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What is the best ancient history book, yo
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Romanus Maximus View Drop Down
Knight
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Posts: 65 		  Quote Romanus Maximus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: What is the best ancient history book, yo
    Posted: 23-Feb-2007 at 12:20
What is the best ancient history book that you have read recently ?
 
For me it is Rubicon, by Tom Holland.
 
The book is all about the 'wheelings and dealings' and the behind
the scenes fixing that is going on before and after Julius Ceasar,
becomes Emperor.
The author successfully transports you to Rome, so that you can
almost witness the machinations and politics of what is happening
in the powerful families, and also the Senate.
This really is a marvellous book, due to 2 things :-
1) The subject matter is fascinating, because so much happens in
Rome within a very short time, e.g. Triumverate, Pompey, Seneca,
Cicero, Caesar, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Augustus. etc.
2) Tom Hollands incredible ability to literally transport you to the
scene.
 
This was such a great book, that last week I bought his last book
called, Persian Fire, which is a book about the Persian empire,
from their perspective. I have just started reading this one, and
already I think it maybe as good, or even better than Rubicon !
 
Thank god there are brilliant writers about.
 
ClapThumbs%20UpHug
 
 


Edited by Romanus Maximus - 23-Feb-2007 at 12:21
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kilroy View Drop Down
Baron
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Posts: 482 		  Quote kilroy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Feb-2007 at 12:50
Actually when i read the title Hollands' Rubicon did come to mind.  However i throughly enjoyed Adrian Goldworthys Caesar (which was an excellent and detailed bio).  I also found In the Heart of the Sea enjoyable and a bit different from what i usually read.  
Kilroy was here.
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Baron
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Posts: 493 		  Quote Top Gun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Feb-2007 at 13:13
an dutch book that called de bijbelse geschiedenis
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Posts: 1791 		  Quote Decebal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Feb-2007 at 22:42
Probably "I Claudius" by Robert Graves. Although "Julian" and "Creation" by Gore Vidal are quite good too.
What is history but a fable agreed upon?
Napoleon Bonaparte

Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.- Mohandas Gandhi

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  Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-Feb-2007 at 09:27

I read the Poem of Mio Cid, the 11th century epic poem when I was a teen, and the impression persist even today. It was like going back in a time machine. I also like The Araucana of Ercilla, which is the only epic poem centered in the fights between natives and europeans in the Americas. Other marvelous piece of art that is, at the same time, a historical book.

Pinguin

 
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Constantine XI View Drop Down
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Posts: 5711 		  Quote Constantine XI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-Feb-2007 at 17:16
In terms of ancient primary sources, I found my recent read of Herodotus as enjoyable as it was lengthy. Aside from the man's pro-Athenian bias, one cannot help but commend the man's relative impartiality and attention to detail.
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Posts: 2329 		  Quote Yiannis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Feb-2007 at 05:31
Xenophon's "Anabasis" and "Hellenica"
The basis of a democratic state is liberty. Aristotle, Politics

Those that can give up essential liberty to obtain a temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
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Baron
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Posts: 493 		  Quote Top Gun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Feb-2007 at 12:18
Sun Tzu the Art of war
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kilroy View Drop Down
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Posts: 482 		  Quote kilroy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Feb-2007 at 13:49
Well for primary sources, i always found Cicero's letters and orations to be quite colorful and entertaining, and i also enjoyed reading Tacitus.  I always found Plutarch and others in comparison to be quite bland. 
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Posts: 493 		  Quote Top Gun Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Feb-2007 at 14:22
yes cicero is very entertaining
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Posts: 3148 		  Quote Dawn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-Feb-2007 at 21:59
well If primary sources are the choice, I always liked Suetonius. Kinda like reading a trash novel only old.Wink
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