This new historical atlas – richly illustrated with photographs, artwork recreations and full-colour maps – explores the world’s earliest civilisations from the first farming settlements of Mesopotamia, via Egypt, Greece and Rome, to the civilisations of the Far East, Europe and America. Informatively written, and ideal for both students and the general reader, it plots the rise and fall of empires, the nature of different societies and the evolution of technology.
John Haywood is the author of a number of books, including The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings and The Historial Atlas of the Celtic World (Thames & Hudson). He lives in Lancaster.
Dimensions
24.36 × 17.88 × 0.71 cm
Publisher
Penguin; Illustrated edition (28 April 2005)
Language
English
Paperback
144 pages
ISBN-10
0141014482
ISBN-13
978-0141014487
Dimensions
24.36 x 17.88 x 0.71 cm
10 reviews for The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations
Rated 5 out of 5
H. A. Weedon –
This comprehensive and informative work by John Haywood presents a helpful introduction to a wide variety of civilisations from all over the world. There’s a preface plus an introduction entitled: ‘What is Civilisation?. After that these are two pages of very helpful timelines. The rest of he work is divided into five sections followed by ‘Further Reading’, index and acknowledgements. The five sections are:1: The Ancient Near East. 2. The African Civilisations. 3. The First Civilisations of Africa. 4. The First European Civilisations. 5. The Ancient Americas. The information about the civilisations is accompanied by a whole host of helpful maps. and there are some very good illustrations.Besides being helpful in itself, this work forms an excellent companion and guide to further, more extensive research concerning any one of the civilisations the reader might be especially interested in. It’s a valuable ‘getting to know’ work. ‘Oh, look what those people did there so very long ago! This is wonderful! I must find out more about them.’ Then the reader can search for more information on the internet and so on. We have here a valuable gate opening work, stimulating us to find out more about what built the world into what it has become. It’s a gem.
Rated 5 out of 5
PenBear –
This book is a fast, easy to read introduction to Ancient Civilizations from around the world, including regional maps, diagrams and pictures. It should server as a good place to start if you’re thinking about learning about the ancient world. The material from this book can be a reference guide to then seek out more specialised books.The only criticism I would make of this book is the title, because it is not a true atlas as one would normally recognise.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lorand Rojneac –
Exactly what I was looking for. Offers a brief entry into Ancient History and how civilizations moved across the globe. Gives you a better picture of which civilization started where and which direction they migrated to. Very beautiful colored maps and pictures of ancient buildings and items. Recommend!
Rated 4 out of 5
Ross –
If you want a quick version of the rise and fall of Ancient civilizations with detailed text and wonderful maps then this is the book for you. It is a good reference of the various states and empires that a rose and explaining why and where and wets the appetite for further interest on each subject.
Rated 5 out of 5
CJL –
Bought this for my husband. He says it’s a good read, physically smaller than he was expecting.
Rated 5 out of 5
Alan Fleming –
Worth it and will buy similar. Thank you.
Rated 3 out of 5
hetty –
I bought this for a junior schoolboy and it’s far too advanced. Also the print is very small and light and difficult to read
Rated 5 out of 5
Best Review –
I struggled to get into this, as I planned on reading cover-to-cover rather than using it for reference.But I’m really enjoying it now, the maps and pictures compliment the text well and it reads like a narrative as it’s in order. Very good for someone wanting an overview, and as a trainee primary school teacher this is a good read to prepare for this aspect of the history syllabus.
Rated 3 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
Expensive A very small book for the price paid
Rated 5 out of 5
gt surber –
Brief electic summary of the ancient civilizations with lots of maps illustrating them Review – Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient CivilizationsThe Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations is another of the delightful series from The Penguin Group. While definitely not a definitive work on the ancient civilizations, this book is an excellent over of the ancient civilizations. This book is a joy to just leaf through casually for a taste of the ancient civilizations.Like all it’s Penguin siblings, this book is well written, well formatted, well illustrated and full of outstanding hard to find maps illustrating and expanding on the points in the essays. The essays are brief and eclectic, but informative. They point the way to more expansion of knowledge. No pretense is made of being a complete history book.I recommend these, and this one especially, to individuals with a quest for quick, overview type knowledge of ancient civilizations.
£18.99Original price was: £18.99.£15.39Current price is: £15.39.
The first official companion book to HISTORY® network’s hit series Ancient Aliens®: a powerful journey through human history that explores fascinating unanswered questions about the origins of our civilizations. With a foreword by Series Creator, Kevin Burns.
Millions of people around the world believe we have been visited in the past by extraterrestrial beings. What if it were true? And if so, what if there were clues left behind? Each week, hundreds of thousands of viewers tune in to the wildly popular Ancient Aliens® television series to seek insight into those very questions—and to become part of a thrilling, probing exploration of the mysteries at the heart of world civilizations.
The first official companion book to the hit show, Ancient Aliens® takes readers even deeper into the mysteries that have made the show a pop culture phenomenon. Filled with exciting insights and behind-the scenes stories from the show’s creators and leading experts in ancient alien theory, the book explores the key questions at the heart of the series:
Who were they?
Why did they come?
What did they leave behind?
Where did they go?
Will they return?
Transporting readers around the globe, Ancient Aliens® explores the fascinating enigmas and mysterious artifacts our ancestors left behind, from incredible objects to amazingly accurate ancient maps; from the Great Pyramid of Giza and stone megaliths at Gobekli Tepe to the Nazca Plains and mysterious structures of Puma Punku.
Accompanied by lavish 4-color photography throughout, the book allows armchair archaeologists to examine the evidence up close for the first time. Both the ultimate-fan book and the perfect gift for readers new to the show, Ancient Aliens® is a compelling journey through the mysteries of our ancient civilizations and the possibility of alien influence on our cultures.
This book embarks on a journey through time, tracing the deep genetic lineage of the Balkans from its earliest inhabitants to those who walk these lands today. Through cutting-edge DNA analysis, archaeological revelations, and the whispers of ancient texts, long-lost truths begin to emerge. The first settlers of this land left their mark not only in the ruins beneath our feet but in the genetic code carried through generations. Their origins, migrations, and the transformations of entire peoples are written into the bloodlines of the present. Beneath the myths and legends passed down through centuries lies something far older—fragments of history encoded within us, waiting to be uncovered. The past is not lost. It lives, hidden in the shadows of time, waiting for those who dare to look.
IT WAS AN AGE OF GLORY… …BUT ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD.
‘A riveting account of Justinian’s reign that challenges traditional consensus’ Kirkus Reviews
The sixth-century AD witnessed a remarkable turn-around in the Roman Empire’s fortunes. Justinian’s general, Belisarius, recovered North Africa and Italy from the barbarians. An impressive new law code was inaugurated that would endure to this day. Astonishing building projects, like the iconic Hagia Sophia, rivalled the great monuments of Old Rome.
But rather than restoring Rome’s greatness did Justinian in fact pave the way for its collapse less than a century after his death? Drawing on the contemporary sources, especially those of the chronicler Procopius, Nick Holmes reveals a darker side to Justinian – a ruthless opportunist, whose costly conquests and misguided priorities drained the empire’s wealth and critically weakened its army.
This is the fourth volume in Nick Holmes’ series on the Fall of the Roman Empire. The first three books trace the empire’s story from the ‘crisis of the third century’, through its reinvention by Constantine as a Christian state, and then onto the fall of its western half. A fifth volume will tell of its rapid demise in the seventh century AD, when the first Islamic Caliphate became the new superpower of western Eurasia.
Praise for Nick Holmes’ Books
‘A talent for storytelling’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Clear, succinct and compelling’ AudioFile Magazine ‘Perhaps the best historical story-teller alive’ Amazon Reviewer
“A skilled storyteller…Holmes presents a riveting account of Rome’s decline” Kirkus ReviewsAttila is a household name. But his true character and impact on the Roman Empire have always remained elusive. Until now.
In the first major work written about Attila in decades, Nick Holmes rewrites the story of Attila and Rome. Contrary to his brutal legend, Attila was a complex and captivating personality. A great warlord who despised ostentation, admired bravery and valued loyalty.
He led his steppe nomads further west than Genghis Khan or Tamerlane. He nearly destroyed the Roman Empire. But his vast ambition undid him. This book is a must read for those interested in Rome, the Huns and military history.
This is the third volume in Nick Holmes’ series on The Fall of the Roman Empire. The first volume,
The Roman Revolution, covers the little known ‘crisis of the third century’ when barbarian invasions nearly destroyed classical Rome and led to a revolution in Roman government, the army and religion, including the extraordinary growth of Christianity. The second volume, The Fall of Rome, covers the barbarian invasions of the western half of the empire, culminating in the sack of Rome itself by the Goths in AD 410. Further volumes will continue Rome’s turbulent history, from its revival under the emperor Justinian to the rise of Islam, the beginnings of Byzantium and the dawn of the Middle Ages.
Serbia, a land rich in history, holds some of the most significant yet often overlooked archaeological sites in Europe. From the enigmatic stone settlements of Lepenski Vir to the advanced urban planning of Vinča, the region has been home to some of the earliest and most advanced civilisations on the continent. However, despite their importance, many of these ancient sites have been neglected, submerged, or overshadowed by modern developments. This book seeks to uncover the true history of Serbia by exploring its archaeological past and linking it to modern DNA analysis, revealing the genetic continuity of its people and the potential secrets hidden beneath its soil. For centuries, mainstream history has often overlooked or misrepresented the significance of Serbian archaeological sites. The deliberate flooding of Lepenski Vir, the lack of proper excavation at Vinča, and the industrial developments at Viminacium raise questions about why these places have not received the attention they deserve. Were these events simply coincidental, or do they point to a broader effort to suppress historical truths? This book will examine these patterns, exploring the possibility that Serbia’s ancient past holds discoveries that challenge conventional historical narratives. By following a chronological timeline, we will trace the development of human civilisation in Serbia from the first known European settlers to modern times. The journey begins with the earliest human presence in the region, as evidenced by Neanderthal and early Homo sapiens remains found in caves such as Pešturina and Velika Balanica. These discoveries suggest that early humans inhabited the region far earlier than traditionally acknowledged, with genetic links to both Western European and Asian populations.
£23.99Original price was: £23.99.£21.79Current price is: £21.79.
Zeus and the other gods of shining Olympus were in reality divine only by popular consent. Over the course of time Olympian luster diminished in favor of religious experiences more immediate to the concerns of people living in an increasingly cosmopolitan ancient world. These experiences were provided by the mysteries, religions that flourished particularly during the Hellenistic period and were secretly practiced by groups of adherents who decided, through personal choice, to be initiated into the profound realities of one deity or another. Unlike the official state religions, in which people were expected to make an outward show of allegiance to the local gods, the mysteries emphasized an inwardness and privacy of worship within a closed band of initiates. In this book, Marvin W. Meyer explores the sacrifices and prayers, the public celebrations and secret ceremonies, the theatrical performances and literary works, the gods and goddesses that were a part of the mystery religions of Greece in the seventh century B.C. to the Judaism and Christianity of the Roman world of the seventh century A.D.
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H. A. Weedon –
This comprehensive and informative work by John Haywood presents a helpful introduction to a wide variety of civilisations from all over the world. There’s a preface plus an introduction entitled: ‘What is Civilisation?. After that these are two pages of very helpful timelines. The rest of he work is divided into five sections followed by ‘Further Reading’, index and acknowledgements. The five sections are:1: The Ancient Near East. 2. The African Civilisations. 3. The First Civilisations of Africa. 4. The First European Civilisations. 5. The Ancient Americas. The information about the civilisations is accompanied by a whole host of helpful maps. and there are some very good illustrations.Besides being helpful in itself, this work forms an excellent companion and guide to further, more extensive research concerning any one of the civilisations the reader might be especially interested in. It’s a valuable ‘getting to know’ work. ‘Oh, look what those people did there so very long ago! This is wonderful! I must find out more about them.’ Then the reader can search for more information on the internet and so on. We have here a valuable gate opening work, stimulating us to find out more about what built the world into what it has become. It’s a gem.
PenBear –
This book is a fast, easy to read introduction to Ancient Civilizations from around the world, including regional maps, diagrams and pictures. It should server as a good place to start if you’re thinking about learning about the ancient world. The material from this book can be a reference guide to then seek out more specialised books.The only criticism I would make of this book is the title, because it is not a true atlas as one would normally recognise.
Lorand Rojneac –
Exactly what I was looking for. Offers a brief entry into Ancient History and how civilizations moved across the globe. Gives you a better picture of which civilization started where and which direction they migrated to. Very beautiful colored maps and pictures of ancient buildings and items. Recommend!
Ross –
If you want a quick version of the rise and fall of Ancient civilizations with detailed text and wonderful maps then this is the book for you. It is a good reference of the various states and empires that a rose and explaining why and where and wets the appetite for further interest on each subject.
CJL –
Bought this for my husband. He says it’s a good read, physically smaller than he was expecting.
Alan Fleming –
Worth it and will buy similar. Thank you.
hetty –
I bought this for a junior schoolboy and it’s far too advanced. Also the print is very small and light and difficult to read
Best Review –
I struggled to get into this, as I planned on reading cover-to-cover rather than using it for reference.But I’m really enjoying it now, the maps and pictures compliment the text well and it reads like a narrative as it’s in order. Very good for someone wanting an overview, and as a trainee primary school teacher this is a good read to prepare for this aspect of the history syllabus.
Amazon Customer –
Expensive
A very small book for the price paid
gt surber –
Brief electic summary of the ancient civilizations with lots of maps illustrating them
Review – Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient CivilizationsThe Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations is another of the delightful series from The Penguin Group. While definitely not a definitive work on the ancient civilizations, this book is an excellent over of the ancient civilizations. This book is a joy to just leaf through casually for a taste of the ancient civilizations.Like all it’s Penguin siblings, this book is well written, well formatted, well illustrated and full of outstanding hard to find maps illustrating and expanding on the points in the essays. The essays are brief and eclectic, but informative. They point the way to more expansion of knowledge. No pretense is made of being a complete history book.I recommend these, and this one especially, to individuals with a quest for quick, overview type knowledge of ancient civilizations.