The seven great monarchies of the ancient eastern world: or, The history, geography and antiquities of Chald�a, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, and Sassanian or New Persian empire (Volume II)

Across the ancient Near East, power was written in clay, carved in stone, and fought for on the plains of Mesopotamia and Iran. Empires rise; their records remain. In Volume II of George Rawlinson's landmark Victorian scholarly history, the past is mapped with a historian's discipline and a traveller's eye: historical geography antiquities, dynastic change, and the material traces that let modern readers glimpse lost courts and conquered cities. From Assyrian empire history and Babylon and Chaldea antiquities to the long arc of Parthian and Sassanian Persia, Rawlinson draws together classical testimony and the emerging discoveries of his age to build a coherent narrative of ancient empires history. Published at the height of Victorian scholarship, it shaped English views of the ancient Near East and still stands as a history reference for study. The result is a university ancient history text in spirit, yet readable enough for anyone who wants a firm orientation to the politics, religions, and landscapes that shaped the wider Mediterranean world. It also offers valuable biblical archaeology background, showing why these kingdoms mattered to later memory and scripture. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. A classic history reference and a handsome addition to a library of serious non-fiction, it belongs on the shelf of the casual history reader and the devoted collector seeking a complete ancient empires series.