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Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

Persians: The Age of the Great Kings Hardcover – April 12, 2022

by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (Author)

4.5 288 ratings

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A stunning portrait of the magnificent splendor and enduring legacy of ancient Persia

The Achaemenid Persian kings ruled over the largest empire of antiquity, stretching from Libya to the steppes of Asia and from Ethiopia to Pakistan. From the palace-city of Persepolis, Cyrus the Great, Darius, Xerxes, and their heirs reigned supreme for centuries until the conquests of Alexander of Macedon brought the empire to a swift and unexpected end in the late 330s BCE.

In Persians, historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the epic story of this dynasty and the world it ruled. Drawing on Iranian inscriptions, cuneiform tablets, art, and archaeology, he shows how the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the world’s first superpower—one built, despite its imperial ambition, on cooperation and tolerance. This is the definitive history of the Achaemenid dynasty and its legacies in modern-day Iran, a book that completely reshapes our understanding of the ancient world.

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Print length

448 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Basic Books
Publication date

April 12, 2022
Dimensions

6.4 x 1.7 x 9.55 inches
ISBN-10

1541600347
ISBN-13

978-1541600348
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In his effort to give ‘ear to a genuine ancient Persian voice,’ Llewellyn-Jones synthesizes what can be gleaned from artifacts, inscriptions and fragmentary accounts… The dead, Llewellyn-Jones argues convincingly, have been snubbed long enough.”―Wall Street Journal

“A gripping and more Persian-centric story…Llewellyn-Jones is very good at righting the record.”―Sunday Times

“A lively and highly readable revisionist history of the rule of the Persian ‘Great Kings.’”―Literary Review

“Meticulously researched, Persians tells the extraordinary story of this superpower of the ancient world. In a narrative that stretches back thousands of years and across vast stretches of land, Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones presents a skillful and engaging history of the Achaemenid dynasty.”―All About History

“There is a long legacy of misinformation around ancient Persian empires, the lives of its leaders, and greater Persian society. However, by examining the artifacts and monuments that remain, historian Llewellyn-Jones brings forth a view of ancient Persia that is rich in tradition and historical significance.”―Library Journal

“Immersive… Llewellyn-Jones expertly illuminates the decentralized, multicultural nature of the Achaemenid empire and offers valuable perspective on the modern Middle East, where the great kings of ancient Persia still feature in Iran’s national self-image. This is a valuable contribution to the understanding of ‘history’s first great superpower.’"―Publishers Marketplace

“A brilliant feat of resurrection, restoring to the Persian Empire the color, brilliance, and complexity that renders it one of the most fascinating and influential of ancient civilizations, and of which for so long, in most histories of antiquity, it has been bled.”―Tom Holland, author of Dominion

"Always lively, often challenging, this is a very welcome exploration of one of the greatest empires and cultures of the ancient world. Highly recommended."―Adrian Goldsworthy, author of Philip and Alexander

“Superb, authoritative, and compelling, a fresh history of the Persian Great Kings that combines exuberant storytelling with outstanding scholarship that is both entertaining and bracing revisionist, filled with a cast of ruthless conquerors, queens, eunuchs, and concubines that brings the Persian world blazingly to life through Persian instead of the usual Greek sources. The result is a tour de force.”―Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem: The Biography

“Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones brings the men, women, and rich history of ancient Persia alive in technicolor splendor with energy, passion, and real understanding. This is immersive time travel of the highest order.”―Samira Ahmed, journalist and broadcaster

“Persians is a wonderful introduction to the ancient world’s largest and most consequential empire. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is one of the foremost scholars of Achaemenid history, and he gives us a gripping account of the history of ancient Persia, tracking how a small tribal society in southwestern Iran came to be the world’s first superpower.”
―Touraj Daryaee, University of California, Irvine

“This is an engaging, pacy account of the Persian Empire which is based on a rich range of sources. Going right up to the use of Cyrus the Great in modern Iran, the ‘Persian Version’ on which Professor Lloyd-Jones focuses has much to tell us about how different cultures create history and use it to tell their stories.”―Helen King, professor emerita, Classical Studies, The Open University

“A masterful account and evocation of the history and culture of the first true world empire.”―Aidan M Dodson, Hon Professor of Egyptology, University of Bristol

“For too long, the world of Achaemenid Persia has been viewed through the eyes of often hostile foreigners. In this compelling investigation, Llewellyn-Jones draws on a wealth of evidence—from imposing cliff-cut inscriptions to tiny seal-rings—to reveal the Persian Version of its empire’s stirring history, far removed from the traditional stereotype. Spotlighting not just the royal dynasty but a wealth of other characters (including ambitious courtiers, a wily Egyptian administrator, a Greek slave-girl enmeshed in Persia’s great power game) he brings to vivid life a sophisticated, highly complex, tightly run society with an acute sense of its place within the cosmos, where devotion to the Truth could coexist with cruelty and violence, and imperialism with cultural and religious tolerance. Clear, convincing, and meticulously researched, Persians: The Age of the Great Kings is not just a timely reassessment of the world’s first superpower—it’s a wonderfully accessible page-turner to boot.”―David Stuttard, author of A History of Ancient Greece in Fifty Lives

About the Author

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones holds the chair in ancient history at Cardiff University and is the director of the Ancient Iran Program for the British Institute of Persian Studies. He has published widely on ancient history and lives in Taffs Well, Wales.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; First Edition (April 12, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1541600347
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541600348
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.7 x 9.55 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #73,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11 in Iran History
- #149 in History of Civilization & Culture
- #1,348 in Military History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 288 ratings

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Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

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Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is Professor of Ancient History at Cardiff University. He specializes in Achaemenid Persia and in Greek socio-cultural history, and in the reception of antiquity in popular culture. He is the general editor of Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia for Edinburgh University Press and co- general editor of Screening Antiquity, also for EUP. Born in South Wales and educated in Hull and Cardiff, Lloyd travels extensively throughout the Middle East, especially Iran, often leading cultural tours, and has acted as historical consultant for major Hollywood movies and for television documentaries. He loves theatre and opera.

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4.5 out of 5

288 global ratings

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Truly pleasant and educational read

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024

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Dr Jones is the kind of guy whose students never miss their class. This book is a smoothly flowing read packed with much information presented well relating to the Achemenid kings, as well as Persian life, customs, etc. Think Tacitus, Suetonius and Juvenal in one book. He also adds topics both humorous and eye brow raising to keep the whole enterprise interesting. You will read the book and learn far more than you think by the time you're done, culturally, historically, linguistically and religiously.

I noticed Jones had Belshazzar dying in Opis outside Babylon, and not in Babylon as the book of Daniel states. There was another discussion regarding the Jerusalem temple with which the dating was unique and later than any source Ive read. That being said, this book does a great job of highlighting Persia as well as other nations in the 6th to 4th centuries BC, and is very well written.

One person found this helpful

One of the First Great Empires

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024

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The author does away with every misconception that people once maintained about the Persians. They were not the malevolent enemies of the Greeks, but at the same time, they were not the complete opposite of their predecessors, the Assyrians. They simply did their best, and their best was an empire that long outlived its founder. Highly recommend.

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024

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I thoroughly enjoyed this history of the Persians. In the Western canon the Persians are just the nameless and faceless enemies, so this book did a great job (with the available references) to bring a rich, vibrant culture to life. Definitely read if you're interested in Persian history or if you're interested in Greek or Roman history to better contextualize.

One person found this helpful

550 BCE to 350 BCE

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2023

A sweeping history of the Persian kings that ruled an empire. Cyrus the Great, Darius, Xerxes, and their heirs. Regicide, patricide, fratricide. Unique methods of torturing and killing ones enemy. Wars against the Greeks. I was intrigued by it all. I learned a lot and came away knowing much more about this age than I did to begin with.

2 people found this helpful

Farhad Zangeneh

Magical Realism and the Persian Version of history

Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2022

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Unbiased and beautifully written history of the Persians by the Persians

Since the era of the Greco-Persian Wars, the Persians themselves have been at the receiving end of a historiographic smear campaign in which they have been cast as the tyrannical oppressors of the free world. The Western intellectual commitment to the promotion of its own supposed singularity and superiority has been very damaging for the study of Persia’s history. It is time to rectify the long-standing injurious distortion that the Persians have suffered by giving ear to a genuine ancient Persian voice. The Persians were never out to destroy “democracy” (whatever “democracy” means in its ancient context). In fact, many Ionian Greek city states continued to practice “democracy” under Persian rule—after all, the Persians recognized the Ionian Greeks’ dislike of autocratic tyrants and they happily replaced them with democracies. Had the Achaemenids brought the mainland Greeks into their empire, they doubtless would have tolerated democracy there as well. They might even have encouraged it. A Persian victory over Sparta—the most oppressive freedom-denying slave state of antiquity—would have been a win for liberty. It would have put an end to Sparta’s terrorist-like hold over the rest of Greece. The idea that the Persians inhibited and held back Europe’s cultural development is absurd.

The Persian Version

Truth-loving Persians do not dwell upon
The trivial skirmish fought near Marathon.
As for the Greek theatrical tradition
Which represents that summer's expedition
Not as a mere reconnaissance in force
By three brigades of foot and one of horse
(Their left flank covered by some obsolete
Light craft detached from the main Persian fleet)
But as a grandiose, ill-starred attempt
To conquer Greece - they treat it with contempt;
And only incidentally refute
Major Greek claims, by stressing what repute
The Persian monarch and the Persian nation
Won by this salutary demonstration:
Despite a strong defence and adverse weather
All arms combined magnificently together.
-Robert Graves

20 people found this helpful

What Persians were not vipers spitting poison?

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2023

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Do you mean to tell me that Persian history isn't pure evil?
Doesn't seem to be so when you see those old horror stories told from sources other than from those with whom they waged war. So, stories have two sides? Do tell. This book does.

4 people found this helpful

barry boushehri

Wonderful book for the student of ancient history

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2023

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I loved reading this informative and well researched book. Specifically, the chapter about the memories of this magnificent and glorious ancient empire with modern day Iranians.

2 people found this helpful

so well written, so well researched

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2022

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This is a page turner, rivaling any of the popular novels of the last 10 years. That it is the first history of ancient Persia written for the general public makes it that much more extraordinary. The ancient kings come alive, and their society, religion, and culture are immediately accessible to everyone. You know who Alexander the Great is, but you’ve never met Xerxes, Cyrus, or Darius, and their wives and daughters who shaped an empire. Do yourself a favor and get this book.

14 people found this helpful

Top reviews from other countries

John D Shepherd

A Historical Tour de Force

Reviewed in Canada on February 29, 2024

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A frequent reader of history, my views of Ancient Persia are shaped by Greek writers as Herodotus and Xenophon. The march of the ten thousand by Xenophon is captivating reading.
This view of Persian history is one sided and biased in favour of the Greeks who had little reason to love the Persians. As the Persians had more of an oral culture, it is challenging to get the perspective of the Persians themselves.
Despite of these challenges, the author wrote a captivating work of art on the Persians, presenting their stories and perspective. The writing is vivid and helps bring the Persian Empire back to life. A precondition of understanding Iran today is to understand its history to this point of time, an ancient and highly successful culture.
Set aside time to read the book. Once you pick it up, its hard to set it down.

janet HAZLETT

love it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2024

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with world travel as it is - this transports you .... a very enjoyable addition to my historical novels and non-fiction library

ochiBan

Intention good. Execution bad.

Reviewed in Germany on November 13, 2022

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The author intends to introduce the highly developed and advanced culture of ancient Iran to an audience, that currently experiences the country as a radical theocracy.
In his quest to “set the record straight” the author is misled by his own intention to relinquish sound historical craftmanship. Since he does not use citations, it remains indistinguishable where facts, conjecture and imaginative extrapolation are told.
As a historically inspired novel this would be good book. As a history of Iran the book is biased and casual.

Long Review:
I was intrigued by the enthusiasm Professor Llewellyn-Jones displays for the ancient history of Iran. He obviously is fond of Iran, its history and heritage. (It is amusing to see, that he refers to Alexander, not with his commonly used cognomen “the great”, but as the “Macedonian”, as I learned it from my mother, when we talked about history). For someone interested in Iranian history and emotionally tied to Iran, the author attempts to resurrect this historical period in its splendor and importance. He claims to use original Iranian sources and archeological findings, to hear the “Persian” side of the story. Particularly in the middle section he cites the Persepolis clay tablets extensively, which results in an interesting description of “every day life”. However, these information pertains mostly to administrative issues and expenditure, which allow deductions as to societal roles of the Kings spouses, religion and court procedure. (By the way: these aspects are better discussed by the same author in “King and Court in ancient Persia” 2013, from which significant portions derive, however with more historical rigor in that earlier book).
The first and third sections, which deal with politics and historical events are to be found in every book on early Iranian History: Greek sources are quoted and critically discussed as to their skewed representation, the great royal inscriptions are cited, stressing their political agenda, which are sometimes counterfactual.
While Professor Llewellyn-Jones states, that we need to dig“… deep through the layers of fantasy and fiction…” in the work of Herodot, he takes every opportunity to colorfully describe motivations, actions and thoughts of protagonists. Since he refrains from citing literature in the narrative, it remains to the reader to decide whether he believes such a story, or discards them. This is very unfortunate! In a historical work, which claims to “set the record right” a more rigid adherence to historical craft should be displayed. For instance the author commences the chapter on Xerxes Greek campaign with: “Persian sources say absolutely nothing of Xerxes's Greek war.” (p.245). This does not preclude him from summarizing: “The Persians (at least in their official presentation) did not consider themselves defeated by the Greeks.” (p261) Since there are no citations, as to how the author came to this conclusion, there is no way, to follow his train of thoughts. To cite an inscription, where Xerxes speaks about one [not identified country] (p262) is not enough.
There are numerous examples throughout the book.
The above mentioned book from 2013 adheres to standards of scientific writing, so why did the author and the publisher choose to harm their intended goal, to “obtain historical justice” in such a way?!?
In order to enable the reader to decide, whether a description is based on facts or conjecture, proper source identification is necessary. Only with sound historical knowledge the reader can distinguish the places where the author leaves the track of history and enters fiction. It is very disappointing.

One person found this helpful

mahdieh

Informative and beautifully written book

Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2024

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I can’t stop reading this beautifully written masterpiece. It is a story of Old Persian age with a glimpse of current Iran! Thank you Lloyd Llewellyn 👍👍🙏🙏

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Augustus Xavier Argead

READ IT

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 29, 2024

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If you are a historian and want to learn something about Persians this book is for you

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