Egypt, Greece, and Rome

Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean

By: Charles Freeman

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Long sources of mystery, imagination, and inspiration, the myths and history of the ancient Mediterranean have given rise to artistic, religious, cultural, and intellectual traditions that span the centuries. In this unique and comprehensive introduction to the region's three major civilizations, Egypt, Greece, and Rome draws a fascinating picture of the deep links between the cultures across the Mediterranean and explores the ways in which these civilizations continue to be influential to this day.

Beginning with the emergence of the earliest Egyptian civilization around 3500 BC, Charles Freeman follows the history of the Mediterranean over a span of four millennia to AD 600, beyond the fall of the Roman empire in the west to the emergence of the Byzantine empire in the east. In addition to the three great civilizations, the peoples of the Ancient Near East and other lesser-known cultures such as the Etruscans, Celts, Persians, and Phoenicians are explored. The author examines the art, architecture, philosophy, literature, and religious practices of each culture, set against its social, political, and economic background. More than an overview of the primary political or military events, Egypt, Greece, and Rome pays particular attention to the actual lives of both the everyday person and the aristocracy: Here is history brought to life. Especially striking are the readable and stimulating profiles of key individuals throughout the ancient world, covering persons from Homer to Horace, the Pharaoh Akhenaten to the emperor Augustus, Alexander the Great to Julius Caesar, Jesus to Justinian, and Aristotle to Augustine.

Generously illustrated in both color and black-and-white, and drawing on the most up-to-date scholarship, Egypt, Greece, and Rome is a superb introduction for anyone seeking a better understanding of the civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean and their legacy to the West.

©2004 Charles Freeman (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A well done academic intro done in audio

This book was well written and performed. I'm a very slow reader and I'm a much more audio oriented person anyway as opposed to visual.

But, unfortunately, there aren't a ton of widely available academic audio books in the way of history, or that many academic texts in general in an audio format anyway.

So, when I find books like this that are available as an audiobook I'm always really excited!

This book was read and produced well and the author did a very, very good job covering and illustrating his subjects!

The scholarship was solid and open ended and approached the material from several angles. I also appreciated his bent towards leaning towards the populares.

Overall, I'm really glad I read this and that it was available!

A Masterful Summary of the Western World

I read this as an undergraduate almost 30 years ago. Listening was like visiting with an old friend. The book is an accesible, invigorating introduction to the Western World.

Excellent update on an old subject

It brings archaeological evidence to bear on traditional accounts of the ancient world; very informative

Great great book

Lots of great history books on here, thank you Audible, this is so absolutely definitely one of them, I am overwhelmed and blown away, blew my expectations out of the water, loving this book, it’s great excellent fascinating detail! Thank you author and reader!

All in all a good overview of Mediterranean history

The negatives: Very much focused on Greece, Egypt feels sort of glossed over. The narrator made incorrect and strange pronunciations often which was kind of annoying. The author is English and the narrator is American, I also found that strange and made some of the more personal touches to the book a bit weird. The author also does not really specify where certain regions and cities are so it’s necessary to look at maps of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire to understand where is actually being mentioned.