Ancient Empires

One day ago I was a programmer, and one day later I actually traveled to Rome to become a Roman warrior. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of ancient Rome, where political maneuvering, clandestine plots, and the insatiable pursuit of power take center stage. Sheila Gates weaves a gripping narrative that will transport you to a world of honor, deceit, and the struggle for the soul of an empire. Dive into the heart of the Roman Senate, where Valerius Aurelius, a cunning and influential senator, finds himself entangled in a web of schemes and hidden agendas. As alliances shift and secrets ...

The Parthians in whose hands the empire of the east now is, having divided the world, as it were, with the Romans, were originally exiles from Scythia. This is apparent from their very name; for in the Scythian language exiles are called Parthi. During the time of the Assyrians and Medes, they were the most obscure of all the people of the east. Subsequently, too, when the empire of the east was transferred from the Medes to the Persians, they were but as a herd without a name, and fell under the power of the stronger.

The epic saga: "The Punic Wars: Rome and Carthage in Conflict," is an enthralling historical account by Dan Wilson that captures the fierce struggle between two of the ancient world's most powerful civilizations. This meticulously researched book takes you on a journey through the tumultuous clashes between Rome and Carthage, shedding light on the events that shaped the course of history in the Mediterranean. Overview The Punic Wars were a series of three protracted and brutal conflicts between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian Empire, spanning from 264 BCE to 146 BCE. These wars were...

Our understanding of the Persian Empire has traditionally come from the histories of Greek writers such as Herodotus—and as such, over many centuries, our perspective has been skewed by ancient political and cultural agendas. Professor Llewellyn-Jones, however, calls upon original Achaemenid sources, including inscriptions, art and recent archaeological discoveries in Iran, to create an authentic 'Persian Version' of this remarkable first great empire of antiquity—the Age of the Great Kings.

This captivating history bundle includes The Roman Republic, The Roman Empire, and The Byzantine Empire.

Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is one of the greatest texts in the English language. In magisterial prose, Gibbon charts the gradual collapse of the Roman rule form Augustus (23 BC - AD 14) to the first of the barbarian kings, Odoacer (476- 490 AD). It is a remarkable account, with the extravagant corruption and depravity of emperors such as Commodus, Caracalla, and Elagabalus contrasted by the towering work of Constantine, Julian, and other remarkable men.

The sixth-century AD witnessed a remarkable turn-around in the Roman Empire's fortunes. Justinian's general, Belisarius, recovered North Africa and Italy from the barbarians. An impressive new law code was inaugurated that would endure to this day. Astonishing building projects rivalled the great monuments of Old Rome.

For many years, the Aztecs have captured our imaginations. Stories from the original European invaders combined with unique, awe-inspiring ruins and legends that speak of palaces of gold create an image of Aztec society defined by grandeur, wealth, and splendor. But who exactly were the Aztecs? Where did they come from? How did they rise to control such a wide expanse of land? These are just some of the questions that this new captivating history audiobook will answer.

When young Telemachus gets the chance to join the crew of the merchant ship Selene, he's delighted to escape the rough streets of Piraeus. He knows little of the dangers of life at sea. And even past hardship has not prepared him for the terror on board when a pirate ship appears on the horizon. The fight is bloody, but the result is never in doubt. Then the victorious pirate chief, Bulla, offers the beaten men a cruel choice: join us, or die.

Life is short and cheap in Nero’s arenas. A single stab can annihilate humanity. Rome, 54 AD: Rawena overcomes a lion with just a spear and a dagger, making the emperor believe she’s a sorceress. Cursed to unleash a plague when steel pierces her heart, the immortal Celtic woman fears that Nero’s desire to learn her secrets will trigger a catastrophe. Her fight against destiny pulls Rawena into a whirlpool of dazzling perils. The rat-goddess who cursed her strives to drag her soul into a pestilential swamp. Her sister longs to destroy her. So does the man Rawena once loved. Then the ...

The very idea of empire was created in ancient Rome, and even today, traces of its monuments, literature, and institutions can be found across Europe, the Near East, and North Africa - and sometimes even further afield. Historian Greg Woolf expertly recounts how this mammoth empire was created, how it was sustained in crisis, and how it shaped the world of its rulers and subjects - a story spanning a millennium and a half of history.

In the best-selling Warriors of God and Dogs of God, James Reston Jr. limned two epochal conflicts between Islam and Christendom. Here he examines the ultimate battle in that centuries-long war, which found Europe at its most vulnerable and Islam on the attack. This drama was propelled by two astonishing young sovereigns: Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and Turkish sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Though they represented two colliding worlds, they were remarkably similar.

The Roman army is one of the most famous fighting forces in history. Through its power and prowess, a once obscure Italian city forged an empire that encircled the Mediterranean and covered half of Europe. The physical remains of its presence can be traced from the mountainous borders of Scotland to the arid deserts of Egypt, but its legacy is far greater and more enduring, as Rome's influence continues to shape the political, legal, and cultural landscape of Europe to this very day.

When American archaeologists discovered a collection of cuneiform tablets in Iraq in the late 19th century, they were confronted with a language and a people who were at the time only scarcely known to even the most knowledgeable scholars of ancient Mesopotamia: the Sumerians.

Only the unbroken can wield the blade. And Kael is far from whole. Kael was once a knight of legend—heroic, revered, unshakable. Now, he is an exile, haunted by betrayal and bound to a life of shame. When the rebellion against the empire draws him in, Kael discovers the Blade of Eternis—a legendary sword said to unite the fractured kingdoms. But the blade demands more than strength—it demands conviction, something Kael no longer believes he possesses. As the empire's forces close in, Kael is thrust into reluctant leadership, joined by a cunning thief, a fallen warrior-priest, and a ...

An empire on the brink. A secret that could defy death itself. Emperor Sigismund the Grim rules from the mighty fortress of Lilath Kirnan, a citadel so impenetrable it stands as a monument to his unparalleled power. With a garrison of a quarter of a million men, no force in the world can challenge his might—except the relentless march of time. The Empire is crumbling, beset by rebellion and unrest. Sigismund’s body grows frail, his once-sharp mind clouded by the weight of his years. But as whispers of revolt grow louder, one hope lingers in the shadows: the Alchemist's Niece, a girl ...

The New York Times best-selling series reaches an epic climax! James Dashner returns to the series he began - just in time for Dak, Sera, and Riq to make their final stand in ancient Greece alongside a young Alexander the Great. Fix the past. Save the future. It's now or never!

In the popular imagination, Attila the Hun is among the most barbaric leaders ever. His warriors have the reputation of being ruthless, cruel, and bloodthirsty, as the Huns are believed to have been savages lacking any semblance of civilized culture. The reputation of Attila and his people, the Huns, is at odds with reality. But examining the few historical records of his character and deeds reveal quite a different story.

If you want to discover the captivating life of Tiberius, then pay attention.... Compared with the preceding rulers, Julius Caesar and Augustus, the name does not ring out with the same fame and pomposity. Shakespeare wrote no plays about Tiberius; his name does not echo in the history books with the same awe-inspiring prominence. Even his successors, Caligula and Nero, are more famous than he was.

A recovered manuscript from 400 AD describes several years in the lives of two aristocratic Roman pagans in their twenties, the siblings Aeneas and Honoria, as they defend their traditional values against a hostile, militant Christianity bent on obliterating every trace of paganism. The brother and sister both find lovers but face overwhelming difficulties as the empire is drawn into a maelstrom of intrigues, religious and political rivalries, warfare, mayhem, and murder. Aeneas, who loves boxing and the philosophy of Aristotle, is a soldier, adventurer, and scholar. Honoria is a Vestal ...