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Assyria was one of the most influential kingdoms of the Ancient Near East. Ancient Assyria: A Very Short Introduction sketches the history of Assyria from city state to empire, from the early 2nd millennium bc to the end of the 7th century bc. Since the archaeological rediscovery of Assyria in the mid-19th century, its cities have been excavated extensively in present-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Israel, with further sites in Iran, Lebanon, and Jordan providing important information. The Assyrian Empire was one of the most geographically vast, socially diverse, multicultural, and multi-ethnic states of the early first millennium bc. After a brief introduction the book explores the geography and the history of Ancient Assyria. It continues by examining the lives not only of some of its key rulers, but also the lives of some typical citizens, and slaves too, are selected. In this way the culture and diverse ways of life of those who lived in the empire are vividly brought to life.Less

The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction describes a momentous time in human history and explains why the ancient Near East is known as the ‘cradle of civilization’. Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia were home to an extraordinarily rich and successful culture. Indeed, it was a time and place of earth-shaking changes for humankind: the beginnings of writing and law, kingship and bureaucracy, diplomacy and state-sponsored warfare, mathematics and literature. The three thousand years of this era — from around 3500 bce, with the founding of the first Mesopotamian cities, to the conquest of the Near East by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 539 bce — represent a period of incredible innovation, from the invention of the wheel to early achievements in astronomy, law, and diplomacy.Less

Babylonia: A Very Short Introduction takes us on a journey of more than 2,000 years across the history and civilization of ancient Babylonia, from the emergence of its chief city, Babylon, as a village on the Euphrates in the 3rd millennium bc through phases of triumph, decline, and resurgence until its royal capital faded into obscurity in the Roman imperial era. Exploring key historical events as well as the day-to-day life of an ancient Babylonian—including the great Hammurabic, Kassite, and Nebuchadnezzar’s Neo-Babylonian empires as well as the periods of Persian and Macedonian rule under Alexander the Great—it provides a comprehensive guide to one of history’s most profound civilizations.Less

The Celts: A Very Short Introduction seeks to reveal the true nature of the Celts. Were they savage and bloodthirsty, or civilized and peaceable? The Celts have long been a subject of enormous fascination, speculation, and misunderstanding. From the ancient Romans to the present day, their real character has been obscured by a tangled web of preconceived ideas and stereotypes. This VSI aims to show what the Celts were really like, exploring subjects such as trade, migration, and the evolution of Celtic traditions. Along the way, it exposes how society's needs have shaped our visions of the Celts, and examines such colourful characters as St Patrick, Cú Chulainn, and Boudica.Less

The Druids: A Very Short Introduction sets out to answer the questions: Who were the Druids? What do we know about them? Do they still exist today? The Druids first came into focus in Western Europe — Gaul, Britain, and Ireland — in the 2nd century bc. This VSI examines the origins of the Druids and the evidence for their beliefs and practices, asking what can and cannot be known about them. It considers why the nature of the Druid caste changed quite dramatically over time, and how successive generations have interpreted the phenomenon in very different ways.Less

Late Antiquity: A Very Short Introduction debates the concept of and the events that took place in late antiquity. Was late antiquity a period of decline or transformation, conflict or interaction? Late antiquity was the period (c. 300—c.800) during which barbarian invasions defeated the Roman Empire in Western Europe by the 5th century and Arab invasions ended Roman rule over the eastern and southern Mediterranean coasts by the 7th century. It was a time of cultural clashes, political restructurings, geographical controversies, and competing religions. Late antiquity is discussed in relation to Byzantium and the Fall of Rome, and the relationship between late antiquity and the modern world is considered.Less

Prehistory covers the period of some four million years before the start of written history, when our earliest ancestors, the Australopithecines, existed in Africa. Prehistory: A Very Short Introduction invites us to think about who we are by considering who we have been. There have been many archaeological discoveries over the last ten years, with a new framework for prehistory emerging. Greater understanding of Chinese and central Asian prehistory shows Eurasian prehistory in a different light, changing the traditional view of human progress around the invention of agriculture and development of cities. This VSI explores the new landscape of our prehistory, considering the way the different geographical locations weave together.Less