ANCIENT WORLD HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS


  Beard, Mary.  Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found.  Cambridge: Belknap, 2008.

Joy Connolly, "A City Unbottled: Mary Beard's Pompeii," Nation (November 9, 2009).

Steve Coates, "Under The Volcano," New York Times, March 12, 2009.

Carol C. Mattusch, "Review Of Mary Beard, 'The Fires Of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost And Found,'" Bryn Mawr Classical Review (June 2009).

Karen R. Long, "Scholar Mary Beard's Book 'Fires Of Vesuvius' Unearths Life Of Pompeii," Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 7, 2009.

"Mary Beard: The Fires Of Vesuvius," Newsguy Show, 2009.


  Beard, Mary.  S.P.Q.R: A History Of Ancient Rome.  Liveright: 2015.

Rose Deller, "Book Review: 'SPQR: A History Of Ancient Rome' By Mary Beard," London School Of Economics Review Of Books (March 11, 2016).

Emily Wilson, "The Secret Of Rome's Success," Atlantic (December 2015).

Dwight Garner, "Review: In 'SPQR: A History Of Ancient Rome,' Mary Beard Tackles Myths And More," New York Times, November 17, 2015.

Natalie Haynes, "'SPQR' By Mary Beard Review -- Vastly Engaging," Guardian, October 18, 2015.


  Christian, David.  Origin Story: A Big History Of Everything.  Boston: Little, Brown Spark, 2018.

Eric Weiner, "A Journey Through Billions Of Years That Nails Home The Point: Life Is A Miracle," Washington Post, June 22, 2018.


  Everitt, Anthony.  Alexander The Great: His Life And His Mysterious Death.  New York: Random House, 2019.

Steve Donoghue, "Alexander's Greatness Rises Again In Newest Biography," Christian Science Monitor, October 17, 2019.

Robert S. Davis, "Review Of 'Alexander The Great: His Life And His Mysterious Death,'" New York Journal Of Books.


  Everitt, Anthony.  Rise Of Rome: The Making Of The World's Greatest Empire.  New York: Random House, 2012.

Doug Sarti, "Anthony Everitt Serves Warning To Empires In 'The Rise Of Rome,'" Georgia Straight, December 7, 2012.

Brian Bethune, "Review Of 'The Rise Of Rome: The Making Of The World's Greatest Empire,'" Maclean's (August 17, 2012).

Justin Moyer, "The Rise Of Rome," Christian Science Monitor, August 15, 2012.

"A Story Of Ancient Power In 'The Rise Of Rome,'" All Things Considered, NPR, August 5, 2012.


  Finkelstein, Israel and Silberman, Neil Asher.  Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts.  New York: Free Press, 2002.

Phyllis Trible, "God's Ghostwriters," New York Times, February 4, 2001.


  Fox, Robin Lane.  Travelling Heroes: Greeks And Their Myths In The Epic Age Of Homer.  London: Allen Lane, 2008.

Oliver Taplin, "Hero Worship," Guardian, November 8, 2008.


  Goldsworthy, Adrian.  Caesar: Life of A Colossus.  New Haven: Yale, 2008.

Steve Coates, "They Were The Caesars," New York Times, December 31, 2006.

Josh Levithan, "Review Of Adrian Goldsworthy, 'Caesar, Life Of A Colossus,'" Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2007).


  Goldsworthy, Adrian.  Philip And Alexander: Kings And Conquerors.  New York: Basic Books, 2020.

Stephen Batchelor, "Review -- 'Philip And Alexander: Kings And Conquerors,'" Military History (April 25, 2021).

Steve Donoghue, "Review Of 'Philip And Alexander' By Adrian Goldsworthy," Open Letters Review (October 12, 2020).

"Review Of 'Philip And Alexander' By Adrian Goldsworthy," NB (September 14, 2020).


  Harari, Yuval Noah.  Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind.  Harvill Secker: 2014.

Robert Davis, "'Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind,'" New York Journal Of Books (February 9, 2015).

Miriam Cosic, "Missing Links Amid Illuminating Ideas In Harari's Bestselling 'Sapiens,'" Australian, November 8, 2014.

Chris Knight, "'Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind,' By Yuval Noah Harari," Times Higher Education Supplement, October 2, 2014.

Galen Strawson, "'Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind' By Yuval Noah Harari -- Review," Guardian, September 11, 2014.


  Hazleton, Lesley.  First Muslim: The Story Of Muhammad.  New York: Riverhead, 2014.

"Lesley Hazleton, 'The First Muslim,'" Well Read, February 5, 2013.

Ian D. Morris, "The First Muslim And The Last Orientalist," February 12, 2014.

Pradeep Gooptu, "'The First Muslim: The Story Of Muhammad,'" Education Affairs (December 11, 2013).

Hari Kunzru, "The Messenger And The Message: 'The First Muslim,' By Lesley Hazleton," New York Times, April 5, 2013.

Drew Toal, "Separating Man From Myth In 'The First Muslim,'" NPR Books, January 29, 2013.

David Stoesz, "Book Review: 'The First Muslim' By Lesley Hazleton," City Arts (January 28, 2013).

Jonathan P. Berkey, "'The First Muslim,' By Lesley Hazleton," SF Gate, January 25, 2013.

Judith Reveal, "'The First Muslim: The Story Of Muhammad,'" New York Journal Of Books.


  Herrin, Judith.  Ravenna: Capital Of Empire, Crucible Of Europe.  Princeton: Princeton, 2020.

"'Ravenna' By Judith Herrin Wins 2020 Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize," Times Of India, February 4, 2021.

Rowan Williams, "Book Review: 'Ravenna,'" New Humanist (April 14, 2021).

Ian Thomson, "City Of Dazzling Mosaics: The Golden Age Of Ravenna," Spectator.

Philip Wood, "A Rich New History Of Ravenna," Prospect (September 2, 2020).


  Holland, Tom.  Dominion: The Making Of The Western Mind.  London: Abacus, 2019.

Terry Eagleton, "'Dominion' By Tom Holland Review -- The Legacy Of Christianity," Guardian, November 21, 2019.

Ed Simon, "What Was Christendom?," Los Angeles Review Of Books (July 13, 2020).

Daniel Strand, "Are We All Christians Now?: A Review Of Tom Holland's 'Dominion,'" Providence (June 17, 2020).

Terry Hartle, "'Dominion' Tracks The Influence Of Christianity Across The Centuries," Christian Science Monitor, March 17, 2020.

James Orr, "Eternal Resurrection," Critic (December 2019).

John Gray, "Why The Liberal West Is A Christian Creation," New Statesman (September 18, 2019).


  Holland, Tom.  In The Shadow Of The Sword: The Birth Of Islam And The Rise Of The Global Arab Empire.  New York: Anchor, 2013.

Glen Bowersock, "'In The Shadow Of The Sword' By Tom Holland -- Review," Guardian, May 4, 2012.

Ziauddin Sardar, "'In The Shadow Of The Sword' By Tom Holland -- Review," New Statesman (April 21, 2012).

Peter Webb, "Review Of 'In The Shadow Of The Sword,'" London Evening Standard, April 12, 2012.

Hillel Fradkin, "To Rule The World," Claremont Review Of Books, 13 (Summer 2013).

Abdullah Al Andalusi, "Tom Holland's Obsession With Islam's Origins: A Critical Response," Muslim Debate Initiative (October 20, 2012).

Daniel Kalder, "Book Review: 'In The Shadow Of The Sword: The Birth Of Islam And The Rise Of The Global Arab Empire' Examines The Roots Of Islam," Dallas Morning News, July 6, 2012.

"Interview: Tom Holland, Author Of 'In The Shadow Of The Sword,'" Scotsman, April 7, 2012.


  Hughes, Bettany.  Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens And The Search For The Good Life.  New York: Vintage, 2012.

Emily Wilson, "Shelf Life," Nation, 293 (September 26, 2011).

Walter Isaacson, "Wise Guy," New York Times, February 18, 2011.

Josiah Ober, "Handing Out Knives To Madmen," Wall Street Journal, February 19, 2011.

Steve Donoghue, "'The Hemlock Cup,' A History Of Socrates," Washington Post, February 11, 2011.

Tom Holland, "'The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens And The Search For The Good Life' By Bettany Hughes -- Review," Observer, October 24, 2010.

Ravi Sharma, "Review Of 'The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens And The Search For The Good Life,'" Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 10 (2011).

Megan Gambino, "Interview," Smithsonian, 42 (April 2011).


  Hughes, Bettany.  Istanbul: A Tale Of Three Cities.  Boston: Da Capo, 2017.

Lawrence Osborne, "A City Where East Meets West And The Past Is Always Present," New York Times, January 4, 2018.

Justin Marozzi, "'Istanbul' By Bettany Hughes Review -- A Colourful, Life-Filled History," Guardian, January 18, 2017.

Michael O'Loughlin, "'Istanbul: A Tale Of Three Cities' Review: Research Undermined By Breathless Delivery," Irish Times, February 4, 2017.

Jon Sobel, "Book Review: 'Istanbul: A Tale Of Three Cities' By Bettany Hughes," Seattle PI, December 25, 2017.

Rose RAnkin, "Review Of 'Istanbul: A Tale Of Three Cities,'" Washington Independent Review Of Books (September 21, 2017).

Thomas McClung, "Review Of 'Istanbul: A Tale Of Three Cities,'" New York Journal Of Books.

Ulrich Von Schwerin, "Cementing The Orientalist Legacy," Qauntara.de (2019).


  Mackintosh-Smith, Tim.  Arabs: A 3,000-Year History Of Peoples, Tribes And Empires.  New Haven: Yale, 2019.

Ian Black, "'Arabs: A 3,000-Year History' By Tim Mackintosh-Smith -- Review," Guardian, March 17, 2019.

Barnaby Rogerson, "Speaking My Language," History Today, 69 (June 2019).

Richard Pine, "'Arabs, A 3,000-Year History' Review: Too Narrow In Its Focus," Irish Times, March 23, 2019.

Richard Wirick, "Review Of 'Arabs: A 3,000-Year History Of Peoples, Tribes And Empires' By Tim Mackintosh-Smith," Another Chicago Magazine (October 31, 2019).


  Mann, Charles.  1491: New Revelations Of The Americas Before Columbus.  New York: Vintage, 2006.

Kevin Baker, "'1491': Vanished Americans," New York Times, October 9, 2005.

"La Combe On Mann, '1491: New Revelations Of The Americas Before Columbus,'" H-AmIndian (August 2006).

Michael Coe, "The Old New World," American Scientist, 94 (July-August 2006).

"'1491' Explores The Americas Before Columbus," All Things Considered, NPR, August 21, 2005.


  Marozzi, Justin.  Islamic Empires: The Cities That Shaped Civilization, From Mecca To Dubai.  New York: Pegasus Books, 2021.

Sameer Rahim, "'Islamic Empires' By Justin Marozzi Review -- 15 Cities That Define A Civilisation," Guardian, August 28, 2019.

Tim Mackintosh-Smith, "'Islamic Empires: Fifteen Cities That Define A Civilization' By Justin Marozzi -- Review," Evening Standard, August 15, 2019.

Peter Gordon, "'Islamic Empires: The Cities That Shaped Civilization From Mecca To Dubai,' By Justin Marozzi," Asian Review Of Books, February 7, 2020.

Nirmala Devi, "Review Of 'Islamic Empires: Fifteen Cities That Define A Civilization,'" Art Review Asia (Winter 2019).

A. S. H. Smyth, "'Islamic Empires' By Justin Marozzi Review," Geographical.


  Marozzi, Justin.  Way of Herodotus: Travels With the Man Who Invented History.  Da Capo, 2009.

Natasha Tripney, "'The Man Who Invented History' By Justin Marozzi," Observer, August 23, 2009.

Tobin Harshaw, "Antique Road Show," New York Times, February 19, 2009.

Barnaby Rogerson, "The History Man," New Statesman (December 4, 2008).


  Masalha, Nur.  Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History.  New York: Zed Books, 2020.

Tanvir Ahmad, "Undoing Erasure: What The 4,000-Year History Of Palestine Tells Us," Wire (August 29, 2019).

Ramona Wadi, "Review Of 'Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History,'" Middle East Monitor (August 2018).

G. W. Bowersock, "The Many Lives Of Palestine," New York Review Of Books (April 18, 2019).

Jonathan Schanzer, "Review Of 'Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History,'" Middle East Forum, 26 (Summer 2019).

Miriam Scharf, "Review Of 'Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History,'" Socialist Review (December 2018).


  Nixey, Catherine.  Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction Of The Classical World.  New York: Mariner Books, 2019.

Tim Whitmarsh, "'The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction Of The Classical World' By Catherine Nixey," Guardian, December 28, 2017.

Bettany Hughes, "How Christians Destroyed The Ancient World," New York Times, June 8, 2018.

Philip Jenkins, "Did Christianity Destroy Classical Pagan Culture?," Christian Century (April 19, 2018).

Richard Tada, "The Myth That Christians Destroyed The Classical World Dies Hard," National Review (August 11, 2018).

"A Cartoon History Of Late Antiquity," Claremont Review Of Books.

Josh Herring, "Book Review, 'The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction Of The Classical World' By Catherine Nixey," Transatlantic (December 22, 2017).


  Schama, Simon.  Story Of The Jews: Finding The Words, 1000 BCE-1492.  New York: Vintage, 2014.

Judith Shulevitz, "People Of The Word," New York Times, March 28, 2014.

J. P. O'Malley, "'Story Of The Jews' Illuminates Centuries Of Suffering," NPR, March 18, 2014.

Philip Alexander, "'Story Of The Jews': Schama Got It In The Neck, But Got It Right," Conversation, September 30, 2013.

JUlia M. Klein, "Review: 'The Story Of The Jews' By Simon Schama," Chicago Tribune, March 14, 2014.

Adam Kirsch, "Why Jewish History Is So Hard To Write," New Yorker (March 19, 2018).


  Schiff, Stacy.  Cleopatra: A Life.  New York: Back Bay, 2011.

Michiko Kakutani, "The Woman Who Had The World Enthralled," New York Times, November 1, 2010.

Katha Pollitt, "Cleopatra With Brains," Slate, November 18, 2010.

Miranda Seymour, "'Cleopatra: A Life' By Stacy Schiff," Guardian, January 22, 2011.


  Strassler, Robert B., ed.  Landmark Herodotus: The Histories.  New York: Pantheon, 2007.

Edward Rothstein, "Herodotus Now: 'Omnivorous Curiosity' And Double Vision," New York Times, December 10, 2007.

Jennifer Bogart, "Book Review: 'The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories,' Edited By Robert B. Strassler," Seattle PI, March 17, 2010.

Brendan Boyle, "Father Of History," New York Sun, October 31, 2007.

Daniel Mendelsohn, "Arms And The Man," New Yorker (April 21, 2008).


  Wilkinson, Toby.  Nile: Travelling Downriver Through Egypt's Past And Present.  New York: Vintage, 2015.

Anthony Sattin, "'The Nile: Downriver Through Egypt's Past And Present' By Toby Wilkinson -- Review," Observer, February 16, 2014.


  Wilkinson, Toby.  Rise And Fall Of Ancient Egypt.  New York: Random House, 2011.

Michiko Kakotani, "Abrupt Regime Change In Egypt Is Nothing New; Just Ask Thutmose III," New York Times, March 28, 2011.


  Wood, Michael.  Story Of China: The Epic History Of A World Power From The Middle Kingdom To Mao And The China Dream.  New York: St. Martin's, 2020.

Uday Balakrishnan, "'The Story Of China -- A Portrait Of A Civilisation And Its People' Review: Tracking The China Of Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow," Hindu, February 13, 2021.

Jonathan Chatwin, "Review: 'The Story Of China' -- Michael Wood Presents A Sweeping Tale In Fewer Than 600 Pages," Post Magazine, December 7, 2020.

Mike Hale, "Review: Wait, Was That Confucius?: PBS's Rushed 'Story Of China,'" New York Times, June 19, 2017.


 

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