The Persians: Lost Civilizations

Description

During the first and second millennia bc large numbers of nomadic people known as Aryans migrated outwards into the Eurasian periphery from Central Asia. One particular branch of these Aryans made their home south of the Caspian Sea, and become known to history as Persians or Iranians. Their first dwellings were in an unpromisingly arid area, but from there these early settlers would go on to form one of the most powerful empires in history. The Persians tells the captivating story of this beguiling ancient civilization, tracing the unique features of Persian life and unraveling their influence throughout history.

Geoffrey Parker is an honorary senior research fellow at the University of Birmingham. His books include "Sovereign City" and "Power in Stone," both also published by Reaktion Books. Brenda Parker is a former Lecturer in English literature and creative writing at the University of Birmingham. "

"The second in the Lost Civilizations series, The Persians is also a compact, concise history of a whole civilization--from its nomadic origins in the first and second millennia BC to its new role as a tourist destination as modern-day Iran. . . . Tellingly, the book's useful chronology ends in 2001 with the destruction of the Twin Towers. Today, Iran's power and influence is far from waning."-- "Minerva" "Anyone looking for a concise overview of Iranian history from pre-Islamic times to the present could do worse than consult this elegantly written volume, part of a series on the rise and fall of civilizations. The authors devote fully half of the book to ancient Iran, which they see as both the world's first superpower and a model for the modern, postimperial world in its federalist tendencies. The book's focus is on Iran, but the Parkers occasionally branch out into the wider 'Persianate' universe, such as in a nice chapter on Central Asia, while offering illuminating digressions on poetry and gardens. . . . Recommended." -- "Choice"