Ancient Cultures

Peter Frankopan, number one best-selling author and historian, explores the connections made by people, trade, disease, war, religion, adventure, science and technology in this extraordinary book about how the East married the West with a remarkable voyage at its heart - the journey along the Silk Roads.

Papyrus rolls and Twitter have much in common, as each was their generation's signature means of "instant" communication. Indeed, as Tom Standage reveals in his scintillating new audiobook, social media is anything but a new phenomenon. From the papyrus letters that Roman statesmen used to exchange news across the Empire to the advent of hand-printed tracts of the Reformation to the pamphlets that spread propaganda during the American and French revolutions, Standage chronicles the increasingly sophisticated ways people shared information with each other....

In 431 BC, the long simmering rivalry between the city-states of Athens and Sparta erupted into open warfare, and for more than a generation the two were locked in a life-and-death struggle. The war embroiled the entire Greek world, provoking years of butchery previously unparalleled in ancient Greece. Whole cities were exterminated, their men killed, their women and children enslaved.

And Terah took Abram . . . and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees.’ The city Abraham left behind him - a city with good claims to being the oldest in the world - was rediscovered in 1854 by the then British Consul at Basra. But not until the end of World War I was serious excavation undertaken there. The results were so encouraging that four years later a joint British-American expedition, directed by the author of this book, worked on the site. The story of their discoveries made during years of work and covering the ...

While a a midwife wasn’t mentioned in the Biblical version of The Christmas story—but then again, neither was morning sickness or labor pains, which Mary undoubtedly experienced. As such, because of the extreme young age of the mother (some experts figure she was between 14 and 18 years old), their harsh surroundings (A stable carved in a rock), and the lack of older female relatives available to assist, Joseph fetching the services of a midwife is not so difficult to imagine.

After surviving her otherworldly adventure, Lily wakes up on her nana's farm having forgotten everything. Her sun prince, her travels to Egypt, and her journey to the Afterlife are all distant memories. But Lily is not the girl she once was. Her body is now part human, part lion, and part fairy. And if that isn't bad enough, she must harness this power of three and become Wasret: a goddess destined to defeat the evil god Seth once and for all.

The morning of August 24, AD 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and Pompeii was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered the port city with intact buildings and beautiful mosaics.

For thousands of years, the notion of dragons has struck fear in the hearts of men and women all over the world. The ancient Egyptians believed there was a dragon of darkness that attacked the sun god each day, and in Norway people thought that a dragon gnawed at the roots of the tree that sustained all life on Earth. Around the globe, dragons have been depicted as everything from massive, winged, fire-breathing creatures to beasts sporting a camel’s head, deer’s horns, rabbit’s eyes, and eagle’s claws! Dragons might hoard treasure in caves, or they might be responsible for floods and the death of livestock.

Ever wonder why we refer to three so often? The Big Three. “Third time’s a charm.” “Bad news comes in threes.” Threes represent curious patterns in many cultures. Sometimes those patterns of threes are obvious and tangible. Consider the modern traffic signal. Green, yellow and red lenses, each with a different meaning to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, fire in a predictable and never-changing order to signal proceed, slow down and stop when lighted in sequence. Sometimes those patterns are intangible. Such as three laws. Three rules of thumb. Three principles. Three classes...

Lost civilization. Ancient secrets. A fast-paced adventure where danger lurks around every corner. While exploring ancient ruins nestled deep in the lush Guatemalan jungle, a team of international archaeologists makes a stunning discovery. They find a sprawling network of tunnels and caves filled with man-made structures, intricately carved stone statues, inscriptions and murals that hint at the mythical Mayan underworld, Xibalba. Eager to learn more about the shadowy place, they descend further underground and stumble upon hidden passageways that seem to stretch forever, treasure-laden ...

The forest is dark and deep and hides its secrets. But to Zack Tolliver, FBI, facts are facts, and myths are not. Sent to investigate a seemingly unrelated series of incidents across a wide swathe of backcountry, he meets Louis, a Tule River Indian tribal member who presents a radical theory: the crimes were all committed by a single perpetrator––a large, hairy hominid.

The murder of an esteemed archaeologist is fueling an already heated war between natives and the academics who excavate their land. And when the coroner confirms that the victim was cannibalized, the story takes a twisted turn. Private eye Howard Moon Deer and ex-police chief Jack Wilder are on the case. The killing appears to be a modern mimicry of the Anasazi's rumored past - one the tribe thinks would be best left buried. But Howard and Jack must search for clues even if it means digging up sacred land. As they struggle to fight tribal politics, the killer strikes again.

Discover a timeless journey with One God One People. The Monotheistic Message of the Torah. This enlightening exploration delves into the profound spiritual heritage captured within the ancient scrolls of the Torah. As you turn each page, uncover the profound wisdom and enduring relevance of its teachings, which have guided people for millennia. This book sheds light on the central theme of monotheism that weaves through the narratives, laws, and prophetic visions of the Torah, illustrating how the belief in one God has shaped societies, cultures, and personal faith throughout history. ...

Black history begins thousands of years ago with the many cultures and people of the African continent. Through portraits of ten heroic figures, author Tracey Baptiste takes listeners on a journey across Africa to meet some of the great leaders and thinkers whose vision built a continent and shaped the world.

Embark on a captivating journey through the stars with "Unseen Skies," an enthralling exploration of humanity’s enduring fascination with unidentified flying objects. From ancient legends to modern-day sightings, this eBook delves deeply into the mysteries that have tantalized humanity for millennia. Begin with an introduction that defines UFOs and dives into their societal impact. Explore ancient encounters where myths and legends captured imaginations, with interpretations that still resonate today. Journey through the 19th century when mysterious airships sparked intrigue across the ...

While the Gods Slept brings together many of the disparate anomalies, myths, and religious beliefs that confound and confuse those who would like answers to age-old questions. The story begins some four hundred thousand years into our past when a great civilization occupied this planet. After a great cataclysmic event, the few survivors begin a project to rebuild and repopulate the Earth. Their efforts are recorded throughout the book, but there is a parallel story. One that is taking place around our globe today. One man, Simon Krall, is discovered to have unique DNA. His DNA could hold ...

Step into the world where philosophy wasn’t just a subject—it was a way of life. Where the greatest minds of antiquity collided, and from that clash of ideas, the foundations of Western thought were forged. Philodemus and Sextus: A Dual Exploration of Ancient Thought offers you a front-row seat to the intellectual revolution that bridged Greek wisdom and Roman power. Uncover the timeless teachings of Philodemus, the philosopher who seamlessly wove the intricate tapestry of Greek philosophy into the heart of Roman culture. His Epicurean insights—centered on the pursuit of happiness, ...

You’d never believe it, but the mummies from horror movies are real. Unwrap the secrets of historic mummies like King Tut and Princess Amen Ra.

With his characteristic clarity and elegance A. C. Grayling takes the listener from the worldviews and moralities before the age of the Buddha, Confucius and Socrates, through Christianity's dominance of the European mind, to the Renaissance and Enlightenment, and on to Mill, Nietzsche, Sartre and philosophy today. And, since the story of philosophy is incomplete without mention of the great philosophical traditions of India, China and the Persian-Arabic world, he gives a comparative survey of them, too.

Sex. Drugs. Loud music. Wild costumes. Dazzling light shows. These words can all describe a great rock concert or a hot dance club, but they were also part and parcel of the ancient cultural phenomenon known as the "Mystery religions". In this book, author Christopher Knowles shows how the long-dead Mystery religions got a secular reincarnation when a new musical form called rock 'n' roll burst onto the scene.