Book Reviews

Peter Burke’s The Italian Renaissance offers a cultural and sociological analysis of Renaissance Italy, rejecting traditional narratives that focus solely on individual genius. Instead, Burke argues that artists and intellectuals must be...

Many university students today have complained about the dryness and boringness of their history courses. Tore Olsson, Associate Professor of History at the University of Tennessee, who specializes in the US South and post-Civil War US, taught...

For many years, there have been many studies done on the Roman army. Many of the general studies have been popular, however, the more narrowly focused aspects of the Roman army have not gained as much attention. This book focuses on what...

Philostratus’s Heroikos, composed during the flourishing of the Second Sophistic, stands as a deeply layered literary and cultural artifact of the Roman Empire in the Severan period. Aitken and Maclean’s edition, Philostratus’s Heroikos...

While Cleopatra is one of the most famous women in history, there are many myths and misconceptions about her life. This book tells the true story of Cleopatra’s life and explains popular misconceptions in a way that is understandable to...

Manuscript historian Kathryn Rudy from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland is known for taking a forensic approach to studying medieval manuscripts. Renowned for her Dirty Books Project, she introduced a new historical approach by using...

More than just captivating entertainment and an enthralling narrative, this book is an outstanding classroom resource for teaching students the art of detecting bias and uncovering the truth through a careful analysis of primary sources...

The book is divided into twelve chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of the Pharos, better known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It begins with the conception and construction of the lighthouse during the reign of Ptolemy I (366-282...

Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jade Scott is a new book focused on the life of Mary Queen of Scots, primarily during her period of incarceration in England by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Even...

On a large scale, the book covers the history of Egypt from Alexander's conquest until the death of Cleopatra VII. It chronicles the beginnings of Greek rule over Egypt and the ways that the Ptolemaic dynasty attempted to bend their new kingdom...