From Armageddon to the Fall of Rome: How the Myth Makers Changed the World

by Erik Durschmied

Book Overview

In the Mediterranean, the most fought-over region in the world, the figures of potentates and conquerors appear god-like: Thutmosis, Leonidas, Xerxes, Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Caesar and Vercingetorix.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0340821760
• ISBN13: 9780340821763
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Length: 434 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fascinating digest on the rise and fall of empires in the ancient world

In a brilliant and highly readable analysis of ancient history, Erik Durschmiedt uses 17 decisive battles in ancient history to thread together the history of ancient empires and the legend-makers. kings and generals such as Pharaoh Thutmoses II, King David of Israel,Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Vercingetorix, Jul;Julius Caesar, Augustus and the Gothic kings Fritigern and Alaric. Thy is enthralling sweep of the history of the rise and fall of nations and empires and the horrors of whole tribes, sometimes entire nations being wiped off the face of the earth leaving few traces for posterity. Chapter 1 tells of the Battle of Megiddo in 1479 BC where the armies of Pharaoh Thutmosis of Egypt defeated the forces of the king of Kadesh , ruler of Syria and Canaan. Chapter 2 recounts the the rise of King David and his unification of the tribes of Israel, his total defeat of Israel's enemies, including the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians and Amalekites. His capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites (who were absorbed into the Israelite nation). Jerusalem became the cornerstone from which David would forge the united kingdom of Israel into a great power. Part 2 tells of the great struggle of Greece to keep the Persian Empire at bay. How at the battles of Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis, the Persian invaders were repulsed by the Greeks, the first battle cries of Europe were sounded, and western culture was safeguarded from the invading forces of the east. Part 3 recounts the Empire building of Alexander the Great, through his bringing down of the mighty Persian Empire. It also recounts the exploits of the redoubtable Hannibal and the challenge that Carthage posed to Rome before Hannibal was defeated by Scipio Africanus and Carthage completely destroyed. Part 4 chronicles the ruthless genius of Julius Caesar, and the carnage he ordered as his Roman armies moved across Helvetia, Germany and Gaul, massacring entire tribes as well as the residence he encountered from the heroic Gaulish chieftain Vercongetorix. This section culminates in the civil wars Rome was plunged into following the assassination of Caesar on the Ides of March by republican idealists. Thus we are lead into part 5 which document the violent and perfidious rule of the Emperors of Rome, which led the great Roman poet Horace to observe "What help are empty laws without morals?" In this section chapter 15 relates to us the Roman destruction of Judea, the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, and the genocide visited by the Romans on the Jews of Israel in which 1 100 000 perished, 580 000 massacred, the rest starved. 300 000 more were sold as slaves, beginning the dispossession and worldwide scattering of the Jews which ended in 1948 with the re-establishment of the State of Israel, by Jews who had been restored their ancient homeland. Part six details the Germanic invasions and destruction of the Roman Empire, leading to the beginning of the 'Dar