Ancient

In 410 CE, Roman rule of Britain collapsed, bringing a centuries-long occupation to an end. A century later, Britain was dividing into two areas with contrasting cultures, an expansive "Anglo-Saxon" south and east, and a shrinking Celtic west and north. How did this transition happen? And why did the customs of the Germanic incomers prevail in England, unlike elsewhere in Europe? In this account, Nicholas J. Higham addresses these questions head on. Higham draws on archaeological evidence and contemporary literature, including the writings of Gildas, to reconsider the accepted narrative.

Themistocles (524–459 BC) came of age just as a newly democratic and empowered Athens was emerging. He would become an instrumental political and military figure, fighting in the Battle of Marathon; persuading Athenians to expand their fleet; and engineering the Athenians' defeat of the...

The Empire That Built Your World (and Set It on Fire)You may have slept through history class, but Rome has been shaping your life this whole time. The alphabet you’re reading right now? Built on Latin. Your calendar? Roman. Your laws, your government buildings, and your favorite dramas packed with power plays and betrayal? They all carry echoes of a civilization that never really died. This is not another dusty textbook or a glorified list of emperors. It is a fast-paced, brutally honest ride through 1,200 years of violence, innovation, chaos, and unlikely survival.

You’ve seen the pyramids. You’ve heard of Anubis and mummies. But do you know the epic myths that gave them meaning? Whether you’re new to mythology or curious to go deeper, this guide invites you into a rich, symbolic world shaped by creation, death, resurrection, and cosmic order, a world that influenced over three thousand years of civilization.

Sumérgete en la historia de la Antigua Roma, desde sus orígenes como un pequeño asentamiento en la colina del Palatino y su apogeo como un imperio que gobernaba a más de 90 millones de personas hasta su dramático declive. Este fantástico audiolibro abarca más de 1.000 años de la historia de un imperio que se extendía desde Escocia hasta Siria. Conoce todos los acontecimientos políticos, culturales y militares clave que dieron forma al Imperio Romano y descubre cómo era la sociedad que sentó las bases del mundo moderno.

UPLIFTING, PRACTICAL AND SURPRISING WISDOM FROM THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING CLASSICIST 'Wonderful. Thoughtfully chosen, carefully explained and beautifully expressed' NATALIE HAYNES 'A literary phenomenon' TLS 'She leaves her readers inspired, invigorated and sincerely grateful' TELEGRAPH Why...

ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025 See ancient Rome through the eyes of a gladiator—from the evening before the games at the Colosseum to the evening after "A grippingly original way of making the alien world of the Roman Amphitheatre both accessible and comprehensible." —Tom...

Uncovering Roman Mythology takes listeners deep into the legendary world of ancient Rome, where gods ruled human fate and myths shaped an empire. Explore the powerful stories of Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Venus, and more along with the heroes, creatures, and legends that defined Roman culture, politics, and belief. Blending timeless myths with clear explanations and historical insight, this audiobook reveals not just the stories themselves, but the deeper meanings behind them.

Designed for visitors wishing to explore the archaeological landscape, this user-friendly guide sets out a plan of 20 Roman towns – explaining how visitors can find the site and what they may expect to see. Where appropriate, this book explores how the town developed from an Iron Age settlement or where it began life as a military fortress or fort.

Although the Sumerians continue to get second or even third billing compared to the Babylonians and Assyrians, perhaps because they never built an empire as great as the Assyrians or established a city as enduring and great as Babylon, they were the people who provided the template of civilization that all later Mesopotamians built upon. The Sumerians are credited with being the first people to invent writing, libraries, cities, and schools in, and many would argue that they were the first people to create and do those things anywhere in world.

'A readable and very informative history packed with a wealth of splendid detail' Joyce Tyldesley OBE, author of Tutankhamun 'A brilliantly concise, but also entertaining, summary - in all its complexities - of an empire that spanned more than five centuries and three continents. Jacob skilfully...

Beneath the landscapes of the Old World lie silent witnesses to human history—ancient cities buried by time, temples swallowed by sand, and civilizations that disappeared long before their stories could be told. Secrets Beneath Old World Ruins is a captivating journey into these forgotten places, exploring the hidden truths they hold and the mysteries that continue to puzzle historians and archaeologists. This audiobook is more than a tour of ruins; it is an investigation into the lives, beliefs, and innovations of people who shaped the world in ways we are still discovering today.

What happens when great empires vanish without a clear trace? Echoes of Ancient Forgotten Empires seeks to answer that question by exploring the powerful civilizations that once dominated regions across the Old World—only to be lost to time, conquest, or natural disaster. These empires may not appear in mainstream history books, but their influence still lingers in the cultures, languages, and traditions that followed. This audiobook brings their stories back to life through a vivid blend of archaeology, historical research, and storytelling.

The Scriptures say that God established wonders in the land of Egypt. When was the Great Pyramid built? Who was the builder? Why was it built? These are questions that continue to be debated by archaeologists, astronomers, other scientists, and historians. The noted historian Josephus wrote that the Great Pyramid was built by the descendants of Seth, before the flood, to record the knowledge of the heavens.

The Mayans and Mesoamerican Cultures: A Story of Cities, Kings, and Sacred Time is a richly told narrative history that brings to life the rise and fall of the great civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica. From the colossal stone heads of the Olmec to the celestial calculations of the Maya, from the forgotten power of Teotihuacan to the imperial glory of the Aztec Triple Alliance, this book invites you on a journey through jungles, temples, and time itself.

Rome did not fear wine. It feared what wine could gather. When the cult of Bacchus spread through the Roman Republic, it was more than a religious movement. It was secret meetings. Night rituals. Shared vows. A god who did not answer to the Senate. In 186 BCE, the state struck back. The Bacchanalian scandal led to investigations, arrests, and one of the most dramatic religious suppressions in Roman history. Yet Bacchus survived. This audiobook traces the rise of Rome’s wine god from his Greek origins to his transformation within Roman society.

Cleopatra VII Philopator is one of the most misunderstood rulers in history. This is not the story you think you know. Stripped of centuries of myth, scandal, and Roman propaganda, Cleopatra: Power, Strategy, and the End of Independent Egypt presents Cleopatra as she truly was: a highly intelligent political leader governing as Roman imperial power closed in. When Cleopatra ascended the throne in 51 BCE, Egypt was wealthy but vulnerable—essential to Rome, yet unable to resist it. She ruled not at the height of Egyptian power, but at its breaking point.

For over seven centuries, two ancient superpowers clashed for dominance over the heart of the known world. In this sweeping historical narrative, Rome vs. Persia — The Eagle and the Lion brings to life the epic struggle between the Roman and Persian empires in a vivid, cinematic retelling.

Before temples and official rituals, there were places people avoided after sunset. In the hills of ancient Anatolia, long before Rome ruled the Mediterranean, villagers gathered around stones they believed were alive. They were not there to recite prayers. They came because something unsettled them, and gathering together made it bearable. Drums carried across the valleys. Some people swayed, some watched, some stayed at the edge. A presence was felt before anyone gave it a name. Later it would be called Cybele. This book follows the Great Mother through the lives of ordinary people.

Step into the birthplace of Western civilization, where philosophy flourished, democracy was born, and empires clashed in epic struggle. Ancient Greece–Philosophy, Democracy, and War offers a gripping narrative journey through the most pivotal centuries of Greek history. From the myths of Homer to the logic of Aristotle, from the rise of city-states to the thunder of hoplite warfare, this book brings the past to life with cinematic storytelling and historical depth.