Ancient Empires

The Migration Age is still envisioned as an onrush of expansionary "Germans" pouring unwanted into the Roman Empire and subjecting it to pressures so great that its western parts collapsed under the weight. Further developing the themes set forth in his classic Barbarians and Romans, Walter Goffart dismantles this grand narrative, shaking the barbarians of late antiquity out of this "Germanic" setting and reimagining the role of foreigners in the later Roman Empire.

The Hittites are an ancient people who remain somewhat enigmatic, but their influence on the ancient Near East is undeniable. From high in their capital of Hattusa in central Anatolia, the Hittites were able to conquer and control a kingdom that roughly comprised the area of modern Turkey, Syria, and parts of Iraq and Lebanon through a combination of brute military force and shrewd diplomatic machinations.

🔥 A Warrior’s Fall. A Slave’s Struggle. A Rebel’s Rise. 🔥 Once, Gaius Aemilius Rufus commanded legions, feasted among Rome’s elite, and dictated the fate of men. But in the blink of an eye, betrayal and misfortune cast him into the darkness—his name erased, his honor stolen, his freedom lost. Now, shackled and sold, Rufus is thrown into a world where only strength and cunning can keep him alive. The gladiatorial arena is his new battlefield, where steel meets flesh and only the strongest walk away. Yet, amid the dust, blood, and roaring crowds, he finds something he never ...

Glory Favors the Bold. Martius dreams of one day joining the legendary legions of the Belgadan Empire. He seeks to enlist as only a simple foot soldier, but the twists of war have another path for him. As he's thrown into the army's air cavalry and becomes a member of the famous gryphon riders, the empire's fearsome enemies mass on its borders. Martius's one chance at glory is here. With the help of veteran generals and his bond with a war gryphon, can Martius find his place in the legion and claim greatness? Or will the barbarians charging towards the gates of the empire overrun and ...

Peter Frankopan, number one best-selling author and historian, explores the connections made by people, trade, disease, war, religion, adventure, science and technology in this extraordinary book about how the East married the West with a remarkable voyage at its heart - the journey along the Silk Roads.

In 77 AD, the eighth year of the reign of Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, an expediton to map out the Mare Sarmaticum sets out on a Roman war galley from a port on the northern coast of Gaul. Pulled by a mysterious pendant carried by the expedition's cartographer, it meets a dark fate on a distant island far beyond the Empire's borders. The expedition's demise sets of a chain of events that lead others to follow in its steps over the next two thousand years. And all of them end up on that same island attracted by the invisible pull of the long dead cartographer's pendant.

In Hearts Beneath the Ashes of Pompeii, healer Lucia Valerius and Egyptian physician Khai risk everything to uncover a deadly secret—and protect a love society forbids. As Pompeii teeters on the brink, they must fight prejudice, passion, and time itself in a race to heal a city—and their hearts.

Decode the Secrets of China's Global Strategy —Before It's Too Late!China’s growing influence is reshaping global power dynamics—are you ready to figure out China's next moves? China's New Client States? explores the historical foundations and modern applications of China’s foreign policy. From the ancient tributary system to the Belt and Road Initiative, this book reveals how China builds alliances, exerts influence, and challenges Western dominance. This fascinating and insightful book that digs into the historical roots of China's diplomatic strategies, revealing the principles ...

Pericles returns home more than a hero: he's the leader of Athens, the empire's beacon of light in the dark. But even during times of peace, the threat of Sparta - Athens's legendary rival - looms large on the horizon. When a sudden catastrophe brings Sparta to its knees, Pericles sees a golden opportunity to forever shift the balance of power in his city's favour. For sometimes, the only way to win lasting peace is to wage war.

In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great was on top of the world. Never a man to sit on his hands or rest upon his laurels, Alexander began planning his future campaigns, which may have included attempts to subdue the Arabian Peninsula or make another incursion into India. But fate had other plans for the young Macedonian king. One night, while feasting with his admiral Nearchus, he drank too much and took to bed with a fever.

In this two in one audiobook, you'll learn about the history of Persia.

Every great nation or empire has had at least one horrific military loss or disaster in their history, and the Roman Empire, perhaps the greatest empire that ever existed in the Western world, was no exception to this rule. While Rome certainly suffered defeats and outright massacres over the course of its long and storied history, none of them were as disturbing for the Empire as the battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE.

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.

"Jesus never existed." "The Bible is a book of fairy tales." "Accounts of Christian persecution are fables." Christians of today face accusations of this type on a regular basis. These charges gain traction in the modern world because the average person has practically no knowledge of the Church's ancient past. I Am A Christian: Authentic Accounts of Christian Martyrdom and Persecution from the Ancient Sources aims to remedy this deficiency by providing a collection of the earliest and most trustworthy eye-witness accounts from Roman antiquity. The works collected in this little book are ...

Dive into the heart of the ancient Inca Empire with “Warriors of the Sun: The Inca Legacy of Cusco.” This captivating historical narrative brings to life the legendary Inca warriors who defended and expanded the empire from their capital in Cusco. Explore the rich tapestry of Inca culture, military strategy, and the indomitable spirit of the warriors who stood at the forefront of one of history’s most fascinating civilizations. From the rise of the Inca Empire to its dramatic encounters with Spanish conquistadors, this book offers a detailed and immersive journey through time.

Volume Two begins with the accession of the Roman Emperor Valens in the year 364, a period which heralded vast movements of barbarian tribes from the north and east. The Huns move from the confines of Mongolia westward into Europe, pushing the German tribes in terror before them, who in turn move across the Rhine and Danube into Roman territory. The names of Goths, Franks, Lombards and Vandals will become part of the daily vocabulary. Gibbon describes in matchless style the dramatic events as the Western Roman Empire disintegrates under the pressure of Germanic invasion and internal corruption.

The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These nomadic tribes have produced some of the world’s greatest conquerors: Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among others. And, as Kenneth Harl illustrates in this glorious work of narrative history, their deeds still resonate today. Professor Kenneth Harl draws on a lifetime of scholarship to vividly recreate the lives and world of these often-forgotten peoples from their beginnings to the early modern age.

The Life and Legacy of Augustus Caesar Explore the transformative reign of Augustus Caesar, the founder of the Roman Empire, in this comprehensive and engaging biography. "The Life and Legacy of Augustus Caesar" delves into the life of one of history's most influential leaders, from his early beginnings as Gaius Octavius to his rise as the revered first Emperor of Rome. This meticulously researched book offers an in-depth exploration of Augustus' political strategies, military conquests, and cultural contributions that defined his era. Discover how Augustus skillfully maneuvered through ...

Listen to this audiobook to learn more about Hellenistic World and Alexander the Great!

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 ...