The ancient world was one of dramatic change and remarkable discovery, when history and myth stood side by side. A time when groundbreaking feats of intellectual, political, and technological development were achieved, and the greatest of empires rose and fell. Sumeria, c. 3500 bc, saw the birth of the world's very first city by the rich and fertile banks of the Uruk. Over the next four millennia, the social and cultural landscape would change beyond recognition, as man of history's most important kingdoms and cities took root. Interweaving Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman history, this book follows these burgeoning empires over 4,000 years, examining the delicate balance of power as they vied for territory, conquest, and glory. From Alexander the Great' 22,000-mile march on Persia to Attila the Hun's plunder of the Roman empire, John Haywood brings the most crucial battles and decisive campaigns to life, and examines the extraordinary cultural achievements of these civilizations-the first written words, the spectacular works of architecture, the growth of democracy, and the spread of religions- that changed our world forever. Richly illustrated, vividly written, and featuring an illuminating timeline of all the major ancient civilizations, Chronicles of the Ancient World is a much-needed chronology of the events and ideas, great men and empires, that set the foundations of our civilization.
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