Ancient Worlds: An Epic History of East and West

Description

Ancient history for our globalised age- an epic odyssey over 900 years, taking us from the Mediterranean to India and China, taking in the birth of modern politics in Greece and Rome, the building of great empires by war and conquest, and the rise of the world's great religions. 'This vivid and engaging book brings to life some of the most important moments in ancient history, moments that have shaped not only the politics and culture of bygone eras, but the institutions, thoughts and fantasies of our time.' Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens) 'A bold and imaginative page-turner that challenges ideas about the world of antiquity.' Peter Frankopan (The Silk Roads) 'As panoramic as it is learned, this is ancient history for our globalised world.' Tom Holland (Dynasty, Rubicon) ________________________________________ Acclaimed historian and TV presenter Michael Scott guides us through an epic story spanning ten centuries to create a bold new reading of the classical era for our globalised world. Scott challenges our traditionally western-focused perception of the past, connecting Greco-Roman civilisation to the great rulers and empires that swept across Central Asia to India and China - resulting in a truly global vision of ancient history. With stunning range and richness Ancient Worlds illustrates how the great powers and characters of antiquity shared ambitions and crises, ways of thinking and forms of governing- connections that only grew stronger over the centuries as political systems evolved, mighty armies clashed, universal religions were born and our modern world was foreshadowed. Scott focuses on three epochal 'moments' across the ancient globe, and their profound wider significance- from 509-8 BCE (birth of Athenian democracy and Rome's republic, also the age of Confucius's teachings in China); to 218 BCE (when Hannibal of Carthage challenged Rome and China saw its first emperor); to 312 CE, when Constantine sought to impose Christianity on the Roman world even as Buddhism was pervading China via the vast trading routes we now know as the 'Silk Roads.' A major work of global history, Michael Scott's enthralling journey challenges the way we think about our past, re-draws the map of the classical age to reveal its hidden connections, and shows us how ancient history has lessons for our own times.

Dr Michael Scott is an Associate Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. He received his doctorate from Christ's College, Cambridge, and lectured at Darwin College, Cambridge, before taking up his role at Warwick. His research and teaching focuses on the ancient history and archaeology of the Greek and Roman worlds. He has written a number of books and written and presented a range of TV programmes, including Delphi- Bellybutton of the Ancient World (BBC4, 2010); Guilty Pleasures - Luxury in Ancient Greece and Luxury in the Middle Ages (BBC4, 2011); Jesus- Rise to Power (National Geographic, 2012); The Mystery of the X Tombs (BBC2, 2013); Ancient Greece - The Greatest Show on Earth (BBC4 2013); Who were the Greeks? (BBC2, 2014); Roman Britain from the Air (ITV, 2014); and Rome's Invisible City (BBC1, 2015). He also presented the BBC Radio 4 series Spin the Globe from 2013-2014.

A bold and imaginative page-turner that challenges ideas about the world of antiquity. -- Peter Frankopan * (The Silk Roads) * As panoramic as it is learned, this is ancient history for our globalised world. -- Tom Holland * (Dynasty, Rubicon) * This vivid and engaging book brings to life some of the most important moments in ancient history, moments that have shaped not only the politics and culture of bygone eras, but the institutions, thoughts and fantasies of our time. -- Yuval Noah Harari * (Sapiens) * Scott has identified three game-changing moments in antiquity... We meet new, colourful, historical players... and re-calibrate our perception of old ones... Offering the Mediterranean and the Far East as a giant chessboard - with individual moves impacting the whole - astute analysis is matched with acute prose: this book reminds us that our own futures have long been written in the narratives of our global neighbours. -- Bettany Hughes Impeccably researched and authoritative... Scott's scholarly but accessible style manages to make this sweeping saga enthralling throughout, as he traces the stories of everyone from Hannibal to Confucius -- Alexander Larman * Observer * A path-breaking contribution to the going interest in seeing the ancient world as a whole, embracing China and India as much as Greece and Rome. And what's more, it's a joy to read! -- Ian Morris, author of Why the West Rules for Now This kind of bold, transgressional ancient history is still vanishingly rare...Michael Scott's Ancient Worlds is a welcome addition to the genre * Times Literary Supplement *