"Ancient Mesopotamia - the area now called Iraq - has received less attention than Ancient Egypt and other long-extinct and more spectacular civilizations. But numerous small clay tablets buried in the desert soil for thousands of years make it possible for us to know more about the people of ancient Mesopotamia than any other land in the early Near East. Professor Oppenheim, who has studied these tablets for more than thirty years, has used his intimate...

"Even on the most smog-bound of days, the rocky outcrop on which the Acropolis stands is visible above the sprawling roof-scape of the Greek capital. Athens presents one of the most recognizable and symbolically potent panoramas of any of the world's cities: the pillars and pediments of the Parthenon--the temple dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom, that crowns the Acropolis--dominate a city whose name is synonymous for many with civilization itself."--...

Analyzes the influence of Greek and Roman history on modern society, revealing how the Greeks and Romans built formidable empires, had successful political models, and created cultural establishments that continue to influence everyday aspects of contemporary life.

In 1921, Will Durant began his five-decade-long series, The Story of Civilization. Joined later by his wife, Ariel, the two labored together to create one of the twentieth-century's most enduring masterworks of history for the general reader. With the 11 volumes that comprise this remarkable undertaking -- enhanced by the enthralling scholarship and eloquent prose that are the hallmark of their work -- the Durants have woven a fascinating tapestry...

"Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization" by John G. Jackson is a seminal work that challenges traditional Eurocentric perspectives on the origins of civilization. Originally published in 1939, Jackson's book seeks to highlight the significant contributions of African civilizations, particularly Ethiopia, to the development of human culture and civilization. Through meticulous research and historical analysis, Jackson addresses the historical misrepresentations...

#1 New York Times Bestseller • New York Times Readers' Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century • The Summer Reading Pick for President Barack Obama and Bill Gates

Official U.S. edition with full color illustrations throughout.

From renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution—a

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"From acclaimed author Ursula K. Le Guin, a collection of thoughts--always adroit, often acerbic--on aging, belief, the state of literature, and the state of the nation"-- "Ursula K. Le Guin has taken readers to imaginary worlds for decades. Now she's in the last great frontier of life, old age, and exploring new literary territory: the blog, a forum where her voice - sharp, witty, as compassionate as it is critical - shines. No TIme to Spare collects...

A gripping intellectual adventure story, Sailing from Byzantium sweeps you from the deserts of Arabia to the dark forests of northern Russia, from the colorful towns of Renaissance Italy to the final moments of a millennial city under siege....Byzantium: the successor of Greece and Rome, this magnificent empire bridged the ancient and modern worlds for more than a thousand years. Without Byzantium, the works of Homer and Herodotus, Plato and Aristotle,...

Historian Brownworth presents an absorbing look at the forgotten Byzantine Empire, its surprising role in shaping Western civilization, and the lessons it holds for modern societies.

From the inimitable and bestselling author Thomas Cahill, another popular history, focusing on the Renaissance and Reformation and how this innovative period changed the Western world. From the inimitable bestselling author Thomas Cahill comes another popular history -- this one focusing on how the innovations of the Renaissance and the Reformation changed the Western world. It is a truly revolutionary book. In Volume VI of his acclaimed Hinges of...