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War and Peace in the Ancient World

Kurt A Raaflaub author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Published:26th Jan '07

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War and Peace in the Ancient World cover

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

"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

ISBN: 9781405145251

Dimensions: 254mm x 178mm x 28mm

Weight: 835g

400 pages