"Alexander's behavior was conditioned along certain lines—heroism, courage, strength, superstition, bisexuality, intoxication, cruelty. He bestrode Europe and Asia like a supernatural figure.
In this succinct portrait of Alexander the Great, distinguished scholar and historian Norman Cantor draws on the major writings of Alexander's contemporaries as well as the most recent psychological and cultural studies to illuminate this most legendary of men—a great figure in the ancient world whose puzzling personality greatly fueled his military accomplishments. Cantor describes Alexander's ambiguous relationship with his father, Philip II of Macedon; his oedipal involvement with his mother, the Albanian princess Olympias; and his bisexuality. He traces Alexander's attempts to bridge the East and West, the Greek and Persian worlds, using Achilles, hero of the Trojan War, as his model. Finally, Cantor explores Alexander's view of himself in relation to the pagan gods of Greece and Egypt.
More than a biography, Cantor's Alexander the Great is a psychological rendering of a man of his time."
"Esteemed Egyptologist Barbara Mertz updates her widely praised social history of the people of ancient Egypt, which was originally published in 1968. Combining impeccable scholarship with a delightfully personal style, the author reconstructs the life of the Egyptians from birth to death, and beyond death, too. She also presents much fascinating detail on the building of the pyramids and the intricate art of mummification. Students and laymen alike will enjoy the wealth of authentic material on every aspect of Egyptian life that Mertz provides."
"The trial and condemnation of Socrates (469-399 B.C.) is one of the most tragic episodes in the history of Athens' decline. Plato, Socrates' most devoted disciple, has preserved for us the essence of the teaching and logical system of question-and-answer of western civilization's purest intellect in this sequence of four works: Euthyphro, The Apology, Crito, and Phaedo."
"Xenophon, after being exiled from Athens, spent the last years of his life hunting, writing, and recalling in his books the great days of the Persian expedition. This record of one of the most famous marches in history contains an account of the day-to-day life of ordinary men and soldiers. It demonstrates how Greek theories of government and morality worked out in practice-for with his admiration for the great, Xenophon had a rare ability to understand and describe the outlook of lesser men. His own fortunes, too, are intensely moving. Cool, calculating, brilliant, and intensely pious, he is one of the most fascinating characters of history, and his account of his own doings is so far from being self-conscious that he seems to be one of the very few Greeks whose ways and manners have been accurately documented."
"Caius Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman orator and public official, is considered one of the greatest historians as well as one of the greatest prose stylists of the Latin language. In The Histories, he describes and interprets the period in which he lived, beginning with the political situation that followed Nero's death in AD 69 and ending with the death of Domitian in AD 96 and the close of the Flavian dynasty. The five books of the history still in existance are part of an original work of twelve to fourteen books.
The narrative as it now exists, with its magnificent introduction, is a powerfully sustained piece of writing. Because Tacitus was a conscious literary stylist, both his thought and his manner of expression gave life to his work. He wrote in the grand style, helped by the solemn and poetic usage of the Roman tradition, and he exploited the Latin qualities of strength, rhythm, and color."
"In this updated version of the classic of popular Egyptology, Barbara Mertz combines a doctorate in Egyptology at the famed Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago with a life-long enthusiasm for ancient Egypt. Her love of the subject is contagious and makes her the perfect guide to ancient Egypt for the student, the layman, and those who plan to visit—or have visited—the Nile Valley."
"Considered one of the finest historical works in the English language, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is lauded for its graceful, elegant prose style as much as for its grand scope and considerable accuracy. It is a remarkable survey of what the author calls 'the greatest and, perhaps, most awful scene in the history of mankind.'
This third volume of Gibbon's masterpiece covers the years 1185 to 1453 and explores the rise of Islam, the Crusades, the invention of gunpowder, Genghis Khan and the Mongol invasions, the Turkish conquests, and the beginning of the Renaissance.
The publication of this work in 1788 ended twenty years of Gibbon's contemplation and vast research on his subject and made this virtually self-educated man the most famous historian of his time."
"Famous for its unflagging narrative power, fine organization, and irresistibly persuasive arguments, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire has earned a permanent place of honor in historical literature. Gibbon's elegantly detached erudition is seasoned with an ironic wit, and remarkably little of his work is outdated.
This second volume covers AD 395 to AD 1185, from the reign of Justinian in the East to the establishment of the German Empire of the West. It recounts the desperate attempts to hold off the barbarians, palace revolutions and assassinations, theological controversy, and lecheries and betrayals, all in a setting of phenomenal magnificence."
"Considered one of the finest historical works in the English language, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is lauded for its graceful, elegant prose style as much as for its epic scope. Remarkably accurate for its day, Gibbon's treatise holds a high place in the history of literature and remains an enduring subject of study.
Gibbon's monumental work traces the history of more than thirteen centuries, covering the great events as well as the general historical progression. This first volume covers AD 180 AD to AD 395, which includes the reign of Augustus, the establishment of Christianity, and the Crusades."
"An unprecedented account of one of civilization's greatest achievements.
The great pyramids of Giza have intrigued humanity for thousands of years. Questions about the construction and the purpose of these majestic monuments have existed since the middle period of ancient Egyptian civilization; in the sixth century B.C., Herodotus was the first of generations of explorers to travel to Egypt in an attempt to unlock their secrets. Recent cutting-edge research has uncovered information about how and why they were built unimaginable to previous generations. In Mountains of the Pharaohs, Zahi Hawass, a world-renowned archaeologist and the official guardian of Egypt's timeless treasures, weaves the latest archaeological data and an enthralling family history into spellbinding narrative.
Nearly five thousand years ago, the fourth dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom reigned over a highly advanced civilization. Believed to be gods, the royal family lived amidst colossal palaces and temples built to honor them and their deified ancestors. Hawass brings these extraordinary historical figures to life, spinning a soap opera-like saga complete with murder, incest, and the triumphant ascension to the throne of one of only four queens ever to rule Egypt.
The magnificent pyramids attest not only to the dynasty's supreme power, but also to the engineering expertise and architectural sophistication that flourished under their rule. Hawass argues that the pyramids-including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World still standing-were built by skilled craftsman who took great pride in their work."
"Dieses Hörbuch macht tausend Jahre Römische Geschichte zu einem Abenteuer und vermittelt das Gefühl, selbst unter Römern gelebt und Cäsar, Augustus und Claudius kennen gelernt zu haben. Die Vergangenheit wird wieder lebendig und historische Gestalten werden zu Zeitgenossen, mit denen wir reden, lachen und weinen können.
Erlebtes Abenteuer statt trockener Fakten: Mit seinem unverwechselbaren Stil bringt uns Joachim Fernau historische Persönlichkeiten und Begebenheiten näher, und wir lernen Geschichte von innen heraus kennen. Fernau beginnt seine Römische Geschichte als heiter bukolische Sage noch vor Romulus und Remus und endet mit einem Paukenschlag bei den Soldatenkaisern.
Er zeigt die menschlichen Schwächen, die sich damals wie heute hinter den Kriegen der Mächtigen und den Intrigen der Politiker verbergen, er macht nüchterne Lesebuchdaten transparent und Hintergründe sichtbar. Noch nie sind berühmte Römer wie Cäsar, Sulla, Marius, Augustus und Claudius so durchschaut worden. Hier glaubt der Hörer, wirklich unter Römern gelebt zu haben, und es dauert lange, bis man sich aus dieser Welt wieder lösen kann - hellsichtiger und klüger..."
"Eine Reise in die Vergangenheit ist ein großes Abenteuer - ein liebevolles, sarkastisches und melancholisches Abenteuer, wenn man es mit Joachim Fernau unternimmt. Von den Ursprüngen der Griechen in Mykene bis in die großen Stadtstaaten Athen und Sparta führt uns dieses Hörbuch. Dabei kommentiert Fernau bissig und voller Humor die 'Ilias' und die 'Odyssee' und versucht, dem Rätsel 'Homer' näherzukommen. Mit ihm streifen wir durch die Gassen Athens, erleben politische Machtkämpfe und Intringen, und sind dabei, wenn Athen in der Schlacht bei Marathon die Perser besiegt. Fernau zeigt den Aufstieg Spartas, dieses 'Preußen der Hellenen', stattet dem Orakel bei Delphi einen aufschlussreichen Besuch ab und begegnet dem Perserkönig Xerxes, der seine Leute in die Schlacht bei den Thermophylen führt.
Eine Reise in die Vergangenheit ist ein großes Abenteuer - ein liebevolles, sarkastisches und melancholisches Abenteuer, wenn man es mit Joachim Fernau unternimmt. Von den Ursprüngen der Griechen in Mykene bis in die großen Stadtstaaten Athen und Sparta führt uns dieses Hörbuch. Dabei kommentiert Fernau bissig und voller Humor die 'Ilias' und die 'Odyssee' und versucht, dem Rätsel 'Homer' näherzukommen. Mit ihm streifen wir durch die Gassen Athens, erleben politische Machtkämpfe und Intringen, und sind dabei, wenn Athen in der Schlacht bei Marathon die Perser besiegt. Fernau zeigt den Aufstieg Spartas, dieses 'Preußen der Hellenen', stattet dem Orakel bei Delphi einen aufschlussreichen Besuch ab und begegnet dem Perserkönig Xerxes, der seine Leute in die Schlacht bei den Thermophylen führt."
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