Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past by Paul Cartledge.
British scholar, author of The Spartans (RC 58416), searches for the historical Alexander the Great, blending classical accounts with the findings of modern researchers. Chronicles the major battles and conquests, appraises Alexander's personal and political beliefs, and assesses problems of historical interpretation. RC 59342, BR 15760.

Ancient Mysteries by Peter J. James.
A writer on ancient history and an archaeologist presents thirty-six historical enigmas, including the Star of Bethlehem, the lost continent of Atlantis, Robin Hood, and the legend of Dracula. The authors analyze the mystery surrounding these people, places, and events, and use scientific data to help explain them. RC 51088.

Antiquity: The Civilization of the Ancient World by Norman F. Cantor.
Survey of major Mediterranean empires from the birth of the Sumerians around 3500 B.C. in the Tigris-Euphrates valley to the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 453. Discusses principles of religion, philosophy, politics, health, and law developed in this period and their continuing influence on modern culture. RC 57301.

The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome by Michael Parenti.
Historian views Julius Caesar's murder by Roman senators on March 15, 44 B.C., as motivated by class warfare, not by a desire to restore republican liberties usurped by a despotic ruler. Posits that the emperor supported economic reforms to benefit the masses and was killed by nobles who resisted giving up power.  RC 57323.

China's Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture by Charles O. Hucker.
A history of China from the earliest civilization to 1850. Describes the society, government, philosophy, literature, and art under the different dynasties. RC 52942.

Herodotus: The Histories by Herodotus.
Excerpts from the writings of the fifth-century B.C. Greek historian and traveler known as the "father of history," translated by Walter Blanco. Describes the wars and worlds, even folktales and gossip, of ancient Greece, Persia, Egypt, and Italy. Edited by Walter Blanco and Jennifer Tolbert Roberts. RC 58293.

In Search of Ancient Ireland: The Origins of the Irish, from Neolithic Times to the Coming of the English by Carmel McCaffrey and Leo Eaton.
This companion to a PBS television series reviews the history, archaeology, and legends of Ireland from circa 8000 B.C. to the twelfth century A.D. The authors explore ancient sites throughout the countryside and reexamine history to distinguish between popular myth and reality. RC 58296.

The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus.
An account of the failed first-century Jewish rebellion against Rome, written by rebel leader Josephus, later a captive who changed loyalties. This account details Judean life under Roman rule, the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple, and the resistance at Masada. Portrays Herod, Emperor Vespasian, and others. Violence. RC 59890.

The Mummies of Urumchi by Elizabeth Wayland Barber.
Archaeologist and textile expert Barber discusses the mysteries of the well-preserved Caucasian mummies found in western China. With few artifacts other than clothing to aid her, Barber deduces much about the mummies' sheepherding culture and connections to Europe and the Middle East. RC 53733.

The Mummy in Ancient Egypt: Equipping the Dead for Eternity by Salima Ikram.
Examines funerary beliefs and customs through three thousand years of Egyptian history. Discusses what is known about mummies, from preservation of the body to modern DNA tests. Covers immediate appurtenances, including adornments, amulets, and jewelry, as well as containers for bodies and body parts, such as coffins, sarcophagi, and canopic jars. RC 51845.

The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games by Tony Perrottet.
Author of Route 66 A.D. (RC 56790) examines the experience of attending the ancient Olympic games as "a spectator, an athlete, or one of the overworked officials." Recreates five hectic days and nights in Olympia, Greece, where the games were a part of the many festivals taking place. RC 58757.

The Neanderthal's Necklace: In Search of the First Thinkers by Juan Luis de Arsuaga.
Spanish paleoanthropologist who co-directs excavations at Sierra de Atapuerca describes the demise of Europe's brute-strength Neanderthals as the more cunning, tool making Cro-Magnon immigrants began to thrive on the Iberian peninsula 40,000 years ago. Speculates on the role of ecosystems, adaptability, creative intelligence, and symbolic rituals in human evolution. RC 59766.

The Parthenon by Mary Beard.
A concise, lively history of the famed Greek temple. Classicist Mary Beard examines the building's construction in the fifth century B.C. and its subsequent roles as a Byzantine cathedral, Ottoman mosque, iconic ruin, and modern tourist destination. Also discusses its gradual degradation, twentieth-century restoration efforts, and tips for prospective visitors. RC 58072.

Route 66 A.D.: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists by Tony Perrottet.
Armed with history's oldest surviving guidebook, an Australian travel writer retraces tour routes of the first people to enjoy safe and easy recreational travel around their empire. Blending historical anecdotes, personal encounters, and commentary on the culture of tourism, Perrottet and his companion journey through Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. RC 56790.

Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill.
Following Desire of the Everlasting Hills (RC 50633) the author continues his survey of civilizations by tracing the fifth-century-B.C. Greek rise to ascendency in democracy, philosophy, poetry, drama, music, architecture and the arts, and warfare. Strong language. Hinges of History series, book 4. RC 57372.

Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen by Nicholas Clapp.
Author of The Road to Ubar (RC 46271) describes his travel adventures while investigating the cultural and historical mysteries surrounding the Queen of Sheba. Clapp’s quest takes him from Canterbury Cathedral to a Czech alchemist’s tower. He also ventures into Jerusalem, where the queen appeared before King Solomon, and into Ethiopia. RC 54276.

The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece, from Utopia to Crisis and Collapse by Paul Cartledge.
A history of the Spartans in southern Greece from around 1100 B.C. to their demise one thousand years later. Focuses on 480-360 B.C. spanning Sparta's repulse of Persian invaders, wars with Athens, and decline as a significant power. Studies the prominent role of women, training of warriors, important kings, and Sparta's influence on western civilization. RC 58416.

Tutankhamen: The Life and Death of the Boy-King by Christine El Mahdy.
An Egyptologist examines archaeological and historical evidence to reconstruct the life of the Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh. El Mahdy separates fact from legend as she describes Egyptian civilization based on evidence from Luxor in the fourteenth century B.C. Also provides details of British archaeologist Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb. RC 52444.

Valley of the Golden Mummies by Zahi A. Hawass.
An Egyptian archaeologist relates the 1999 discovery at the Bahariya Oasis of 105 complete mummies, some gilded, dating from the Greco-Roman period. Provides a firsthand report of the excavation and a history of mummification. Discusses the historical context of the find and its likely contribution to knowledge of the era. RC 55319.

Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga by William W. Fitzhugh and Elisabeth I. Ward.
In celebration of the 1,000-year anniversary of the arrival of the Vikings in North America, the Smithsonian Institution provides a history of these explorers, emphasizing their territorial expansionist aims. Uses information from manuscripts and oral tradition and data from archaeological sites and natural science. RC 52941.