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The first book-length overview of agricultural development in the ancient worldA Companion to Ancient Agriculture is an authoritative overview of the history and development of agriculture in the ancient world. Focusing primarily on the Near East and Mediterranean regions, this unique text explores the cultivation of the soil and rearing of animals through centuries of human civilization--from the Neolithic beginnings of agriculture to Late Antiquity. Chapters written by the leading scholars in their fields present a multidisciplinary examination of the agricultural methods and influences that have enabled humans to survive and prosper.Consisting of thirty-one chapters, the Companion presents essays on a range of topics that include economic-political, anthropological, zooarchaeological, ethnobotanical, and archaeobotanical investigation of ancient agriculture. Chronologically-organized chapters offer in-depth discussions of agriculture in Bronze Age Egypt and Mesopotamia, Hellenistic Greece and Imperial Rome, Iran and Central Asia, and other regions. Sections on comparative agricultural history discuss agriculture in the Indian subcontinent and prehistoric China while an insightful concluding section helps readers understand ancient agriculture from a modern perspective.* Fills the need for a full-length biophysical and social overview of ancient agriculture* Provides clear accounts of the current state of research written by experts in their respective areas* Places ancient Mediterranean agriculture in conversation with contemporary practice in Eastern and Southern Asia* Includes coverage of analysis of stable isotopes in ancient agricultural cultivation* Offers plentiful illustrations, references, case studies, and further reading suggestionsA Companion to Ancient Agriculture is a much-needed resource for advanced students, instructors, scholars, and researchers in fields such as agricultural history, ancient economics, and in broader disciplines including classics, archaeology, and ancient history.

A Companion to Ancient Epic presents for the first time a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of ancient Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman epic. It offers a multidisciplinary discussion of both long-standing ideas and newer perspectives.

A Companion to the Ancient Near East offers students and general readers a comprehensive overview of Near Eastern civilization from the Bronze Age to the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Recent years have seen powerful developments in the study of archaic Greece, with the emergence of new areas of interest, new ways of thinking about old problems, radical new approaches to the sources and new evidence.

A Companion to the Ancient Greek Language gives a comprehensive account of the language of Ancient Greek civilization in a single volume with contributions from leading international scholars. This collection of 36 original essays covers the historical, geographical, sociolinguistic, and literary perspectives of the language.

The Blackwell Companion to Greek Tragedy provides readers with a fundamental grounding in Greek tragedy, and also introduces them to the various methodologies and the lively critical dialogue that characterize the study of Greek tragedy today.

This Companion provides scholarly yet accessible new interpretations of Greek history of the Classical period, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 B.C. to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.

A Companion to the Neronian Age is an up-to-date, interdisciplinary and comprehensive collection of essays on the literature, history, archaeology and the reception of the Neronian Age.

Satire, written in the verse of heroic epic but focused on the evils of contemporary society, was ancient Rome's original contribution to world literature. Two great practitioners of this art, Persius and Juvenal, wrote under the early emperors. Inspired by their Republican predecessors, both radically reinvented the genre.

A COMPANION TO THE ACHAEMENID PERSIAN EMPIREA comprehensive review of the political, cultural, social, economic and religious history of the Achaemenid EmpiremOften called the first world empire, the Achaemenid Empire is rooted in older Near Eastern traditions. A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire offers a perspective in which the history of the empire is embedded in the preceding and subsequent epochs. In this way, the traditions that shaped the Achaemenid Empire become as visible as the powerful impact it had on further historical development. But the work does not only break new ground in this respect, but also in the fact that, in addition to written testimonies of all kinds, it also considers material tradition as an equal factor in historical reconstruction. This comprehensive two-volume set features contributions by internationally-recognized experts that offer balanced coverage of the whole of the empire from Anatolia and Egypt across western Asia to northern India and Central Asia.Comprehensive in scope, the Companion provides readers with a panoramic view of the diversity, richness, and complexity of the Achaemenid Empire, dealing with all the many aspects of history, event history, administration, economy, society, communication, art, science and religion, illustrating the multifaceted nature of the first true empire.A unique historical account presented in its multiregional dimensions, this important resource* deals with many aspects of history, administration, economy, society, communication, art, science and religion* it deals with topics that have only recently attracted interest such as court life, leisure activities, gender roles, and more* examines a variety of available sources to consider those predecessors who influenced Achaemenid structure, ideology, and self-expression* contains the study of Nachleben and the history of perception up to the present day* offers a spectrum of opinions in disputed fields of research, such as the interpretation of the imagery of Achaemenid art, or questions of religion* includes extensive bibliographies in each chapter for use as starting points for further research* devotes special interest to the east of the empire, which is often neglected in comparison to the western territoriesPart of the acclaimed Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series, A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire is an indispensable work for students, instructors, and scholars of Persian and ancient world history, particularly the First Persian Empire.

Translation studies can be situated as either a complementary field or an aspect of classical receptions, but there are certaindifficulties in how translation studies can be suitably adapted for importation into classical studies; difficulties which are not currently addressed in a systematic form for graduate students or researchers wishing to gain a comprehensive orientation to classics studies. The proposed Companion would address these difficulties by providing the first systematic work to translation studies as applied to classics.The proposed Companion attempts to address this lack by providing the first systematic work that would both orient the new-comer to translation studies as applied to classics and provide exemplary, state-of-the-art discussions and case studies on how translation is a central element in reception.

An innovative approach to the study of ten centuries of Jewish culture and history A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism explores the Jewish people, their communities, and various manifestations of their religious and cultural expressions from the third century BCE to the seventh century CE. Presenting a collection of 30 original essays written by noted scholars in the field, this companion provides an expansive examination of ancient Jewish life, identity, gender, sacred and domestic spaces, literature, language, and theological questions throughout late ancient Jewish history and historiography. Editors Gwynn Kessler and Naomi Koltun-Fromm situate the volume within Late Antiquity, enabling readers to rethink traditional chronological, geographic, and political boundaries. The Companion incorporates a broad methodology, drawing from social history, material history and culture, and literary studies to consider the diverse forms and facets of Jews and Judaism within multiple contexts of place, culture, and history. Divided into five parts, thematically-organized essays discuss topics including the spaces where Jews lived, worked, and worshiped, Jewish languages and literatures, ethnicities and identities, and questions about gender and the body central to Jewish culture and Judaism. Offering original scholarship and fresh insights on late ancient Jewish history and culture, this unique volume:  Offers a one-volume exploration of "second temple," "Greco-Roman," and "rabbinic" periods and sourcesExplores Jewish life across most of the geographic places where Jews or Judaeans were known to have livedFeatures original maps of areas cited in every essay, including maps of Jewish settlement throughout Late AntiquityIncludes an outline of major historical events, further readings, and full references A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism: 3rd Century BCE - 7th Century CE is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and scholars of Jewish studies, religion, literature, and ethnic identity, as well as general readers with interest in Jewish history, world religions, Classics, and Late Antiquity.

The new edition of the popular survey of Near Eastern civilization from the Bronze Age to the era of Alexander the Great A Companion to the Ancient Near East explores the history of the region from 4400 BCE to the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BCE. Original and revised essays from a team of distinguished scholars from across disciplines address subjects including the politics, economics, architecture, and heritage of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Part of the Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World series, this acclaimed single-volume reference combines lively writing with engaging and relatable topics to immerse readers in this fascinating period of Near East history.  The new second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to include new developments in relevant fields, particularly archaeology, and expand on themes of interest to contemporary students. Clear, accessible chapters offer fresh discussions on the history of the family and gender roles, the literature, languages, and religions of the region, pastoralism, medicine and philosophy, and borders, states, and warfare. New essays highlight recent discoveries in cuneiform texts, investigate how modern Egyptians came to understand their ancient history, and examine the place of archaeology among the historical disciplines. This volume: Provides substantial new and revised content covering topics such as social conflict, kingship, cosmology, work, trade, and lawCovers the civilizations of the Sumerians, Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Israelites, and Persians, emphasizing social and cultural historyExamines the legacy of the Ancient Near East in the medieval and modern worldsOffers a uniquely broad geographical, chronological, and topical rangeIncludes a comprehensive bibliographical guide to Ancient Near East studies as well as new and updated references and reading suggestions Suitable for use as both a primary reference or as a supplement to a chronologically arranged textbook, A Companion to the Ancient Near East, 2nd Edition is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduates, beginning graduate students, instructors in the field, and scholars from other disciplines.

The first book-length overview of agricultural development in the ancient worldA Companion to Ancient Agriculture is an authoritative overview of the history and development of agriculture in the ancient world. Focusing primarily on the Near East and Mediterranean regions, this unique text explores the cultivation of the soil and rearing of animals through centuries of human civilization--from the Neolithic beginnings of agriculture to Late Antiquity. Chapters written by the leading scholars in their fields present a multidisciplinary examination of the agricultural methods and influences that have enabled humans to survive and prosper.Consisting of thirty-one chapters, the Companion presents essays on a range of topics that include economic-political, anthropological, zooarchaeological, ethnobotanical, and archaeobotanical investigation of ancient agriculture. Chronologically-organized chapters offer in-depth discussions of agriculture in Bronze Age Egypt and Mesopotamia, Hellenistic Greece and Imperial Rome, Iran and Central Asia, and other regions. Sections on comparative agricultural history discuss agriculture in the Indian subcontinent and prehistoric China while an insightful concluding section helps readers understand ancient agriculture from a modern perspective.* Fills the need for a full-length biophysical and social overview of ancient agriculture* Provides clear accounts of the current state of research written by experts in their respective areas* Places ancient Mediterranean agriculture in conversation with contemporary practice in Eastern and Southern Asia* Includes coverage of analysis of stable isotopes in ancient agricultural cultivation* Offers plentiful illustrations, references, case studies, and further reading suggestionsA Companion to Ancient Agriculture is a much-needed resource for advanced students, instructors, scholars, and researchers in fields such as agricultural history, ancient economics, and in broader disciplines including classics, archaeology, and ancient history.

A COMPANION TO AESCHYLUSA COMPANION TO AESCHYLUSIn A Companion to Aeschylus, a team of eminent Aeschyleans and brilliant younger scholars delivers an insightful and original multi-authored examination--the first comprehensive one in English--of the works of the earliest surviving Greek tragedian. This book explores Aeschylean drama, and its theatrical, historical, philosophical, religious, and socio-political contexts, as well as the receptions and influence of Aeschylus from antiquity to the present day.This companion offers readers thorough examinations of Aeschylus as a product of his time, including his place in the early years of the Athenian democracy and his immediate and ongoing impact on tragedy. It also provides comprehensive explorations of all the surviving plays, including Prometheus Bound, which many scholars have concluded is not by Aeschylus.A Companion to Aeschylus is an ideal resource for students encountering the work of Aeschylus for the first time as well as more advanced scholars seeking incisive treatment of his individual works, their cultural context and their enduring significance. Written in an accessible format, with the Greek translated into English and technical terminology avoided as much as possible, the book belongs in the library of anyone looking for a fresh and authoritative account of works of continuing interest and importance to readers and theatre-goers alike.

"The first part of the book, a "Historical Survey," focuses on changing issues in strategy and grand strategy-on Greek motives, goals, and responses to military success and failure, the Macedonians, Persians, Romans, and Carthaginians being given due weight. These five chapters cover chronological fundamentals, but deal with modalities and patterns more than with campaigns, and with campaigns more than with battles. Johannes Heinrichs, in "Bronze Age and Early Greek Wars," sees Mycenaean warfare in terms of "the centralized organization of life," then deals with Homer as evidence of an ideological rather than sociological character. Among late Archaic Wars, Sparta's efforts to dominate the southern Peloponnesus illustrate a grand strategy that evolves from annexation to domination. The next chapter, Sabine Mèuller's "The Persian Wars to Alexander," gives a holistic account of the conflicts between the Achaemenids and both the Greeks and Macedonians, one that dismantles propaganda and rationalizations in order to demonstrate interdependence as well as rivalry. Frances Pownall's chapter on "Internal Wars from the 'First Peloponnesian War' to Chaeronea" covers much the same period but centers on alliance systems and spheres of influence; one after another, the Greeks states failed to implement strategies that would that would do more collective good than harm. She emphasizes Persia's role in this sequence of events"--

Discover a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary handbook exploring several sub-regions and key themes perfect for a new generation of studentsA Companion to the Hellenistic and Roman Near East delivers the first complete handbook in the area of Hellenistic and Roman Near Eastern history. The book is divided into sections dealing with interdisciplinary source material, each with a great deal of regional variety and engaging with several key themes. It integrates discussions of the classical Near East with the typical undergraduate teaching syllabus in the Anglo-Saxon world.All contributors in this edited volume are leading scholars in their field, with a combination of established researchers and academics, and emerging voices. Contributors hail from countries across several continents, and work in various disciplines, including Ancient History, Archaeology, Art History, Epigraphy, Numismatics, and Oriental Studies.In addition to furthering the integration of the Levantine lands in the classical periods into the teaching canon, the book offers readers:* The first comprehensively structured Companion and edited handbook on the Hellenistic and Roman Near East* Extensive regional and sub-regional variety in the cross-disciplinary source material* A way to compensate for the recent destruction of monuments in the region and the new generation of researchers' inability to examine these historical stages in person* An integration of the study of the Hellenistic and Roman Near East with traditional undergraduate teaching syllabi in the Anglo-Saxon worldPerfect for undergraduate history and classics students studying the Near East, A Companion to the Hellenistic and Roman Near East will also earn a place in the libraries of graduate students and scholars working within Near Eastern studies, as well as interested members of the public with a passion for history.

A Companion to the Flavian Age of Imperial Rome provides a systematic and comprehensive examination of the political, economic, social, and cultural nuances of the Flavian Age (69 96 CE).

A Companion to Marcus Aurelius presents the first comprehensive collection of essays to explore all essential facets relating to contemporary Marcus Aurelius studies.

A Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East is a comprehensive and authoritative overview of ancient material culture from the late Pleistocene to Late Antiquity. This expansive two-volume work includes sixty original essays from an international community of Ancient Near East scholars.

Das Achämenidenreich wird häufig als das erste Weltreich bezeichnet. Die Ursprünge liegen allerdings vielmehr in den Traditionen des Nahen Ostens, von denen einige erst kürzlich intensiv neu bewertet wurden. Dieses Fachbuch nähert sich dem Fachgebiet in einzigartiger und innovativer Weise und beschäftigt sich mit den Vorläufern, aus denen das Archämenidenreich seine Struktur, Ideologie, Selbstdarstellung ableitete. Dabei werden Schriftstücke und archäologische Quellen ausgewertet. Betrachtet werden das Erbe des Großreichs, die zeitgenössische, spätere und sogar heutige Wahrnehmung.A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire berücksichtigt sämtliche historische Quellen, auch archäologische Funde. Das Archämenidenreich wird vorrangig aus dem Blickwinkel seiner verschiedenen Zentren beleuchtet, wobei den vernachlässigten östlichen Gebieten ebenso viel Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wird wie den westlichen Teilen des Reiches, die häufiger Gegenstand der Forschung sind. Dabei wird nicht nur die politische Geschichte berücksichtigt. Die soziale, wirtschaftliche und religiöse Geschichte, Institutionen, Kunst und Wissenschaften werden ebenfalls untersucht mit dem Ziel, ein vollständiges Bild des persischen Reiches zu zeichnen und seine nachhaltige Bedeutung stärker in den Vordergrund zu rücken.

Covering the period from the death of Alexander the Great to the celebrated defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at the hands of Augustus, this book explores the world that Alexander created but did not live to see. It also features reading for courses on Hellenistic history.

This Companion provides a comprehensive review of the critical issues and approaches that have transformed scholarly understanding of Roman architecture in the last 20 years. It serves as an indispensable teaching and reference work for English-speaking undergraduates and graduates.

Comprising more than 40 essays by leading international scholars, this volume moves beyond a conventional focus on Greece and Rome and provides coverage of the many cultures within the ancient Mediterranean.

A Companion to Women in the Ancient World is the first interdisciplinary, methodologically-based collection of readings to address the study of women in the ancient world while weaving textual, visual, and archaeological evidence into its approach.

A COMPANION TO LATE ANCIENT JEWS AND JUDAISM THIRD CENTURY BCE TO SEVENTH CENTURY CE An innovative approach to the study of ten centuries of Jewish culture and history A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism explores the Jewish people, their communities, and various manifestations of their religious and cultural expressions from the third century BCE to the seventh century CE. Presenting a collection of 30 original essays written by noted scholars in the field, this companion provides an expansive examination of ancient Jewish life, identity, gender, sacred and domestic spaces, literature, language, and theological questions throughout late ancient Jewish history and historiography. Editors Naomi Koltun-Fromm and Gwynn Kessler situate the volume within Late Antiquity, enabling readers to rethink traditional chronological, geographic, and political boundaries. The Companion incorporates a broad methodology, drawing from social history, material history and culture, and literary studies to consider the diverse forms and facets of Jews and Judaism within multiple contexts of place, culture, and history. Divided into five parts, thematically-organized essays discuss topics including the spaces where Jews lived, worked, and worshiped, Jewish languages and literatures, ethnicities and identities, and questions about gender and the body central to Jewish culture and Judaism. Offering original scholarship and fresh insights on late ancient Jewish history and culture, this unique volume: Offers a one-volume exploration of "second temple," "Greco-Roman," and "rabbinic" periods and sources Explores Jewish life across most of the geographic places where Jews or Judaeans were known to have lived Features original maps of areas cited in every essay, including maps of Jewish settlement throughout Late Antiquity Includes an outline of major historical events, further readings, and full references A Companion to Late Ancient Jews and Judaism is a valuable resource for students, instructors, and scholars of Jewish studies, religion, literature, and ethnic identity, as well as general readers with interest in Jewish history, world religions, Classics, and Late Antiquity.

A COMPANION TO ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN MUSICA comprehensive guide to music in Classical Antiquity and beyondDrawing on the latest research on the topic, A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music provides a detailed overview of the most important issues raised by the study of ancient Greek and Roman music. An international panel of contributors, including leading experts as well as emerging voices in the field, examine the ancient 'Art of the Muses' from a wide range of methodological, theoretical, and practical perspectives.Written in an engaging and accessible style, this book explores the pervasive presence of the performing arts in ancient Greek and Roman culture--ranging from musical mythology to music theory and education, as well as archaeology and the practicalities of performances in private and public contexts. But this Companion also explores the broader roles played by music in the Graeco-Roman world, examining philosophical, psychological, medical and political uses of music in antiquity, and aspects of its cultural heritage in Mediaeval and Modern times.This book debunks common myths about Greek and Roman music, casting light on yet unanswered questions thanks to newly discovered evidence. Each chapter includes a discussion of the tools or methodologies that are most appropriate to address different topics, as well as detailed case studies illustrating their effectiveness. This book* Offers new research insights that will contribute to the future developments of the field, outlining new interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the importance of performing arts in the ancient world and its reception in modern culture* Traces the history and development of ancient Greek and Roman music, including their Near Eastern roots, following a thematic approach* Showcases contributions from a wide range of disciplines and international scholarly traditions* Examines the political, social and cultural implications of music in antiquity, including ethnicity, regional identity, gender and ideology* Presents original diagrams and transcriptions of ancient scales, rhythms, and extant scores that facilitate access to these vital aspects of ancient music for scholars as well as practicing musiciansWritten for a broad range of readers including classicists, musicologists, art historians, and philosophers, A Companion to Ancient Greek and Roman Music provides a rich, informative and thought-provoking picture of ancient music in Classical Antiquity and beyond.

A Companion to Greek Literature presents a comprehensive introduction to the wide range of texts and literary forms produced in the Greek language over the course of a millennium beginning from the 6th century BCE up to the early years of the Byzantine Empire.* Features contributions from a wide range of established experts and emerging scholars of Greek literature* Offers comprehensive coverage of the many genres and literary forms produced by the ancient Greeks--including epic and lyric poetry, oratory, historiography, biography, philosophy, the novel, and technical literature* Includes readings that address the production and transmission of ancient Greek texts, historic reception, individual authors, and much more* Explores the subject of ancient Greek literature in innovative ways