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Some suggestions Tom Send a noteboard - 14/12/2011 10:48:37 PM
1. Ancient Egypt

I'm not sure how well you know ancient Egypt. Nicholas Reeves' biography of Akhenaten is fantastic, but it presumes some knowledge. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, edited by Ian Shaw, is a good thorough work but may be a bit dry. Gardiner's history hasn't weathered the developments as well as I would have hoped, but he still is a gold standard in Egyptology. Toby Wilkinson's Lives of the Ancient Egyptians is a good sociological history for beginners. If you're looking for more specialized works I could recommend dozens of good books that are more in-depth in particular periods. If I hadn't become a lawyer (or perhaps a Russian history Ph.D.), I would have become an Egyptologist, so my Egypt library is huge.

2. The Roman Empire

Gibbon, of course, if you want later history. Despite its age it is remarkable in its insight. I would also recommend Mommsen for the early (pre-Imperial) history, though he has a distaste for democracy as he was pro-Prussian. The great thing about Rome, though, is that there are plenty of classical writers that you can read - Suetonius, Tacitus, Josephus (for the Jewish part), or for the pre-Imperial history, Livy. Caesar's memoirs of the Gallic and civil wars are great.

3. China (pre-20th Century, whether ancient or closer to modern)

Fairbank's history is pretty good, Gernet is exhaustive. Li Zhisui's book Private Life of Chairman Mao is wonderful for that portion of history, and there are tons of specialized books.

Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.

ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius

Ummaka qinnassa nīk!

*MySmiley*
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I'm looking for some history recommendations. Nate - 13/12/2011 06:02:35 PM 1283 Views
What are you looking for in "Roman Empire"? Jacob - 13/12/2011 06:38:34 PM 874 Views
Something fairly broad to start. Nate - 13/12/2011 06:45:32 PM 841 Views
Okay... (not a recommendation yet) Jacob - 13/12/2011 06:51:53 PM 824 Views
Yeah. Nate - 13/12/2011 07:33:55 PM 768 Views
Jacob - 13/12/2011 08:43:45 PM 850 Views
Re: Yeah. Macharius - 13/12/2011 09:58:54 PM 958 Views
Do you prefer your histories written like a narrative? Ghavrel - 14/12/2011 03:13:28 AM 805 Views
As long as they're readable. Nate - 15/12/2011 03:24:12 PM 882 Views
General Roman Empire (and Ancient Greece) book: Rebekah - 14/12/2011 06:55:25 PM 922 Views
I forgot about Fox. That's a good recommendation. *NM* Tom - 14/12/2011 10:49:26 PM 319 Views
That sounds interesting. Nate - 15/12/2011 03:25:14 PM 755 Views
Frances Yates Camilla - 14/12/2011 08:05:17 PM 754 Views
Alas. Nate - 15/12/2011 03:26:56 PM 781 Views
Re: Alas. Camilla - 15/12/2011 04:28:55 PM 794 Views
Are you saying a woman can't be a fellow? That's awfully sexist of you. Nate - 15/12/2011 04:53:11 PM 891 Views
Here is the review Camilla - 15/12/2011 04:31:43 PM 777 Views
Some suggestions Tom - 14/12/2011 10:48:37 PM 851 Views
Re: Some suggestions Nate - 15/12/2011 03:37:31 PM 742 Views
A recommendation for Rome. Mats imaginary friend - 15/12/2011 07:23:25 AM 981 Views
That could be a good option. Nate - 15/12/2011 03:42:04 PM 694 Views
Re: An introduction for China RomaVenkat - 29/12/2011 01:37:12 AM 741 Views
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