Artemis via a white
fawn he kept),Sertorius came close to driving the Romans out of
Spain altogether. Rome responded by sending reinforcements under
the control of the up-and-coming young general Gnaeus Pompey (later
Pompey the Great). The epic struggle which followed between these
two great commanders is a masterclass of ancient strategy and
tactical manoeuvre. Massively outnumbered, Sertorious remained
undefeated on the battlefield, but was eventually assassinated by
jealous subordinates, none of whom proved a match for Pompey. This
proved the decisive end of the struggle for Spain, though
recalcitrant tribes held out until the time of Augustus. The tale
of Sertorius is the story of a people struggling to liberate
themselves from oppressive rule. It is also the story of Sertorius
himself, who started as an idealist, and ended almost as savage and
despotic as his enemies. But above all, it is the story of a duel
between two great generals, fought between two different styles of
army in the valleys of the Spanish interior.
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