
Assyria
The Rise and Fall of the World's First Empire
Basic Books · Print & ebook · October 1, 2024
A “sweeping, delightfully readable” (Wall Street Journal) new history of Assyria, the ancient civilization that set the model for future empires At its height in 660 BCE, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf.
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- Who it’s for
- A brisk, readable account that makes an ancient empire feel unexpectedly close.
- Genres
- Ancient History, Middle Eastern History, Iraq History
- Published
- Basic Books, October 1, 2024
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Start with this bookAbout this book
A “sweeping, delightfully readable” (Wall Street Journal) new history of Assyria, the ancient civilization that set the model for future empires At its height in 660 BCE, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. It was the first empire the world had ever seen. In Assyria, historian Eckart Frahm tells the epic story of the Assyrian empire and its formative role in global history.
Continue reading
Assyria’s wide-ranging conquests have long been known from the Hebrew Bible and later Greek accounts. But nearly two centuries of research now permit a rich picture of the Assyrians and their empire beyond the battlefield: their vast libraries and monumental sculptures, their elaborate trade and information networks, and the crucial role played by royal women. Although Assyria was crushed by rising powers in the late seventh century BCE, its legacy endured from the Babylonian and Persian empires to Rome and beyond. Assyria is a stunning and authoritative account of a civilization essential to understanding the ancient world and our own.
Why This Clicks
A brisk, readable account that makes an ancient empire feel unexpectedly close.
Come here for
- cultural literacy with teeth
- accessible, layered history
Expect
- clear explanation over pageantry
- easy to pick up in chunks
Where it sits
| Middle Eastern History | 64% |
|---|---|
| Ancient History | 41% |
| Iraq History | 29% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Ancient History
- Arabian Peninsula History
- Iranian History
- Iraq History
Show all 5 publisher categories
- Archaeology
- Authors
- Eckart Frahm
- Publisher
- Basic Books
- Published
- October 1, 2024
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Ancient History