Persians: An Introduction (Hardcover)

by Maria Brosius (Author) "The Persians were one of the most highly developed civilisations of the ancient world..." (more)
Key Phrases: investiture relief, chivalrous combat, regional kings, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Near East (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

the work is an excellent introduction to these three ancient civilisations which combines a depth of research, and a wide focus with a lively literary style, which makes it an easy and highly enjoyable read... this work is an excellent introduction to the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian civilisations, and takes a refreshing, non-western based, approach to ancient history. - Gareth C. Sampson, BMCR

Product Description
The Persians provides a comprehensive introduction for the student and general reader interested in the history of the three dynasties of Pre-Islamic Iran, the Achaemenids, the Arsacids (or Parthians), and the Sasanians, covering the period from c. 700 BC to c. AD 650. It conveys the history of the Persian empires as well as outlining the structures upon which these empires were built, the king and his court, the organization of the empire, religion and culture, and art and architecture. Frequent source citations enable the reader to gain direct access to the written material.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415320895
• ISBN-13: 978-0415320894
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,783,101 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Introduction, July 8, 2006

By	Derek Law (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Persians: An Introduction (Peoples of the Ancient World) (Paperback)

This book is an introduction to "The Persians" by providing a balanced presentation of the three major periods/ dynasties of the ancient Persian Empire - the Achaemenids, the Parthians (Arsacids) and the Sassanians. Each of the periods is covered in 60-70 pages, where five aspects (Historical Survey, King and Court, Organisation and adminstration of the empire, Religion, Art and Architecture) of the periods are discussed.

There are no other books that I am aware of which cover the 1000+ years of pre-Islamic Persian history, except for a very similar study published by Josef Wiesehofer first in German and subsequently translated into English about 10-15 years ago. As this book is just published and does not burden the reader with convoluted discussions of issues with "Sources," I believe this is a better introduction on the topic.

The strengths of the book are its writing style (careful academic writing yet easy to read), the balanced proportions, nice printings with sufficient maps and illustrations (all placed very conveniently), and a nuanced perspective which highlights (but not in an annoying way) how classical accounts of the Persian Empire were burdened with ideologies of the Greeks and Romans who defined the Persians as the "Other" in developing their own sense of identities for political mobilization.

What comes out fairly clearly in the text is that there is significant continuity in the history, culture and organization of the three periods/ dynasties. This leads me to believe that the presentation of the Persian Empire would have been more complete if the discussion includes the Seleucids -- obviously, they are not Persians, but casting aside classical prejudice, the Seleucids were in fact a dynasty of the Persian Empire.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Concise Thousand-Year History of the Persians., October 23, 2006

By	Noshir M. Khambatta (DURHAM, NC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Persians: An Introduction (Peoples of the Ancient World) (Paperback)

In about 235 pages, Maria Brosius has done a remarkable feat in presenting in a condensed form, over a thousand-year history of the Persians, in her recent publication: The Persians - An Introduction, published by Routledge in 2006. The book is published in the series "Peoples of the Ancient World" which states: "This series stands as the first port of call for anyone who wants to know more about the historically important peoples of the ancient world and the early middle ages". Truly this book is the essential beginner's guide to Ancient Persia and ideal for students and general readers alike.
European history from the middle ages till the mid-twentieth century, essentially describes the major Persian empires mainly based on the history of the Greeks and the Romans, who regarded them as politically, culturally, and socially inferior. Yet these Persian civilizations were one of the most highly developed of the ancient world. Its society with its many different languages, cultures and religions, had a profound and continuing influence on the Western World. This study vividly introduces the reader to the history of Persia in its own right, as the authoress in her own words states: "With this volume I hope to open a door to the fascinating world of the empires of Ancient Persia to a wider audience ... who want to look beyond the artificial constuction of the East-West divide."
The book introduces the reader to the history of Persia from the heights of the Achaemenid Dynasty (559-330 BC), the first monarchy to create a world empire, to the heterogenous empire of the Parthians (247 BC-224 AD) and the susequent Sassanian Empire (224-651 AD), epitomized in the rule of Khosrow Anushirvan. It also has chapters on separate issues as society, economy, gender, power and defence. The book is well illustrated with several black and white figures, detail maps, an exhaustive bibliography, and an exhaustive genealogical table of the three Persian dynasties on pages 201-203.
Zarathushtrians and Parsis the world over, would do well to give this book their undivided attention, and use it in teaching their young ones the fundamentals of the three major Persian civilizations. Many colleges and universities may want to use it as an introductory text-book for an introductory course on Ancient Persia/Iran. Kudos to Routledge for putting out an excellent paperback.