Rome and the Classical West (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 3) [Hardcover]

J. M. Roberts (Author)

Book Description

The Illustrated History of the World is a lavishly illustrated edition of J. M. Roberts's bestselling History of the World. Now completely revised and updated, each volume of this comprehensive reference work traces the tumultuous story of humankind from prehistory to the end of the 20th century. The rise and fall of civilizations; the impact of powerful individuals on world events; the interplay of state and religion; the social and economic factors that influence societies--these are some of the themes of this masterful, sweeping narrative. Over 2,000 photographs in color and black-and-white present a unique visual panoply of the march of history. In addition, more than 200 maps and artworks in full color underscore important events. Fully integrated sidebars and feature boxes narrow in on key themes, providing an additional layer of interest. Each volume also contains a double-page, illustrated chronology of major events, plus a bibliography and detailed index. Authoritative, brilliantly written, and superbly illustrated, this outstanding and popular work of scholarship makes the whole sweep of history vivid and accessible as never before.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This history covers the time period from prehistory to 1997. It is notable for its many time lines, charts, maps, drawings, illustrations, and photographs, which complement the text and bring it to life.

The set is a revision of History of the World (1976) by Roberts, a British historian, professor, editor, and author. He points out that any history of the world must be selective. In this one he has tried "to set our events, movements, determining facts and circumstances which have shaped most human lives." He emphasizes the most significant civilizations and tells their stories in all their interconnectedness, highlighting their most important contributions. The tone is optimistic, stressing human power to manage nature, overcome obstacles, and bring about conscious change.

Primary arrangement is chronological by volume, with the chapters within each volume combining a thematic and geographic approach. For example, volume one, Prehistory and the First Civilizations, includes chapters on "Early Civilized Life," "Ancient Mesopotamia," and "Ancient Egypt." Some topics covered in "Ancient Egypt" are Mesopotamian influence, the role of the Nile, agriculture, religion, death and burial, hieroglyphic writing, the invention of papyrus, and the pyramids, as well as political topics, individuals, and the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. These topics are covered with little detail, however. The significance of hieroglyphic writing is related in one long paragraph, but there are no details or illustrations of how it is done. Each volume has its own index and contents list, in addition to a series contents page telling the time periods and events covered in each volume. There is no cumulative index.

Roberts' goal of telling the main points of civilizations leads to his coverage being less detailed than sets it can be compared to, such as Time Life's Time Frame (1987^-1999) and Lost Civilizations (1992^-1999), or History of the Ancient and Medieval World [RBB O 15 97] and History of the Modern World (see review on p.1491). However, it gives a broad view and does lead to a quick identification of the main facts, which is often very useful. Its distillation of topics makes it valuable for younger readers, from the fifth grade through high school, and for this group it would be valuable both as a reference set and as circulating volumes. The fact that each volume can stand alone also makes it appropriate for the circulating collection for adults. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An excellent overview of the history of the great civilization."--Calliope

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; First Edition edition (February 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195215214
• ISBN-13: 978-0195215212
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,412,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-Written and Beautifully Illustrated, March 18, 2002

By 

F. Orion Pozo "Orion Pozo" (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rome and the Classical West (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 3) (Hardcover)

Rome and the Classical West is volume three of a ten volume series called The Illustrated History of the World. The first volume covered the origins of the human race through the first civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The second volume in the series reviewed the early cultures of India and China and then moved on to discuss Greek civilization. This third volume covers the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, from 800 BCE to 600 CE.

The book is filled with beautiful color illustrations. Every page has at least one and most are photographs of artifacts, art works, or scenes. The text is well written and emphasizes brief summaries rather than scholarly examination. This makes it a good basic introduction and outline, but may be less useful to someone who wants to look at these subjects in greater depth. The lack of any bibliography of further readings is also a drawback for those wanting to seek more information. A two-page time chart of the period helps to put events in perspective. The chapter contents are confusingly placed at the end of the book, but they are well done and helpful for getting an overview of the author's approach. A two page listing of all the books in the series with their section and chapter titles helps to put the material into the broader view of all world history.

If you want an entertaining introduction to the beginnings of the Roman Empire, its relationship to the Greek civilization, the rise of the Ceasars, the role of Judaism and the birth of Christianity, the division into East and West, the Christianization of the Empire, and its final demise in the West, this is a great book to read. I learned the difference between Visigoths and Ostragoths and why Germanic peoples are called Arians. There is a great discussion of St. Augustine's influence, the rise of the Roman Catholic church, and the division between it and the Byzantine church.

The type face is large and the lines are amply spaced. Couple this with the copious illustrations and the book is actually a very quick read for its size and length. It is a few steps above the approach of Dorling Kindersley books that are predominately illustrations with supporting text. With Roberts, the text is the major part, but the illustrations are definitely more than an after thought. This is a good introduction for the general reader. It is not going to be a lasting reference book that you will turn to again and again. Read it once and move on.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A colorful and informative book, May 21, 2003

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rome and the Classical West (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 3) (Hardcover)

This book is the third volume in the wonderful Illustrated History of the World Series. This book covers Rome, from it's founding, through the rise of Christianity and the twilight of the Classical world. Along the way, the reader is treated to many colorful maps and pictures, and interesting sidebars.

I really enjoyed this colorful and informative book. It gives the reader a good grounding in understanding ancient Rome, and even went into wonderful detail on things that I did not know, such as Judaism under Rome. Overall, I liked the book, and highly recommend it.

4.0 out of 5 stars nice addition, September 7, 2007

By 

Olga Koval "Olga in O.C." (CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rome and the Classical West (The Illustrated History of the World, Volume 3) (Hardcover)

Very pleasing book with good quality illustrations of the most important works of art and architecture. A nice addition to anyone's library.