Book Reviews

Shaye Cohen's third edition of his work about Jewish life from the Maccabees to the Mishnah is most valuable as an overview. Oddly enough, he offers the most poignant critiques in his third edition preface, writing that sometimes he "speaks...

Spain: 1001 Sights is not a regular book on Archaeology, but a guide through the historical and archaeological heritage of Spain. Inside this guide you will find a large variety of cave paintings, dolmens and menhirs, Iberian and Celtic villages...

"Warfare in the Ancient World" by Brian Todd Carey Is a book that not only explains warfare but why certain major events took place during ancient times. The book goes from the depths of the ancient Sumerians to the late Roman empire, a period...

The purpose of this volume is not to offer a systematic overview of ancient warfare but, rather, to provide an update on the current research regarding various aspects of the subject. As such it is an erudite and eclectic mix of Bronze Age...

By ignoring the wisdom of old adages and judging by its cover alone one might be forgiven for thinking this book was aimed at younger readers but, in fact, it is a wonderful and in-depth examination of every aspect of the Inca civilization...

Jorge Guillermo's Sibyls examines the fascinating phenomenon of oracles and prophetesses in the ancient world. Beginning with an overview of prophecy from earlier times and mankind's fascination with predicting future events, the book moves...

Another fine Osprey book covering ancient greek warships from 500-322BC with sections on origins, design, construction, crew, armament and tactics, the Athenian navy, key battles, and the Olympias modern reconstruction project. A mix of colour...

Having visited the Peloponese and just half-filled a suitcase of books on ancient Greece, I saw this at the airport on the way home. It turned out to be the best of the lot. Schliemann and Evans - two of the most controversial archaeologists...

Gone Viking III: The Holy Grail by Bill Arnott is a travel writing narrative with not just insight but also quirkiness gifted by the author. General enthusiasts and armchair adventurers are its target audience. While not a traditional scholarly...

The presence of women in positions of power has consistently captivated individuals, and the reign of Eleanor of Aquitaine is a prime example of this phenomenon. Born in 1122, she was a prominent medieval queen who held power in both France...