Author Description

In a long and distinguished career, Chester Starr has written on topics ranging from early man, to the early Athenian democracy, to the role of sea power in the classical world. And one of his finest works--the product of his broad interests and expertise--has been A History of the Ancient World, long a standard work on the distant past. Now this landmark book is available in a new edition, offering a informative account of early history from the rise of the first cities to the fall of the Roman Empire.This richly illustrated new edition deftly explores the broad expanse of early human history. Though Greece and Rome occupy center stage, Starr also surveys the cities and empires of Mesopotamia, India from the early Indus civilization to the Gupta state, and China from the Hsia dynasty to the Han empire. In this new edition, he has incorporated the latest research into his lucid and informative narrative, reworking virtually every chapter to bring the work completely up-to-date. He has revised his discussions of early humankind to account for the most recent findings; he presents a new view of the Jewish revolt against Rome led by Bar Kochba; and he has thoroughly updated the bibliographies. In addition, his account of the end of the Roman Empire has been rewritten in light of the most recent thinking by classical historians. Numerous maps and illustrations, carefully composed and selected, highlight the text. And throughout, Starr clearly expresses the complexities of ancient history in lively, engaging prose, making the finest scholarship accessible to the nonspecialist.When A History of the Ancient World appeared in earlier editions, The Philadelphia Inquirer hailed it as "an excellent one-volume history" and "fascinating reading." And The Classical Journal wrote, "In scope, accuracy, and soundness of judgment this is one of the best general ancient histories." This completely updated Fourth Edition will continue to provide one of the most distinguished and comprehensive one-volume introductions to the ancient past available today.