Topics and Books: Ask and recommend!

I opened this simply for the purpose of creating a centralized topic on book recommendations. This is not a "what are you reading" topic. Rather it is one for recommendations. Come here if you have developed a specific interest and dont know where to start. Those who have an interest if you could be so kind as to give the newbie some directions?

To start things off. Me!

I have developed an interest in the military history of the American Civil War. Looking around on Amazon and the varying reviews has got me confused. Those who do know about this particular topic: can you recommend me something?

Edited by Theodore Felix - 01-Jun-2007 at 23:03

My propositions regarding the Greek history are

Edited by akritas - 02-Jun-2007 at 03:15

I've composed a list of books that i've found useful in understanding the history of the Roman Republic and include an extremely brief explanation as to why i think the book is good.  I'll try and keep the list short .


The Etruscans by Graeme Barker and Tom Rasmussen.  Rome was heavily influenced by the Etruscan civilization, and i feel they are sorely overlooked.  Everything from Roman art, religion, architecture and everything in between was influenced by them.  This book is an excellent overview of their culture.

The Beginnings of Rome: Italy from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars by Tim Cornell is an excellent survey of early Roman civilization.  This part of Roman history is often overlooked since many find the drama of the Late Republic to be more entertaining. 

A Critical History of Early Rome by Gary Forsythe provides a more.. well.. critical view of the history of early Rome, and in some instances challenges Cornell's work and is cautious about what we actually know for sure about the early Romans. 

The Ancient Celts By Barry Cunliffe is an excellent look at one of the peoples that neighbored Rome for centuries.  I believe to understand Roman history, one most also appreciate its rivals.  This offers a comprehensive look at the Celtic peoples. 

The Punic Wars by Nigel Bagnall offers a comprehensive single volume study on the wars that made Rome an empire. 

Rubicon by Tom Holland offers one of the best overviews of the Late Roman Republic and it's downfall.  Holland's work is probably one of the best reads that i have ever had the pleasure of purchasing, but the author is heavily critical of two main figures in the story, Caesar and Cicero.  To balance this book off, i would recommend these two books:

Caear By Adrian Goldsworthy is an excellent biography on one of Rome's most popular, influential and controversial historical figures.

Cicero by Anthony Everett is another excellent and balanced biography on Rome's most accomplished orator and statesmen.  He is the source of much of our primary material from the era, and i believe it is imperative that any student of the Late Roman Republic should study him. 

The Assassination of Julius Caesar by Michael Parenti offers a perspective that is heavily critical of many of the leading scholars of not only today (examples, Mommsen, Syme, Miller, Gruen and Lintott) but also of the ancient authors, such as Cicero, Plutarch and Suetonius.   Best balanced with any of the books above.

If you already know the basics of Roman history (such as politics's, the people the wars and so fourth) i also have a list of more advanced reads that i think require some background information before reading. 

The Roman Revolution by Sir Roland Syme.  The Standard reading material for the late Roman Republic.  Syme believes that the fall of the Republic was inevitable and unavoidable and backs up his claim.  Thick, detailed and thought provoking. 

The Last Generation of the Roman Republic by Erich Gruen is an excellent balance to Syme's work.  Gruen believed that the Republic would have sustained itself, if it were not for Caesars interruption.  He backs up his claim with legislation, lists of office holders and a whole slew of other evidence. 

The Constitution of the Roman Republic by Andrew Lintott is the only single volume study of the unwritten Constitution of the Roman Republic.  Lintott goes into detail about the evolution, offices and laws of the Republic. 

The Crowd in Rome in the Late Republic by Fergus Miller is another standard in the study of the Late Republic.  Miller believes that the Republic was indeed a Republic, as opposed to an oligarch ruled by the aristocrats and provides and explanation of this thesis in detail. 

This is a 'short' list and i have purposely left out books on religion during the Republic since i have not read any yet.

Hope this list helps, i may add more later. 

-kilroy

PS. Keep posting the lists, and no one has responded to my Ancient Asian History request yet!!! 

A quick note, i always encourage the reading/use of the primary sources.  They all can be found easily and for cheap on amazon/bookstores etc. 









Edited by kilroy - 08-Jun-2007 at 02:07

Warren Treadgold -A History of the Byzantine State and Society

I have developed something of an interest in Japanese culture. Can anyone recommend a place to start reading on Japanese history? perferrably a book that covers a large period and that aims at an ignorant audience like me, with litttle to no basic knowledge on the subject, and yet does a little more than scratch the surface.