A sweeping, historical overview of the ancient world links historical events from Europe and the Middle East to the coast of China, offering an in-depth geography of how the events occurred, detailed timelines, an analysis of cultural interconnections, profiles of key figures, and a study of literary, artistic, cultural, political, economic, and social institutions. A lively and engaging narrative history showing the common threads in the cultures that gave birth to our own. List of Maps xv List of Illustrations xix Acknowledgments xxi Preface xxiii Part One THE EDGE OF HISTORY 1(40) The Origin of Kingship Just north of the Persian Gulf, in the very distant past 3(7) The Earliest Story Sumer, slightly later 10(7) The Rise of Aristocracy Sumer, 3600 BC 17(5) The Creation of Empire The Nile river valley, 3200 BC 22(8) The Age of Iron The Indus river valley, 3102 BC 30(6) The Philosopher King The Yellow river valley, 2852--2205 BC 36(5) Part Two FIRSTS 41(104) The First Written Records Sumer and Egypt, 3800--2400 BC 43(8) The First War Chronicles Sumer, 2700 BC 51(10) The First Civil War Egypt, 3100--2686 BC 61(10) The First Epic Hero Sumer, 2600 BC 71(7) The First Victory over Death Egypt, 2686--2566 BC 78(10) The First Reformer Sumer, 2350 BC 88(7) The First Military Dictator Sumer, 2334--2279 BC 95(9) The First Planned Cities The Indus river valley, 2300 BC 104(6) The First Collapse of Empire Egypt, 2450--2184 BC 110(8) The First Barbarian Invasions Akkadia, Sumer, and Elam, 2278--2154 BC 118(9) The First Monotheist Sumer and the Western Semitic lands, 2166--1991 BC 127(12) The First Environmental Disaster Sumer, 2037--2004 BC 139(6) Part Three STRUGGLE 145(152) The Battle for Reunification Egypt, 2181--1782 BC 147(8) The Mesopotamian Mixing Bowl Mesopotamia, 2004--1750 BC 155(9) The Overthrow of the Xia The Yellow river valley, 1766 BC 164(6) Hammurabi's Empire Babylonia, 1781--1712 BC 170(8) The Hyksos Seize Egypt Egypt, 1782--1630 BC 178(5) King Minos of Crete Crete, 1720--1628 BC 183(9) The Harappan Disintegration India, 1750--1575 BC 192(4) The Rise of the Hittites Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, 1790--1560 BC 196(6) Ahmose Expels the Hyksos Egypt, 1570--1546 BC 202(4) Usurpation and Revenge Egypt, 1546--1446 BC 206(7) The Three-Way Contest Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor, 1525--1400 BC 213(6) The Shifting Capitals of the Shang China, 1753--1400 BC 219(5) The Mycenaeans of Greece Crete and Greece, 1600--1400 BC 224(5) Struggle of the Gods Egypt, 1386--1340 BC 229(9) Wars and Marriages Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor, 1340--1321 BC 238(8) The Greatest Battle in Very Ancient Times Egypt, Asia Minor, and Assyria, 1321--1212 BC 246(7) The Battle for Troy Asia Minor and Greece, 1260--1230 BC 253(6) The First Historical King of China China, 1200 BC 259(5) The Rig Veda India, 1200 BC 264(3) The Wheel Turns Again Asia Minor, Assyria, Babylonia, and Egypt, 1212--1190 BC 267(8) The End of the New Kingdom Egypt, 1185--1070 BC 275(6) The Dark Age of Greece Greece, 1200--1050 BC 281(4) The Dark Age of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia, 1119--1032 BC 285(6) The Fall of the Shang China, 1073--1040 BC 291(6) Part Four EMPIRES 297(240) The Mandate of Heaven China, 1040--918 BC 299(7) The Bharata War Northern India, 950 BC 306(8) The Son of David Israel, Arabia, and Egypt, 1050--931 BC 314(14) From Western to Eastern Zhou China, 918--771 BC 328(7) The Assyrian Renaissance Assyria, Israel, Egypt, and Phoenicia, 934--841 BC 335(9) New Peoples Assyria, Babylonia, and Greece, 850--800 BC 344(10) Trading Posts and Colonies Italy and Greece, 800--720 BC 354(9) Old Enemies Assyria, Urartu, Syria, and Babylonia, 783--727 BC 363(8) Kings of Assyria and Babylon Assyria, Israel, and Egypt, 726--705 BC 371(11) Spectacular Defeat Assyria, Babylonia, Judah, and Egypt, 704--681 BC 382(9) The Decline of the King China, 771--628 BC 391(8) The Assyrians in Egypt Assyria, Babylonia, Phrygia, Lydia, and Egypt, 681--653 BC 399(11) Medes and Persians Assyria, Babylonia, Elam, Media, and Persia, 653--625 BC 410(8) Conquest and Tyranny Greece, Asia Minor, and North Africa, 687--622 BC 418(13) The Beginnings and End of Empire Italy, Assyria, Babylonia, Judah, and Egypt, 650--605 BC 431(12) A Brief Empire Babylonia, Egypt, and Media, 605--580 BC 443(12) Cyrus the Great Babylonia, Lydia, Arabia, Judah, Media, and Persia, 580--539 BC 455(14) The Republic of Rome North Africa, Italy, and Asia Minor, 550--501 BC 469(13) Kingdoms and Reformers India, 560--500 BC 482(9) The Power of Duty and the Art of War China, 551--475 BC 491(9) The Spreading Persian Empire Persia, Egypt, and India, 539--514 BC 500(14) The Persian Wars Persia, Egypt, and Greece, 527--479 BC 514(23) Part Five IDENTITY 537(242) The Peloponnesian Wars Persia, Egypt, Greece, and Sicily, 478--404 BC 539(16) The First Sack of Rome Italy, 495--390 BC 555(8) The Rise of the Ch'in China, 403--325 BC 563(7) The Macedonian Conquerors Persia, Egypt, Greece, and Macedonia, 404--336 BC 570(14) Rome Tightens Its Grasp Italy, Sicily, and Carthage, 367--290 BC 584(7) Alexander and the Wars of the Successors The known world, 336--272 BC 591(18) The Mauryan Epiphany India, 297--231 BC 609(4) First Emperor, Second Dynasty China, 286--202 BC 613(9) The Wars of the Sons The known world, 285--202 BC 622(16) Roman Liberators and Seleucid Conquerors Greece, Macedonia, the Seleucid Empire, and India, 200--168 BC 638(11) Between East and West China, Bactria, Parthia, and India, 200--110 BC 649(10) Breaking the System Italy, Sicily, Greece, and North Africa, 157--121 BC 659(9) The Problems of Prosperity Italy, North Africa, and China, 118--73 BC 668(12) New Men Italy, Britain, Gaul, Egypt, and Parthia, 78--44 BC 680(17) Empire The Roman Empire, Parthia, and Egypt, 44 BC--AD 14 697(15) Eclipse and Restoration China, 33 BC--AD 75 712(5) The Problem of Succession The Roman Empire, Parthia, and India, AD 14--69 717(18) The Edges of the Roman World The Roman Empire, Parthia, and Britain, AD 70--132 735(11) Children on the Throne China, AD 88--182 746(5) The Mistake of Inherited Power The Roman Empire, Parthia, and China, AD 138--222 751(13) Savior of the Empire The Roman Empire, Parthia, and the Persian Empire, AD 222--312 764(15) Notes 779(38) Works Cited 817(14) Permissions 831(2) Index 833