David Stuttard Bücher

Seeschlacht um die Weltherrschaft Nur ein einziges Mal in der Geschichte, im Epochenjahr 31 v. Chr., standen sich Rom und Ägypten in einer Seeschlacht gegenüber. Für beide Supermächte ging es um Sieg oder Untergang. Octavian, der spätere Augustus, traf an der Küste vor Actium auf den 'Verräter Roms' – wie er Marcus Antonius in seiner Propaganda nannte – und dessen Geliebte Kleopatra, die gemeinsam eine ägyptisch-römische Dynastie planten. Die Schlacht war der Höhepunkt einer langen historischen Entwicklung. Nach stundenlangem Kampf waren Kleopatra und Antonius zur Flucht gezwungen; mit Kleopatras Selbstmord endete die Ära der Ptolemäer, der Nach-folger Alexanders des Großen in Ägypten. Octavian wurde in der Folge zum unumschränkten Herrscher über Rom und verleibte sich Ägypten ein; damit war die lange Zeit der Bürgerkriege beendet. Seine Nachfolger erweiterten mit immer neuen Kriegszügen das riesige römische Imperium. Lebendig und kenntnisreich schildern die Autoren diese historische Wende aus Sicht der beiden charismatischen Protagonisten Antonius und Kleopatra.

On 2 September 31 BC, two superpowers, Egypt and Rome, met head-on for the first and last time in history. The outcome was the Battle of Actium, which would change the course of history and lead directly to the foundation of the Roman Empire. In a compelling new chronicle, brought vividly to life with expressive anecdotes and moving eye-witness accounts, 31 BC explores the chain of events that culminated in the fall of Egypt. A sequel to the popular AD 410: the Year that Shook Rome, 31 BC reveals the tragic romance between Antony and Cleopatra, boldly characterising the central charismatic personalities of the time. Illustrated with evocative locations and iconic objects from the British Museum and elsewhere, 31 BC: Antony, Cleopatra and the Fall of Egypt is a dramatic story of a defining moment in history, retold with excitement and vigour from the Egyptian standpoint.

Travel the Roman empire and discover the great diversity of its peoples and cultures. The book shows the importance of the Roman army in conquering and controlling the empire, and how the empire was held together by the Emperor and by his officials and laws. The economic power of Rome depended on raw materials from all over the empire: metals, stone and food. Rome_s success lay in its inclusiveness, with many distinct cultures flourishing within its boundaries. People practised many different religions and spoke many different languages, but they were unified by Roman civilization. Sam Moorhead shows how the most successful empire in human history was organised, and why understanding the Roman empire helps us to understand better our world today.

Power; the power of the gods; the power of Greek cities; the power of the human body: all these were celebrated at the ancient Olympic Games. Ancient Olympia symbolized excellence and supremacy in every sense of the word, not only athletic, but also political. Every four years, this international festival carefully timed to coincide with the August full moon drew the strongest and fastest athletic champions, hoping to win glory for their city-state. With them came the ruling elite, equally intent on displaying their city's power and prestige by excelling at the Games. After the athletic contests, Olympia also served as the ideal forum for political parleys and alliances. This absorbing narrative, told from a spectators viewpoint, revolves around the Games of 416 BC a turning point in Greek politics when a cold war between Athens and other major cities was about to erupt into bloody fighting. The reader vividly experiences what it was like to be there, to witness the rituals, official banquets, bloody contests, victory celebrations and subsequent political parleys.

The Parthenon is one of the world's most iconic buildings: today, its silhouette symbolizes Greece. Built on the rocky acropolis of Athens in the aftermath of the devastating invasion of Xerxes, the Parthenon was part temple to Athene, part war memorial, part treasure trove of some of the most outstanding art of its age. Parthenon: Power and Politics on the Acropolis takes the reader through the dramatic story of the conception and creation of the Parthenon, setting it against a turbule nt historical background and rooting the building firmly in the real and mythological landscape of Athens. Written as a pacy, narrative history, the text features a cast of memorable characters, including Themistocles, the general whose decision to eva cuat e Athens led to the Persian sack of the acropolis; Pericl es, visionary statesman and mastermind of the Athens' building project; and Pheidi as, who created the cult statue of Athene, and narrowly escaped impeachment for embezzlement. Beautifully illustrated with evocative site photography, details from the Parthenon sculptures and other related artworks from the superb collection of the British Museum, this book explores the Parthenon as the spiritual heart of a network of commanding buildings, de vised by Pericles and continued by his successors to promote the power of Athens as leader of the Greek world.

Roman Britain was created not by impersonal historical forces, but by men and women, each driven by ambition, aspiration and passion. This book explores the narrative of Britannia through the lives of its emperors, commanders, governors, officials and rebels. It reminds us of the truly epic nature of the history of Britannia.

The Greek myths have a universal appeal, reaching far beyond the time and physical place in which they were created. In this book, the reader is taken on a tour of 22 destinations in Greece and Turkey, from Mount Olympus to Homer's Hades, recounting the tales from Greek mythology and the history associated with each.

Alcibiades was one of the most dazzling figures of Athens' Golden Age. A friend of Socrates, he was spectacularly rich, bewitchingly handsome and charismatic, a skilled general, and a ruthless politician. He was also a serial traitor. David Stuttard tells a spellbinding story of Alcibiades' life and the turbulent world he set out to conquer.

The perfect companion to the Roman myths and the landscapes and ideas that shaped them.