Customer Reviews

The Persian Empire, Volume II

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This compilation of sources is excellent in many ways.

First the professional background of Prof. Kuhrt, is distinguished and thus she has decades of research and editing on the Achaemenid Period to draw from for this project. (See published conference proceedings, Achaemenid History Volumes 1-14) This is a "selection" and it must be understood that this is not comprehensive of ALL written sources. What is here definitely covers the main themes and many more details. If you are inclined to either go to the original sources, or find the sources not included, information about their location is listed.

First, it brings a number of "Eastern" ancient texts and sources to a single place where they can be accessed. This is important for many researchers, and with the release of the paperback version, it brings a rich compilation of eastern and western sources (with clear English translations) to anyone who would like to access them.

The organization of the work is chronological by ruler, and several maps, diagrams, and explanations are included throughout. The various sources are formatted to allow a reader or researcher easy access. Most books of this nature are quite confusing. The author and publisher are to be commended for not making that mistake. For a researcher or academic of the Achaemenid Persian period, this book is invaluable.

This reference work meets the standard of what scholarship is supposed to be. It does reach across a number of disciplines (Art, Archaeology, History, Linguistics, Anthropological) as well as reach across traditionally rigid boundaries from Classical Greco-Roman studies to Near Eastern Studies. It hits the mark on all fronts.

I noted that the Kindle store had "The Persian Empire, Volume II," but not "Volume I." I assumed this was some sort of mistake, and that the downloaded book would have both volumes. I was wrong. Can someone at Amazon please add the first volume to the store (or maybe just remove the second volume)?