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The Rise and Fall of Alexandria
- Birthplace of the Modern Mind
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
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Publisher's summary
It was here mankind first discovered that the earth was not flat, originated atomic theory, invented geometry, systematized grammar, translated the Old Testament into Greek, built the steam engine, and passed their discoveries on to future generations via the written word. Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Jewish scholars, Greek philosophers, and devout early Christians all play a part in the rise and fall of the city that stood "at the conjunction of the whole world". Sparkling with fresh insights into science, philosophy, culture, and invention, this is an irresistible, edifying delight.
Critic reviews
"A nourishing account." (Publishers Weekly)
"Classical history buffs will savor this survey." (Booklist)
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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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Here is the remarkable story of how medieval Arab scholars made dazzling advances in science and philosophy, and of the itinerant Europeans who brought this knowledge back to the West. For centuries following the fall of Rome, Western Europe was a benighted backwater, a world of subsistence farming, minimal literacy, and violent conflict. Meanwhile, Arab culture was thriving, dazzling those Europeans fortunate enough to catch even a glimpse.
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Missing history
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A gripping intellectual adventure story, Sailing from Byzantium sweeps you from the deserts of Arabia to the dark forests of northern Russia, from the colorful towns of Renaissance Italy to the final moments of a millennial city under siege.
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The Missing Years
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The Cave and the Light reveals how two Greek philosophers became the twin fountainheads of Western culture, and how their rivalry gave Western civilization its unique dynamism down to the present.
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All of Western Philosphy Leads to Ayn Rand?!?
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Martin Puchner leads us on a remarkable journey through time and around the globe to reveal the powerful role stories and literature have played in creating the world we have today. Puchner introduces us to numerous visionaries as he explores 16 foundational texts selected from more than 4,000 years of world literature and reveals how writing has inspired the rise and fall of empires and nations, the spark of philosophical and political ideas, and the birth of religious beliefs. Indeed, literature has touched generations and changed the course of history.
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Powerful and illuminating!
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Acclaimed British historian Anthony Everitt delivers a compelling account of the former orphan who became Roman emperor in A.D. 117 after the death of his guardian Trajan. Hadrian strengthened Rome by ending territorial expansion and fortifying existing borders. And - except for the uprising he triggered in Judea - his strength-based diplomacy brought peace to the realm after a century of warfare.
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A Biography "too tall for the height of the cella"
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The fate of the Lost Ark of the Covenant is one of the great historical mysteries of all time. The Bible contains hundreds of references to the Ark's power, but the Ark itself mysteriously disappears from recorded history sometime after the building of the Temple of Solomon. After 10 years of searching through the dusty archives of Europe and the Middle East, Graham Hancock has succeeded where scores of others have failed. This intrepid journalist has tracked down the true story behind the myths and legends - revealing where the Ark is today, how it got there, and why it remains hidden.
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Ridiculous.
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Best selling history writer Thomas Cahill continues his series on the roots of Western civilization with this volume about the contributions of ancient Greece to the development of contemporary culture. Tracing the origin of Greek culture in the migrations of armed Indo-European horsemen into Attica and the Peloponnesian peninsula, he follows their progress into the creation of the Greek city-states, the refinement of their machinery of war, and the flowering of intellectual and artistic culture.
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Super super
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Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) is generally regarded as the greatest intellectual ever to have appeared in the Arab world - a genius who ranks as one of the world's great minds. Yet the author of the Muqaddima, the most important study of history ever produced in the Islamic world, is not as well known as he should be, and his ideas are widely misunderstood. In this groundbreaking intellectual biography, Robert Irwin provides an engaging and authoritative account of Ibn Khaldun's extraordinary life, times, writings, and ideas.
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Issues with accuracy, pronounciation
- By Moh 3aly on 01-02-19
By: Robert Irwin
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What listeners say about The Rise and Fall of Alexandria
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Jeffrey
- 10-02-08
A good listen
I would call this book a sort of "missing link." Not in the regard of new information or discovery but in the sense that most people are taught history in a sort of huge bulleted list. The way I was taught history, it was like reading a paper that has no transition sentences and therefore the relevance of each event was not adequately portrayed. In other words, I knew something about Alexandria, something about Alexander the great's importance to the Roman empire, and something about the library and the lighthouse. Also, with a background in science, the stories of archimedes and the like were briefly told to me. However this book is a good explanation of the actual story and importance of the history of this pivotal city. I especially enjoyed learning its role in the rise and characterization of christianity.
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50 people found this helpful
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Overall
- brett
- 04-29-07
Excellent
I really enjoyed this book. Its the kind of history writing that I find very appealing, its colorful, insightful and factual without becoming too dry and scholarly. The narration is superb. A very engrossing an entertaining book!
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40 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Tad Davis
- 06-28-11
Brilliant
I'd read a little bit about Alexandria (mostly in Stacy Schiff's book on Cleopatra), but I never dreamed its history was so intimately connected with such vast stretches of the intellectual, political, and religious history of the ancient world. Pollard and Reid spin a fascinating yarn that unites Alexander the Great, the Septuagint, maps of the world, clocks and odometers, Cleopatra, the steam engine, animatronics, and the brutal killing of Hypatia in a single overarching narrative. And when I mention those items of particular interest (to me), I'm only scratching the surface. A brilliant history with an unusual approach, and (as usual) impeccable narration from Simon Vance.
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29 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Leigh A
- 09-08-08
A wonderfull walk
Highly recommend to anyone interested in history, any history. I throw my hat in with the other reviewers, this book is how history should be written. It ties facts with what you know so that you find yourself nodding and wondering why you had not figured that one out. They weave their narrative with events, people and places so well that you feel you know where they are taking you but lighting up sights you have never seen. For ancient history buffs it is a must read.
Nothing helps a good book like a good narrator. Simon Vance has been and continues to be at the top of this profession. With 152 narrations on audible I have a lot of listening to do.
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22 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Leslie
- 10-17-07
entertaining
I loved this book. I learned so much about ancient history. And who knew that Reid and Pollard could make it so interesting. I was hooked from the moment it started and I was pleasantly suprised that it was such a intriguing and effortless read. But then, all history should be like that.
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18 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Bonnie
- 09-18-07
Touching on so many facts
I love history, and the ancients have always fascinated me, for with out them who would we be. The loss of the library of Alexandria is something that to this day breaks my heart. What wonders could have been transcribed. But this book has many little nuances about the different classes of citizens that inhabited the city over the ages enlightening and enjoyable.
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16 people found this helpful
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Story
- carl801
- 05-25-12
This is History done right!
Can you call an audiobook a "page turner?" Well, maybe not, but the authors are such masters of their subject and display such eloquence and insight that I found myself saying, "Wow, that was interesting! What's next?" This is not your average dry and dusty history book, that much is for sure.
Well, to be fair, history did give them a wonderful cast to work with. Alexander the Great, Ptolemy Soter, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Aristarchus, Eratosthenes, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Claudius Ptolemy, Philo, Caligula, Caracala, Hypatia of Alexandria and many, many more. From the story of Alexander himself laying out the streets ca 300 BCE to the final dousing of the candle of knowledge before plunging in to the dark ages ca 600 CE, this is the story of a city like no other before or since. It was born from a vision, lived and flourished, and then like all good things, it died, the victim of its own brash nature and (in my opinion) the ultimately destructive forces of greed and revealed religions. But along the way, Alexandria taught us how to think.
This is a great read. The reader doesn't get in the way of the text, which is the third best thing you can say about a narrator.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Nikolas
- 04-17-10
A must read
This book gives an excellent description of the Greek, Egyptian and Roman history for about 500 years (400 BC to 100 AD) around the Mediterranean Sea and Middle East. It deals with philosophy, medicine, astronomy, physics, alchemy, geography, religion, war tacticts and more.... Such a wealth of knowledge. Not to mention the perfect narration.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Amazon Customer
- 10-05-09
Birthplace Of Knowledge
Some might feel that Alexandria was not the start of the modern thinking mind. I differ on that feeling. This book points out the reasons for that sentiment. This was the place where all the original thinkers came from. Yes, Greece started it, but Alexandria completes it. This book is excellent and covers everything a person would want to know about ancient Alexandria and more. This book also serves as a good lead-in to any history of the Roman Empire as well. The narration is good. The book never lags in its coverage of this magnificent city and all the treasures it holds for the listener. I say enjoy. Worth the listen!
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Chidi Jenkins-Johnston
- 08-19-08
The Best Book I have read in a long time!!!
This book is fantastic!! Like all of us I am a lover of history but this book ranks in my top ten and I would advise everyone to read it.
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9 people found this helpful