Ancient Empires

The Pinarii witness the machinations of Tiberius, the madness of Caligula, and the decadence of Nero. The deadly paranoia of Domitian gives way to the Golden Age of Trajan and Hadrian - but even the most enlightened emperors wield the power to destroy their subjects on a whim.Empire is filled with the dramatic, defining moments of the age, including the Great Fire of 64 A.D, Nero’s persecution of the Christians, and the astounding opening games of the Colosseum.

In the shadowed marble halls of Rome’s power, Sejunus Strabol Junius, the illegitimate son of a legendary Praetorian guard, is thrust into a deadly game of politics, deception, and honor. Torn between loyalty to the empire and the haunting legacy of his father, Sejunus navigates treacherous Senate intrigues, brutal gladiatorial spectacles, and the deadly purges of the Praetorian Guard. From the bustling streets of the Forum to secret tunnels beneath the Palatine Hill, The Praetorian Guardsman delivers a riveting tale of political conspiracy, forbidden alliances, and heart-stopping action....

This audiobook narrated by Jim Lee provides a rich, discovery-filled account of how a forgotten empire transformed the ancient world.

Dive into the captivating world of ancient African civilizations with Ancient African Empires. Perfect for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike, this audiobook uncovers the rich stories and groundbreaking achievements of Africa’s greatest ancient kingdoms.

The scandalous image of the Empress Messalina as a ruthless and sexually insatiable schemer, derived from the work of Roman historians such as Tacitus and Suetonius, has taken deep root in the Western imagination. The stories they told about her included nightly visits to a brothel and a twenty-four-hour sex competition with a prostitute. Tales like these have defined the empress's legacy, but her real story is much more complex. In her new life of Messalina, the classicist Honor Cargill-Martin reappraises one of the most slandered and underestimated female figures of ancient history.

Uncover the Wonders of Japan—Its Legends, History, and Incredible Facts! Did you know Japan is home to thousands of islands? Or that the first-ever novel in history was written there? From fearless samurai warriors to legendary dragons, Japan’s rich history is filled with amazing stories, fascinating traditions, and mind-blowing inventions. This book takes young explorers on a thrilling journey through Japan’s ancient myths, epic battles, and modern marvels. With stunning images, detailed maps, and engaging stories, history comes alive like never before! Plus, interactive quizzes and ...

The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors Rome called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling an Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. A leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart.

The decadence of Imperial Rome comes to life in S.P. Somtow's Literary Titan Award-winning novel about one of ancient history's wildest characters. The historian Suetonius tells us that the Emperor Nero emasculated and married his slave Sporus, the spitting image of murdered Empress Poppaea. But history has more tidbits about Sporus, who went from "puer delicatus" to Empress to one Emperor and concubine to another, and ended up being sentenced to play the Earth-Goddess in the arena. World Fantasy Award winner S.P. Somtow weaves a vivid adventure about one of the most colorful personalities ...

Review 1: “Superbly captures the decadence & power of Rome that Antinous steers through armed with his wit, charm and enduring values. Enthralling roller-coaster read.” The novel narrates the trials and tribulations of a boy plucked out of obscurity into the stratospheric heights of Roman power and glory. Antinous must deal with adolescent angst while steering through the intrigue and powerplay of the imperial court. His destiny reaches its singularity moment when he is subsumed into the sacred waters of the Nile. Sensitive readers may find portions of the narrative unsettling. ++++++++...

In the second half of the tenth century, Byzantium embarked on a series of spectacular conquests. By the early eleventh century, the empire was the most powerful state in the Mediterranean. Yet this imperial project came to a crashing collapse fifty years later, when political disunity, fiscal mismanagement, and defeat at the hands of the Seljuks and the Normans brought an end to Byzantine hegemony. By 1081, Byzantium's very existence was threatened.

Assyrians rule over much of the known world, their vast empire built on the pillars of corruption, idolatry, and violence. Israel suffers beneath this tyranny like most other nations. So, when Jewish prophet Jonah is commanded by God to go and preach to these wicked people in Nineveh, the lion’s den—and largest and most sinful city in the world—he resists and flees. Three days and three nights of unimaginable horror ensue. When Jonah is at last liberated from the depths, he finds himself physically and spiritually transfigured. Only now is it possible for God’s will to be fulfilled;...

In Empires of Trust, Professor Thomas F. Madden explores surprising parallels between the Roman and American republics. By making friends of enemies and demonstrating a commitment to fairness, the two republics - both "reluctant" yet unquestioned super-powers - built empires based on trust. Madden also includes vital lessons from the Roman Republic's 100-year struggle with "terrorism."

The Byzantine Empire survived as a self-contained political entity longer than any other in the history of Christianity. This history by Charles Oman is a catalog of good, bad, and indifferent emperors who either pushed Byzantine Civilization to new heights or savagely drove it to defeat and dissolution. It is a strange tale populated by some of the most interesting men and women who have ever lived.

It's AD 123, and the sun is shining on southern Gaul. Ex-military medic Ruso and his British wife, Tilla, are back after a long absence - but it's not the reunion anyone had hoped for. Ruso's brother has left him in charge of a farm he has no idea how to manage, a chronic debt problem, and a gaggle of accident-prone small children. Meanwhile his sister Flora has run away to rescue her boyfriend, who's accused of murdering a wealthy guest at a party.

This book addresses the prophecies of Daniel, one of the Jews exiled in Babylon, who predicts the future of the great world empires and the final days

Discover the remarkable history of the Inca Empire...In the space of less than one hundred years, the Inca people expanded from being a small kingdom in the highlands of Peru to becoming one of the largest and most powerful empires in the Americas. At the height of its power, the Inca Empire stretched for more than one thousand miles down the Andes Mountains and the west coast of South America. It incorporated more than two hundred distinct ethnic groups and somewhere around fourteen million people were ruled by a much smaller number of Incas.

A Rome of One’s Own is a retelling of the history of Rome with the Important Things, but also all the things Roman history writers relegate to the background—or designate as domestic, feminine, or worthless. This is a history of individuals, twenty-one women who span the length of its territory and its centuries, who caused outrage, led armies in rebellion, wrote poetry, lived independently or under the thumb of emperors. A Rome of One’s Own highlights women overlooked and misunderstood, and through them offers a fascinating and groundbreaking chronicle of the ancient world.

In her international bestseller SPQR, Mary Beard told the thousand-year story of ancient Rome. Now she shines her spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BCE) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 CE). Emperor of Rome is not your usual chronological account of Roman rulers, one after another: the mad Caligula, the monster Nero, the philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

Weaving history, legend, and new archaeological discoveries into a spellbinding narrative, critically acclaimed novelist Steven Saylor gives new life to the drama of Rome's first 1,000 years - from the founding of the city by the ill-fated twins Romulus and Remus, through Rome's astonishing ascent to become the capital of the most powerful empire in history.

The tragedy of December 1st is still fresh in the minds of Sam, Nathan, and Trent. As Sam adjusts to his new life of becoming a father after losing his own to Nergal, he does not know there will be no respite for him or his friends. They believe their ordeal, which started in Talihina, Oklahoma, two years earlier, was over, and they had realized their triumph over Nergal and his grip on Southeastern Oklahoma. With the deaths of the Choctaw elders, Addison, and Joshua, came a loss of wisdom and foresight into the true nature of their enemy. Nergal had established his dominion over the area ...