From Cyrus to Alexander by Pierre Briant

From Cyrus to Alexander by Pierre Briant

Around 550 B.C.E. the Persian people—who were previously practically unknown in the annals of history—emerged from their base in southern Iran (Fars) and engaged in a monumental adventure that, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great and his successors, culminated in the creation of an immense Empire that stretched from central Asia to Upper Egypt, from the Indus to the Danube. The Persian (or Achaemenid, named for its reigning dynasty) Empire assimilated an astonishing diversity of lands, peoples, languages, and cultures. This conquest of Near Eastern lands completely altered the history of the world: for the first time, a monolithic State as vast as the future Roman Empire arose, expanded, and matured in the course of more than two centuries (530–330) and endured until the death of Alexander the Great (323), who from a geopolitical perspective was “the last of the Achaemenids.” Even today, the remains of the Empire-the terraces, palaces, reliefs, paintings, and enameled bricks of Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Susa; the impressive royal tombs of Naqsh-i Rustam; the monumental statue of Darius the Great-serve to remind visitors of the power and unprecedented luxury of the Great Kings and their loyal courtiers (the “Faithful Ones”). Though long eclipsed and overshadowed by the towering prestige of the “ancient Orient” and “eternal Greece,” Achaemenid history has emerged into fresh light during the last two decades. Freed from the tattered rags of “Oriental decadence” and “Asiatic stagnation,” research has also benefited from a continually growing number of discoveries that have provided important new evidence-including texts, as well as archaeological, numismatic, and iconographic artifacts. The evidence that this book assembles is voluminous and diverse: the citations of ancient documents and of the archaeological evidence permit the reader to follow the author in his role as a historian who, across space and time, attempts to understand how such an Empire emerged, developed, and faded. Though firmly grounded in the evidence, the author’s discussions do not avoid persistent questions and regularly engages divergent interpretations and alternative hypotheses. This book is without precedent or equivalent, and also offers an exhaustive bibliography and thorough indexes. The French publication of this magisterial work in 1996 was acclaimed in newspapers and literary journals. Now Histoire de l’Empire Perse: De Cyrus a Alexandre is translated in its entirety in a revised edition, with the author himself reviewing the translation, correcting the original edition, and adding new documentation. Pierre Briant, Chaire Histoire et civilisation du monde achémenide et de l’empire d’Alexandre, Collège de France, is a specialist in the history of the Near East during the era of the Persian Empire and the conquests of Alexander. He is the author of numerous books. Peter T. Daniels, the translator, is an independent scholar, editor, and translator who studied at Cornell University and the University of Chicago. He lives and works in New York City.

"..this is a magnificent history of the Persian Empire. In my opinion, it is a model of history writing. Briant wrestles with all the problems we have in trying to write a history of the times, does not reject sources out of hand but handles everything critically, and makes clear the basis of his own opinions. If I can do half as well in my own history of Persian-period Judah, I would be well satisfied." --Reviewer: Lester L. Grabbe of the University of Hull in Review of Biblical Literature 05/2003 "Briant's From Cyrus to Alexander is, without question, the most compendious, complete, up-to-date, and ground-breaking history of the Persian Empire yet to appear. No serious research into the Persian period can proceed without taking Briant's thorough analyses into account... [This book] must now be considered the primary source for Persian history and historiographical research. No other resource can compare to this volume's coverage and analysis of the period's difficult historical issues. Briant deftly uses a myriad of ancient and modern sources to weave a most fascinating historical portrait of the Persian Empire." --Reviewer: John W. Betlyon of Penn State University in BASOR 330 (2002) "Book Reviews" "The history of the first Persian Empire was long known only from the distorted picture given in the Old Testament and in the works of classical authors. From the second half of the last century this traditional picture has been slowly changing thanks to new archaeological and written sources. In 1996 P. Briant presented a new interpretation of Achaemenid history based on an analysis of primary sources and on a discussion of secondary sources. It is not a narrative history of the Persian Empire, but rather a deep analysis of the character of Achaemenid rule over large territories marked by great ethnocultural diversity and a variety of forms of local organization. The author critically approaches many long held opinions by confronting various, often conflicting sources. This monumental work, first published in French, is now available in an excellent English translation." --Jana Pecirkova, Archiv orientalni 71 2003

Pierre Briant, Chaire Histoire et civilisation du monde achemenide et de l'empire d'Alexandre, College de France, is a specialist in the history of the Near East during the era of the Persian Empire and the conquests of Alexander. He is the author of numerous books. Peter T. Daniels, the translator, is an independent scholar, editor, and translator who studied at Cornell University and the University of Chicago. He lives and works in New York City.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781575061207
ISBN 10	1575061201
Title	From Cyrus to Alexander
Author	Pierre Briant
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Pennsylvania State University Press
Year published	2002-06-30
Number of pages	1216
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.