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A review by greaydean
The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer
4.0
Well, I haven't read a lot of history books, but I thought this was pretty good.
Although it largely focuses on who is ruling who and how they got there.
There is a lot of killing and warring and betrayal to make it all happen.
I guess that is what they mean when they say, "Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it."
Again and again countries are "liberated" by the new ruler.
History is hard and complex. It is difficult to trust the sources.
I found this reading a fairly straightforward presentation of facts.
Good mix of human interest while keeping the story going.
It certainly gave me insight into characters I'd heard of, but really didn't know their story:
Gilgamesh and Julius Caesar are two folks I knew as famous, but didn't know why until I read this book.
I actually know when the Han dynasty was now.
I never liked history but this worked, in that I actually got through it and I remember some of it.
Although it largely focuses on who is ruling who and how they got there.
There is a lot of killing and warring and betrayal to make it all happen.
I guess that is what they mean when they say, "Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it."
Again and again countries are "liberated" by the new ruler.
History is hard and complex. It is difficult to trust the sources.
I found this reading a fairly straightforward presentation of facts.
Good mix of human interest while keeping the story going.
It certainly gave me insight into characters I'd heard of, but really didn't know their story:
Gilgamesh and Julius Caesar are two folks I knew as famous, but didn't know why until I read this book.
I actually know when the Han dynasty was now.
I never liked history but this worked, in that I actually got through it and I remember some of it.