War and Peace in the Ancient World - (Ancient World: Comparative Histories) by Kurt A Raaflaub (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This book is the first to focus on war and peace in the ancient world from a global perspective.

• The first book to focus on war and peace in the ancient world
  
• Takes a global perspective, covering a large number of early civilizations, from China, India and West Asia, through the Mediterranean to the Americas
  
• Features contributions from nineteen distinguished scholars, all of whom are experts in their fields
  
• Offers remarkable insights into the different ways in which ancient societies dealt with a common human challenge
  
• Requires no prior historical knowledge, making it suitable for non-specialists

From the Back Cover

This book is the first to focus on war and peace in the ancient world from a global perspective. 19 distinguished scholars, all of whom are experts in their fields, discuss different aspects of this fascinating subject in relation to a large number of early civilizations, from China and India through West Asia (Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Hittites, Israel, Persia, and early Islam) to the Mediterranean (Greece, Rome, and early Christianity) and the Americas (the Aztecs and the Iroquois Peace League).

The book demonstrates that ancient societies, no less than modern ones, suffered from the losses and destructions caused by war, and yearned for peace and prosperity. It offers remarkable insights into the different responses ancient societies developed in order not only to defend their territory, but also to avoid war and restore peace. Some early societies, the volume reveals, even developed an explicit public discourse on war and peace, and embedded peace in an ideological or religious framework.

Review Quotes

"This volume brings together an unparalleled wealth of evidence. It combines close analysis of the workings of international relations with generous quotation of sources which illuminate a staggering variety of attitudes to war and peace. Anyone who still believes that the quest for peace is a modern phenomenon is in for a surprise. There is something fascinating and eye-opening here for every reader."
Hans van Wees, University College London

"An outstanding collection of essays by an extraordinary group of scholars from around the world. The depth and variety of expertise represented here is formidable. Required reading for students of war and diplomacy in antiquity."
Barry Strauss, Cornell University, author of The Trojan War: A New History

"This volume is most valuable in that it broadens the...perspective of most American historians of the ancient world...always well-written, jargon-free and stimulating."
New England Classical Journal

"The contributions provide a diverse array of perspectives on ancient warfare and peacemaking."
Journal of Military History

"Raaflaub succeeds in a fascinating tour of the main issues and topics covered in the volume."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"An excellently written and utterly stimulating book. It has been a delight and privilege to read it."
Geoff Harris, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban

"The great virtue of the volume is that ... the reader is necessarily forced to confront the differences between the ancient and the modern." Polis

About the Author

Kurt A. Raaflaub is David Herlihy University Professor and Professor of Classics and History at Brown University.