How modern are our lives? Or are we still living the lives our ancestors lived? Its time for us to re-examine the past. Our lives are infinitely richer if we take the time to look at what the Greeks & Romans have given us in politics & law religion & philosophy & education & to learn how people really lived in Athens Rome Sparta & Alexandria. This is a book with a serious point to make but the author isnt simply a classicist but a comedian & broadcaster who has made television & radio documentaries about humour education & Dorothy Parker. This is a book for us all. Whether political cultural or social there are endless parallels between the ancient & modern worlds. Whether its the murder of Caesar or the political assassination of Thatcher; the narrative arc of the hit HBO series The Wire" or that of " Oedipus"; the popular enthusiasm for the Emperor Titus or President Obama
- over & over again we can be seen to be living very much like people did 2 000 or more years ago."
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The Four Branches of the Mabinogion are a rich treasure trove of tales. These magical quintessentially Welsh stories are confusing but it would be hard to match their splendid strangeness. The Four Branches tell of the kings & queens of Wales in the time of' ' Once upon a time'. Only one character appears in all Four Branches. He is Pryderi & the story of his life journey is told in this book. Pryderi is brave & bold: sometimes foolhardy always fiercely loyal. The stories of two beautiful powerful women entwine with his: Rhiannon of the Birds his mother & Cigfa his wife. Both accompany him on his life path. But at the last Pryderi must go on alone. Here for the first time his tale is told from beginning to end. ...

A story of obsessive young love & the power of grief Ancient Light" is the best novel yet from the Booker Prize winner of " The Sea". Billy Gray was my best friend & I fell in love with his mother. Alexander Cleave an actor who thinks his best days are behind him remembers his first unlikely affair as a teenage boy in a small town in 1950s Ireland: the illicit meetings in a rundown cottage outside town; assignations in the back of his lovers car on sunny mornings & rain-soaked afternoons. & with these early memories comes something sharper & much darker
- the more recent recollection of the actors own daughters suicide ten years before. I should like to be in love again I should like to fall in love again just once more. " Ancient Light is the story of a life rendered brilliantly vivid: the obsession & selfishness of young love & the terrifying shock of grief. It is a dazzling novel funny utterly pleasurable & devastatingly moving in the same moment. He is a master & his prose gives continuous sensual delight Martin Amis on John Banville John Banville was born in Wexford Ireland in 1945. He is the author of fourteen previous novels including " The Sea" which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. He was recently awarded the Franz Kafka Prize."
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The Ancient Near East embraces a vast geographical area from the borders of Iran & Afghanistan in the east to the Levant & Anatolia & from the Black Sea in the north to Egypt in the south. It was a region of enormous cultural political & linguistic diversity. In this authoritative new study Amelie Kuhrt examines its history from the earliest written documents to the conquest of Alexander the Great c.3000-330 BC. This work dispels many of the misapprehensions which have surrounded the study of the region. It provides a lucid up-to-date narrative which takes into account the latest archaeological & textual discoveries & deals with the complex problems of interpretation & methodology. The Ancient Near East is an essential text for all students of history of this region & a valuable introduction for students & scholars working in related subjects. Winner of the AHO's 1997 James Henry Breasted Award. ...

In this revised & all-colour edition of her indispensable guide to the ancient Games Judith Swaddling traces their mythological & religious origins & describes the events the sacred ceremony & the celebrations that were an essential part of the Olympic festival. A large detailed model based on modern research & excavation reconstructs the site of ancient Olympia where alongside religious & civic buildings there grew an elaborate sports complex with a stadium for 40 000 spectators indoor & outdoor training facilities hot & cold baths a swimming pool & a race-course. Later chapters cover the diet & medical treatment of athletes sponsorship patronage propaganda & revivals of the Games & a brand new chapter based on the latest research discusses the literary sources for the Olympic Games. The expanded final chapter on the modern Games is written in collaboration with Stewart Binns an expert in this field who has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee over many years & has been revised to bring the story up to the preparations for the London 2012 Games. Illustrated with gorgeous full-colour photography & covering thousands of years of Olympic history this fascinating book is essential reading for anyone interested in the Olympic Games. ...

This is the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Simon Baker charts the rise & fall of the world's first superpower focusing on six momentous turning points that shaped Roman history. Welcome to Rome as you've never seen it before
- awesome & splendid gritty & squalid. From the conquest of the Mediterranean beginning in the third century BC to the destruction of the Roman Empire at the hands of barbarian invaders some seven centuries later we discover the most critical episodes in Roman history: the spectacular collapse of the 'free' republic the birth of the age of the ' Caesars' the violent suppression of the strongest rebellion against Roman power & the bloody civil war that launched Christianity as a world religion. At the heart of this account are the dynamic complex but flawed characters of some of the most powerful rulers in history: men such as Pompey the Great Julius Caesar Augustus Nero & Constantine. Putting flesh on the bones of these distant legendary figures Simon Baker looks beyond the dusty toga-clad caricatures & explores their real motivations & ambitions intrigues & rivalries. The superb narrative full of energy & imagination is a brilliant distillation of the latest scholarship & a wonderfully evocative account of Ancient Rome.
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With commanding skill Thomas R. Martin tells the remarkable & dramatic story of how a tiny poor & threatened settlement grew to become during its height the dominant power in the Mediterranean world for five hundred years. Encompassing the period from Romes founding in the eighth century B.C. through Justinians rule in the sixth century A.D. he offers a distinctive perspective on the Romans & their civilization by employing fundamental Roman values as a lens through which to view both their rise & spectacular fall. Interweaving social political religious & cultural history Martin interprets the successes & failures of the Romans in war political organization quest for personal status & in the integration of religious beliefs & practices with government. He focuses on the central role of social & moral values in determining individual conduct as well as decisions of state from monarchy to republic to empire. Striving to reconstruct ancient history from the ground up he

Includes:: frequent references to ancient texts & authors encouraging readers to return to the primary sources. Comprehensive concise & accessible this masterful account provides a unique window into Rome & its changing fortune.

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This is a new edition of the popular time travel book. It is full of fantastic historical information from interesting tourist attractions (a play at the amphitheatre or relaxing at the Baths) to the important festivals fashions & customs of the age. It

Includes:: the best villas & hotels to stay & what you can expect to find in the local market places. It is a must-have for time travellers everywhere.

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Help your child get to the top of the class fast with this Eyewitness Project Book on Ancient Rome". Watch your child take their knowledge of Ancient Rome to the next level using this fill-in home-study workbook. Theyll test their knowledge & train their brains with hands-on activities amazing stickers & quick-fire quiz pages. Then turn the special wheel & pick up 100s of amazing facts fast. Do the activities together & encourage your child to practise essential skills at home to keep them one step ahead of the class. Fun-filled curriculum based exercises will help them progress with complete confidence. Reward stickers a progress chart & pull-out certificate make learning about Ancient Rome fun & easy!" ...

From the Colosseum to Hadrian's Wall Gem Ancient Rome shows us how Rome's vast empire laid the foundations of today's civilisation. From aqueducts to baths from gladiators to emperors the fascinating history of & mythology of ancient Rome are brought to life in this entertaining & highly-readable guide. With their sophisticated army monuments & roads the Romans literally paved the way to modern Europe. Learn about the h&-to-hand combat at gladiatorial shows rediscover the myths & legends of the Roman gods & find out how & why Rome became the conquering superpower that it did. History will come to life in this engaging & comprehensive introduction to one of the most fascinating & influential places the world has ever known.
Includes:: * Geography
- map of the Roman Empire * History
- a timeline with the accomplishments of the emperors * Culture
- what the Romans did for us * Religion
- Gods & Festivals * Mythology
- Virgil's Aeneid Romulus & Remus * Daily life in Ancient Greece
- different levels in society the jobs family life leisure activities * Politics
- transition from Republic to Dictatorship * Learning & knowledge
- Law Science Architecture Literature Art * War
- important wars the Empire the army & navy * Rome Today
- temples archaeology & modern tourist sites










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