Antiquity: From the Birth of Sumerian Civilization to the Fall of the Roman Empire

“With his characteristic eloquence and lucid insights. . . Cantor offers a splendid and accessible portrait of the cultures of the ancient world.”—Publishers Weekly

Bestselling author Norman Cantor delivers this compact but magisterial survey of the ancient world—from the birth of Sumerian civilization around 3500 B.C. in the Tigris-Euphrates valley (present-day Iraq) to the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476. He covers such subjects as Classical Greece, Judaism, the founding of Christianity, and the triumph and decline of Rome.

In this fascinating and comprehensive analysis, Cantor explores social and cultural history, as well as the political and economic aspects of his narrative. He explains leading themes in religion and philosophy and discusses the environment, population, and public health. With his signature authority and insight, he highlights in Antiquity the great books and ideas of antiquity that continue to influence culture today.

This foundational text on ancient history explores:

• The Ancient Near East: Trace the birth of civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates valley and the rise of the first great river-valley societies.
• Classical Greece: Discover the intellectual and literary dominance of Athens, from its democratic republic to the enduring philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.
• The Roman Empire: Follow Rome’s journey from an obscure hill city to a vast empire, analyzing the forces behind its unparalleled success and eventual decline.
• Foundational Worldviews: Examine the four intellectual pillars of the West—the Hebrew Bible, Greek philosophy, Hellenistic literature, and early Christianity—and their lasting impact on the world.

Norman F. Cantor was Emeritus Professor of History, Sociology, and Comparative Literature at New York University. His many books include In the Wake of the Plague, Inventing the Middle Ages, and The Civilization of the Middle Ages, the most widely read narrative of the Middle Ages in the English language. He died in 2004.