Ancient Civilizations Audiobooks | History

[German] - Dwight D. Eisenhower: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen!

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Valéry Giscard d'Estaing: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Kaiser Augustus: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen!

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Edvard Munch: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen!

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Benjamin Franklin: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen!

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Napoleon III.: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen!

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Jürgen Fritsche (Author), Jürgen Fritsche (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Lise Meitner: Kurzbiografie kompakt: 5 Minuten: Schneller hören – mehr wissen!

5 Minuten, 5 Minuten Biografien, Lea Pfeiffer (Author), Lea Pfeiffer (Narrator)

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The History of the Peloponnesian War

Dive into the tumultuous world of ancient Greece with Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, a masterpiece that stands as one of the earliest and most influential works in historical writing. Thucydides, an Athenian general turned historian, presents a riveting account of the epic conflict between the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, and the Delian League, led by Athens, offering unprecedented insights into the complexities of war, power, and human nature. This timeless classic not only chronicles the military strategies and political machinations of ancient civilizations but also explores the deeper, enduring questions of justice, leadership, and the impact of war on society. Thucydides' meticulous approach to historiography and his commitment to neutrality and objectivity make his work a fascinating study for anyone interested in the roots of modern historical analysis. His narrative is enriched with powerful speeches, including the famous funeral oration by Pericles, and his analysis of the war’s causes and effects provides a valuable lens through which to view contemporary conflicts. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of political science, or simply fascinated by ancient cultures, Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War offers a compelling and thought-provoking journey through one of history's most pivotal epochs. With its blend of rigorous scholarship and dramatic storytelling, this audiobook will transport you to the heart of ancient Greece, making it a must-have addition to your collection. Engage with the past to understand the present through the eyes of one of history's greatest observers. This audiobook was narrated and produced by RAM Studios, where humans and artificial intelligence collaborate to create an excellent listening experience. (The reading is done primarily by AI)

Thucydides (Author), Anna Isaksen (Narrator)

Audiobook

The First Clash: The Miraculous Greek Victory at Marathon and Its Impact on Western Civilization

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Marathon-one of history's most pivotal battles. Its very name evokes images of almost superhuman courage, endurance, and fighting spirit. But until now, the story of what happened at Marathon has been told exclusively through the narrow viewpoint of specialists in antiquity. In this eye-opening new book, acclaimed journalist Jim Lacey, both a military historian and a combat veteran, takes a fresh look at Marathon and reveals why the battle happened, how it was fought, and whether, in fact, it saved Western civilization. Lacey brilliantly reconstructs the world of the fifth century B.C. leading up to the astonishing military defeat of the Persian Empire by the vastly undermanned but determined Greek defenders. Using the seminal work of Herodotus as his starting point, Lacey reconstructs the tactical and strategic scenario of the battle, including how many combatants each side might have used and who actually led the Greeks. He also disputes the long-repeated myths of Athenian inexperience and effete Persian arrogance. With the kind of vivid detail that characterizes the best modern war reportage, Lacey shows how the heavily armed Persian army was shocked, demoralized, and ultimately defeated by the relentless assault of the Athenian phalanx, which battered the Persian line in a series of brutal attacks. He reveals the fascinating aftermath of Marathon, how its fighters became the equivalent of our "Greatest Generation," and challenges the view of many historians that Marathon ultimately proved the Greek "Western way of war" to be the superior strategy for fighting-and winning-battles to the present day. Immediate, visceral, and full of new analyses that defy decades of conventional wisdom, The First Clash is a superb interpretation of a conflict that indeed made the world safe for Aristotle, Plato, and our own modern democracy. But it was also a battle whose legacy and lessons have often been misunderstood-perhaps, now more than ever, at our own peril. * This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF containing illustrated maps and the Dramatis Personae, from the printed book.

James Lacey (Author), Mike Cooper (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire: From the First Century CE to the Third, Revised and Updated

At the height of its power, the Roman Empire encompassed the entire Mediterranean basin. Rome prospered for centuries while successfully resisting attack, fending off everything from overnight robbery raids to full-scale invasion attempts by entire nations on the move. How were troops able to defend the Empire's vast territories from constant attacks? And how did they do so at such moderate cost that their treasury could pay for an immensity of highways, aqueducts, amphitheaters, city baths, and magnificent temples? In The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire, seasoned defense analyst Edward N. Luttwak reveals how the Romans were able to combine military strength, diplomacy, and fortifications to effectively respond to changing threats. Rome's secret was not ceaseless fighting, but comprehensive strategies that unified force, diplomacy, and an immense infrastructure of roads, forts, walls, and barriers. Finally, as barbarians began to penetrate the empire, Rome filed large armies in a strategy of 'defense-in-depth,' allowing invaders to pierce Rome's borders. This updated edition has been extensively revised to incorporate recent scholarship and archeological findings. This illuminating book remains essential to both ancient historians and students of modern strategy.

Edward N. Luttwak (Author), Nigel Patterson (Narrator)

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Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook the Roman World

This audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell gives a dramatic account of the Antonine plague, the mysterious disease that struck the Roman Empire at its pinnacle In the middle of the second century AD, Rome was at its prosperous and powerful apex. The emperor Marcus Aurelius reigned over a vast territory that stretched from Britain to Egypt. The Roman-made peace, or Pax Romana, seemed to be permanent. Then, apparently out of nowhere, a sudden sickness struck the legions and laid waste to cities, including Rome itself. This fast-spreading disease, known now as the Antonine plague, may have been history’s first pandemic. Soon after its arrival, the Empire began its downward trajectory toward decline and fall. In Pox Romana, historian Colin Elliott offers a comprehensive, wide-ranging account of this pivotal moment in Roman history. Did a single disease—its origins and diagnosis still a mystery—bring Rome to its knees? Carefully examining all the available evidence, Elliott shows that Rome’s problems were more insidious. Years before the pandemic, the thin veneer of Roman peace and prosperity had begun to crack: the economy was sluggish, the military found itself bogged down in the Balkans and the Middle East, food insecurity led to riots and mass migration, and persecution of Christians intensified. The pandemic exposed the crumbling foundations of a doomed Empire. Arguing that the disease was both cause and effect of Rome’s fall, Elliott describes the plague’s “preexisting conditions”—Rome’s multiple economic, social, and environmental susceptibilities; recounts the history of the outbreak itself through the experiences of physician, victim, and political operator; and explores post-pandemic crises. The pandemic’s most transformative power, Elliott suggests, may have been its lingering presence as a threat both real and perceived.

Colin Elliott (Author), Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)

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Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor

Experience the world of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and the tremendous challenges he faced and overcame with the help of Stoic philosophy This novel biography brings Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) to life for a new generation of readers by exploring the emperor’s fascinating psychological journey. Donald J. Robertson examines Marcus’s relationships with key figures in his life, such as his mother, Domitia Lucilla, and the emperor Hadrian, as well as his Stoic tutors. He draws extensively on Marcus’s own Meditations and correspondence, and he examines the emperor’s actions as detailed in the Augustan History and other ancient texts. Marcus Aurelius struggled to reconcile his philosophy and moral values with the political pressures he faced as emperor at the height of Roman power. Robertson examines Marcus’s attitude toward slavery and the moral dilemma posed by capturing enemies in warfare; his attitude toward women; the role of Stoicism in shaping his response to the threat of civil war; the treatment of Christians under his rule; and the naming of his notorious son Commodus as his successor. Throughout, the Meditations is used to shed light on the mind of the emperor—his character, values, and motives—as Robertson skillfully weaves together Marcus’s inner journey as a philosopher with the outer events of his life as a Roman emperor. Donald J. Robertson, a cognitive-behavior psychotherapist and writer, is a founding member of the organization Modern Stoicism and the president and founder of the Plato’s Academy Centre nonprofit. The author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism and the Art of Happiness, he lives in Canada and Greece.

Donald J. Robertson (Author), Donald J. Robertson (Narrator)

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Ancient Civilizations Audiobooks in History