The book delves into the interconnected cultural developments of mainland Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, examining key themes such as economic strategies, trade dynamics, and the interactions between civilized centers and their peripheral regions. By analyzing these systems, it sheds light on the complexities of societal structures and relationships in ancient times.
Northern Africa is dominated now by the Sahara Desert, stretching across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. This book is about the people who lived around the edges of the Desert and the different ways in which they responded to its challenges, establishing networks of communication across its expanse.
A long history of the Bretons, from prehistoric times to the present, and the very close relationship they have had with their British neighbours. It is a story of a fiercely independent people and their struggle to maintain their distinctive identity.
The Scythians were warlike nomadic horsemen who roamed the steppe of Asia in the first millennium BC. Using archaeological finds from burials and texts written, mainly, by Greeks, this book reconstructs the lives of the Scythians, exploring their beliefs, their burial practices, their love of fighting and their flexible attitude to gender.
[This book] demonstrates how wrong Kipling was: East may be East and West may be West, but over the millennia the twain have repeatedly met. Tom Holland, Books of the Year 2015, History Today
By Steppe, Desert, and Ocean is nothing less than the story of how humans first started building the globalized world we know today. Set on a huge continental stage, from Europe to China, it is a tale covering over 10,000 years, from the origins of farming around 9000 BC to the expansion ofthe Mongols in the thirteenth century AD.An unashamedly "big history", it charts the development of European, Near Eastern, and Chinese civilizations and the growing links between them by way of the Indian Ocean, the silk Roads, and the great steppe corridor (which crucially allowed horse riders to travel from Mongolia to the GreatHungarian Plain within a year). Along the way, it is also the story of the rise and fall of empires, the development of maritime trade, and the shattering impact of predatory nomads on their urban neighbours.Above all, as this immense historical panorama unfolds, we begin to see in clearer focus those basic underlying factors--the acquisitive nature of humanity, the differing environments in which people live, and the dislocating effect of even slight climatic variation--which have driven changethroughout the ages, and which help us better understand our world today.
Exploring the prehistory and early history of six counties in southern England, this book delves into the rich archaeological and historical narratives of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Avon. It provides insights into the ancient cultures, significant events, and the development of these regions, offering a comprehensive understanding of their historical significance. Through detailed analysis, it uncovers the connections between these counties and their evolution over time.
The story of the origins of the British and the Irish peoples, from the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000BC to the eve of the Norman Conquest - who they were, where they came from, and how they related to one another.
Featuring exceptional mosaics from the third and fourth centuries, this illustrated volume showcases the findings from excavations at Brading Roman Villa, a notable maritime courtyard villa. Conducted by Barry Cunliffe between 2008 and 2010, the research highlights the villa's historical significance and artistic heritage, providing insights into Roman life in northern Europe.
By the fifteenth century Europe was a driving world force, but the origins of its success have until now remained obscured in prehistory. In this book, distinguished archaeologist Barry Cunliffe views Europe not in terms of states and shifting political land boundaries but as a geographical niche particularly favored in facing many seas. These seas, and Europe's great transpeninsular rivers, ensured a rich diversity of natural resources while also encouraging the dynamic interaction of peoples across networks of communication and exchange. The development of these early Europeans is rooted in complex interplays, shifting balances, and geographic and demographic fluidity.
