Amelie Kuhrt Bücher

An essential text which provides a lucid, up-to-date narrative, incorporating the latest archaeological and textual discoveries. Winner of the AHS's 1997 James Henry Brested Award. číst celé

This publication marks the first English translation of Pierre Briant's classic history of Alexander the Great's conquest of the Persian Empire, spanning from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. Rather than focusing solely on Alexander's biography, it situates his brief empire within the broader context of ancient Near Eastern history under Achaemenid Persian rule and his Macedonian background. As a distinguished historian of both the Macedonians and Persians, Briant offers a unique perspective on Alexander's significance from the viewpoints of both conquerors and the conquered, examining what changed and what remained constant as the Hellenistic world emerged over Darius's Persia. The book begins with a concise account of Alexander's life prior to his invasion of Asia Minor, followed by an overview of the key stages of his conquest. This foundation leads into thematic chapters that delve into the origins and objectives of the conquest, the nature of resistance encountered, the administration and exploitation of conquered territories, and the complexities of Alexander's relationships with Macedonians, Greeks, and Persians, as well as the succession issues after his death. For this edition, Briant has added a new foreword and conclusion, updated the text and bibliography, and included an appendix evaluating current scholarship on Alexander and future research directions, enhancing this significant work's relevance and insight.

The Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 BC) presided over the first and largest world empire in history, stretching from the Babylonians in the east to the Jews and Greeks in the west, with influence reaching the Indian subcontinent. Its vastness contributed to its downfall by Alexander the Great, yet its legacy endures in the development of Judaism, the Old Testament, and classical Greece. Historically, studying Achaemenid history has been challenging due to the diverse origins, languages, and periods of original sources, often leading to reliance on biased Greek and Roman accounts. Am lie Kuhrt offers a groundbreaking collection of key texts that provides a comprehensive and balanced view of the empire, translating from Greek, Old Persian, Akkadian, Hebrew, Aramaic, Egyptian, and Latin. Her selection includes classical writings, the Old Testament, royal inscriptions, administrative documents, and Babylonian historical accounts, alongside archaeological evidence. Each piece is accompanied by a detailed introduction and interpretative guidelines. This monumental collection serves as an essential resource for anyone studying Persian history, from undergraduates to advanced scholars.