A History of the Ancient World - Hardcover

Starr, Chester G.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195066286 ISBN 13: 9780195066289

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1991

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author:

Chester G. Starr is Bentley Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Michigan. In a teaching career that has spanned five decades, he has written over twenty books on ancient history, including the recent The Influence of Sea Power on Ancient History.

Review:

"Excellent text. This work will be my core text for a course on Greece and Rome....Starr's solidity and conservatism make it the keel to our ship of history."--Jace Crouch, Oakland University

"Excellent general history. Starr's book is hard to beat for a well-balanced introduction to ancient history."--Paul Hazard, Saint Xavier University

"A sound, succinct, and comprehensive survey."--Rob Rice, University of Pennsylvania

"Starr's overview of ancient history is uncluttered with trendy drivel. It is solid and scholarly--a model of what a text should be."--Lorle Porter, Muskingum College

"Very well written."--L.F. Harwell, University of Mobile

"A classic textbook which renders solid service."--B.K. Young, Eastern Illinois University

"Good for upper division courses, thorough, sensitiive to new trend in historiography, nice level of sophistication. Not just another Western Culture text. I like this book."--Martha Rampton, Pacific University

"An excellent, well-organized readable text."--Richard Wixon, Lakeland College

"Well-rounded, thorough text."--Russell Lemmons, New Mexico Highlands University

"Perfect for a general course or sequence on the ancient world."--Charles W. Hedrick, University of California, Santa Cruz

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0195066286
• ISBN 13: 9780195066289
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 784