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Persians
- The Age of the Great Kings
- Narrated by: Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
- Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins
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Publisher's summary
A stunning portrait of the magnificent splendor and enduring legacy of ancient Persia
The Achaemenid Persian kings ruled over the largest empire of antiquity, stretching from Libya to the steppes of Asia and from Ethiopia to Pakistan. From the palace-city of Persepolis, Cyrus the Great, Darius, Xerxes, and their heirs reigned supreme for centuries until the conquests of Alexander of Macedon brought the empire to a swift and unexpected end in the late 330s BCE.
In Persians, historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the epic story of this dynasty and the world it ruled. Drawing on Iranian inscriptions, cuneiform tablets, art, and archaeology, he shows how the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the world’s first superpower—one built, despite its imperial ambition, on cooperation and tolerance. This is the definitive history of the Achaemenid dynasty and its legacies in modern-day Iran, a book that completely reshapes our understanding of the ancient world.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The Scythians were nomadic horsemen who ranged wide across the grasslands of the Asian steppe from the Altai mountains in the east to the Great Hungarian Plain in the first millennium BC. Their steppe homeland bordered on a number of sedentary states to the south and there were, inevitably, numerous interactions between the nomads and their neighbours. The Scythians fought the Persians on a number of occasions, in one battle killing their king and on another occasion driving the invading army of Darius the Great from the steppe.
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Well researched but narrator is terrible
- By John M. on 01-17-21
By: Barry Cunliffe
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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt
- By: Toby Wilkinson
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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In this landmark work, one of the world's most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its final absorption into the Roman Empire - 3,000 years of wild drama, bold spectacle, and unforgettable characters. Award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson captures not only the lavish pomp and artistic grandeur of this land of pyramids and pharaohs but for the first time reveals the constant propaganda and repression that were its foundations.
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Well Written and Detailed
- By Matthew G. on 01-26-18
By: Toby Wilkinson
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Empires of the Steppes
- By: Kenneth Harl
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These nomadic tribes have produced some of the world’s greatest conquerors: Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among others. Their deeds still resonate today. Indeed, these nomads built long-lasting empires, facilitated the first global trade of the Silk Road and disseminated religions, technology, knowledge and goods of every description that enriched and changed the lives of so many across Europe, China and the Middle East.
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Interview with Dan Carlin
- By Laurie A. Steuart on 08-17-23
By: Kenneth Harl
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The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World
- By: Robert Garland, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert Garland
- Length: 24 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Look beyond the abstract dates and figures, kings and queens, and battles and wars that make up so many historical accounts. Over the course of 48 richly detailed lectures, Professor Garland covers the breadth and depth of human history from the perspective of the so-called ordinary people, from its earliest beginnings through the Middle Ages.
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Tantalizing time trip
- By Mark on 08-21-13
By: Robert Garland, and others
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Iran
- A Modern History
- By: Abbas Amanat
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 41 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic.
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Extremely Opinionated.
- By Glaudrung on 02-13-19
By: Abbas Amanat
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The Scythian Empire
- Central Eurasia and the Birth of the Classical Age from Persia to China
- By: Christopher I. Beckwith
- Narrated by: Jim Lee
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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This audiobook narrated by Jim Lee provides a rich, discovery-filled account of how a forgotten empire transformed the ancient world.
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Demystifying the mysteries of the Ancient Worlds through a common source
- By cpdb on 02-10-23
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Mesopotamia: A Captivating Guide to Ancient Mesopotamian History and Civilizations, Including the Sumerians and Sumerian Mythology, Gilgamesh, Ur, Assyrians, Babylon, Hammurabi and the Persian Empire
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Richard Savage, Desmond Manny, Duke Holm, and others
- Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Taken together, the civilizations of Sumer, Assyria, and Persia have helped form the modern makeup of Mesopotamia, western Asia, and the world. However, to really understand why things are the way they are, it’s important to break up this historical timeline and spend some time learning about each society. Only by doing this will you be able to fully appreciate the powerful impact these ancient peoples had on our modern world.
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“Divulian”?
- By SBrown on 03-20-19
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The Middle Kingdoms
- A New History of Central Europe
- By: Martyn Rady
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 22 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Central Europe has long been infamous as a region beset by war, a place where empires clashed and world wars began. In The Middle Kingdoms, Martyn Rady offers the definitive history of the region, demonstrating that Central Europe has always been more than merely the fault line between West and East. Even as Central European powers warred with their neighbors, the region developed its own cohesive identity and produced tremendous accomplishments in politics, society, and culture.
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Marred by the errors in the modern section
- By Paul Boothroyd on 10-20-23
By: Martyn Rady
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Empire of the Black Sea
- The Rise and Fall of the Mithridatic World
- By: Duane W. Roller
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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What is commonly called the kingdom of Pontos flourished for over 200 years in the coastal regions of the Black Sea. At its peak in the early first century BC, it included much of the southern, eastern, and northern littoral, becoming one of the most important Hellenistic dynasties not founded by a successor of Alexander the Great. Previous histories of Pontos have focused almost exclusively on the career of its last ruler. Setting that famous reign in its wide historical context, Empire of the Black Sea is an engaging account of a powerful yet little-known ancient dynasty.
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More of an academic journal than a book.
- By Amazon Customer on 07-05-23
By: Duane W. Roller
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Philip and Alexander
- Kings and Conquerors
- By: Adrian Goldsworthy
- Narrated by: Neil Dickson
- Length: 20 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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This definitive biography of one of history's most influential father-son duos tells the story of two rulers who gripped the world - and their rise and fall from power.
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Horrible narrator
- By Anonymous User on 01-05-21
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A History of Iran
- Empire of the Mind
- By: Michael Axworthy
- Narrated by: Peter Ganim
- Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Although frequently vilified, Iran is a nation of great intellectual variety and depth, and one of the oldest continuing civilizations in the world. Its political impact has been tremendous, not only on its neighbors in the Middle East but also throughout the world. From the time of the prophet Zoroaster, to the powerful ancient Persian Empires, to the revolution of 1979, the hostage crisis, and the current standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Michael Axworthy vividly depicts the nation’s rich history.
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Lazy Narration
- By Arya Pourtabatabaie on 11-05-16
By: Michael Axworthy
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What listeners say about Persians
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Dominique
- 04-14-24
Excellent read!
This is a thorough examination of Persian (Achaemenid) history challenging traditional Western assumptions. The author brilliantly acknowledges how Greek sources inform our understandings of Persian history while tactfully preferencing the rich source materials of cuneiform tablets, inscriptions, and other archaeological sources.
Divided into three sections, the first and third detail Achaemenid history using a narrative chronological approach demarcated by each king’s reign. The second section focuses on Achaemenid culture. Readers can listen to just sections 1 and 3 for a more narrative reading of Persian history. However, when read in totality, section 2 is a nice reprieve helping to contextualize Achaemenid culture. Having this understanding prior to reading section 3 better situates the subsequent dynastic squabbles that would ultimately lead to the empire’s conquest.
I would strongly recommend this book.
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- Beth Nardi
- 06-14-22
good but not great
The information given is great and given well. The book comes off as somewhat apologist at times however. There is very much a sense of "yeah well the west did worse things than the Persians." There is a definite feeling that history is one-sided when it comes to the Persians and I mostly agree with that. But to paint them as a peaceful empire is a little too revisionist for me.
Sure they didn't force their own beliefs on conquered peoples but make no mistake they were conquered. The Persians violently absorbed their neighbors and we're brutal in their ability to keep there subjects in line and in Empire. Not really a peaceful way of doing things.
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- Abigail Schneider
- 10-31-23
You won’t forget this history
While full of people, places and dates, the amount of humanity and colorful descriptions within make certain you won’t forget the ancient history of the Persians.
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- dolores ballerina
- 11-12-23
Fascinating
Any glimpse into these ancient hierarchies is fantastic we observe a commonality that cropped up in all great kingdoms in that it always is the best interest those who would be king that they themselves were chosen and anointed by ~~fill in god of choice—- and that quasi fact always best suited them perhaps that will always be the case
Super interesting and wonderful reader too!
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- David A
- 04-19-22
Good History and Historiography
Good counter to the multiple Histories on Classical Greece.
It’s hard to see the Persians when most of our sources on them are Greek.
This book attempts to amend that. The author is clearly passionate about the topic and this shows in his book.
I wanted a good book on the Persian Empire in Audible format and that is what this book is.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Jacob M.
- 03-31-24
Wonderful review of history
This was a fantastic narration of a wonderfully written history. I thoroughly enjoyed it throughout.
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- Matthew C Clark
- 01-11-23
So enlightening!
As a history teacher, who delivers a large unit about the golden age of Greece, this book proved incredibly valuable. I have always taught the history of the Greeks without giving sufficient due to the Persian empire because I simply have not had enough exposure to the subject. In the case of this book, I find a treasure trove of tantalizing facts and stories that have already enhanced my unit on the Greeks. There is also much thought-provoking perspective delivered by the author, which will continue to shape my curriculum in coming years as I revisit this work, and further explore ancient Iran.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 08-06-22
A welcomed review of the Persian Empire
I was looking for a book with this contente.
The author collects various sources about the empire: inscriptions, greek accounts, clay tablets, etc... To flesh out a narrative of persian history.
It also discusses the administration of the empire.
A good pick if you are interested in Persia.
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- Khodadad Sirossi
- 06-26-23
Great narrative
Informative, interesting and enlightening. As an Archaeologist researching the time period, found this writing informative, fascinating and understandable. Well worth the read.
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1 person found this helpful
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- PEJMAN NOVIN
- 01-31-23
A must read
This has been the best book I have read on the topic of Persian Acheminid history. The author does an exceptional job in relying on evidence based research. I specially enjoyed learning about the personalities that dominated the king court: I hope the author proceeds with work on the Parthians and Sassanids as well. Thank you
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