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Empire of the Black Sea
- The Rise and Fall of the Mithridatic World
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
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Publisher's summary
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. It also posed one of the greatest challenges to Roman imperial expansion in the East. Not until 63 BC, after many violent clashes, was Rome able to subjugate the kingdom and its last charismatic ruler Mithridates VI.
This book provides the first general history of this important kingdom, from its mythic origins in Greek literature to its entanglements with the late Roman Republic. Duane Roller presents its rulers and their complex relationships with the powers of the eastern Mediterranean and Near East, most notably Rome. He includes detailed discussions of Pontos' cultural achievements - a blend of Greek and Persian influences - as well as its political and military successes, especially under Mithridates VI, who proved to be as formidable a foe to Rome as Hannibal. 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 and definitive account of a powerful yet little-known ancient dynasty.
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In The Race for Paradise, Paul M. Cobb offers a new history of the confrontations between Muslims and Franks we now call the "Crusades", one that emphasizes the diversity of Muslim experiences of the European holy war. There is more to the story than Jerusalem, the Templars, Saladin, and the Assassins. Cobb considers the Arab perspective on all shores of the Muslim Mediterranean, from Spain to Syria.
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A heady piece of history and a romp.
- By Meeno on 05-28-15
By: Paul M. Cobb
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Ragnar Lothbrok and a History of the Vikings
- Viking Warriors Including Rollo, Norsemen, Norse Mythology, Quests in America, England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Russia
- By: Noah Brown
- Narrated by: Dalan E. Decker
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Ragnar Lothbrok was a legendary warrior who left a legacy among the Vikings like none other. Today's popular TV show may have popularized Ragnar's story, but the real facts are not very well known. Discover the truth behind this Viking warrior and the rich history of the Vikings.
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Happy with this purchase!
- By Michelle Watson on 09-08-19
By: Noah Brown
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China
- A History
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- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 25 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Many nations define themselves in terms of territory or people; China defines itself in terms of history. Taking into account the country's unrivaled, voluminous tradition of history writing, John Keay has composed a vital and illuminating overview of the nation's complex and vivid past. Keay's authoritative history examines 5,000 years in China, from the time of the Three Dynasties through Chairman Mao and the current economic transformation of the country.
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Needs new narrator
- By Betty on 10-16-16
By: John Keay
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Praetorian
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Founded by Augustus around 27 BC, the elite Praetorian Guard was tasked with the protection of the emperor and his family. As the centuries unfolded, however, Praetorian soldiers served not only as protectors and enforcers but also as powerful political players. Fiercely loyal to some emperors, they vied with others and ruthlessly toppled those who displeased them, including Caligula, Nero, Pertinax, and many more. Guy de la Bédoyère provides a compelling first full narrative history of the Praetorians.
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Buy it
- By Charles on 08-07-17
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Constantine the Emperor
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This year Christians worldwide will celebrate the 1700th anniversary of Constantine's conversion and victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. No Roman emperor had a greater impact on the modern world than did Constantine. The reason is not simply that he converted to Christianity but that he did so in a way that brought his subjects along after him. Indeed, this major new biography argues that Constantine's conversion is but one feature of a unique administrative style that enabled him to take control of an empire beset by internal rebellions and external threats by Persians and Goths.
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In this sign thou shalt conquer!
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By the Spear
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For the first time, By the Spear offers an exhilarating military narrative of the reigns of these two larger-than-life figures in one volume. Ian Worthington gives full breadth to the careers of father and son, showing how Philip was the architect of the Macedonian empire, which reached its zenith under Alexander, only to disintegrate upon his death.
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Bueller..... Bueller...... Bueller...... Monotone
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Pax Romana
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Pax Romana examines how the Romans came to control so much of the world and asks whether traditionally favorable images of the Roman peace are true. Goldsworthy vividly recounts the rebellions of the conquered and examines why they broke out, why most failed, and how they became exceedingly rare. He reveals that hostility was just one reaction to the arrival of Rome and that from the outset, conquered peoples collaborated, formed alliances, and joined invaders, causing resistance movements to fade away.
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2 stars if youve read goldsworthy; 2.5 or 3 if not
- By fm2 on 10-21-16
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The Restoration of Rome
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- By: Peter Heather
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In AD 476, the last of Rome's emperors, known as "Augustulus", was deposed by a barbarian general, the son of one of Attila the Hun's henchmen. With the imperial vestments dispatched to Constantinople, the curtain fell on the Roman empire in Western Europe, its territories divided among successor kingdoms constructed around barbarian military manpower. But, if the Roman Empire was dead, Romans across much of the old empire still lived, holding on to their lands, their values, and their institutions.
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Byzantine Empire Stands Tall!
- By Placeholder on 05-22-14
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The Norman Conquest
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An upstart French duke who sets out to conquer the most powerful and unified kingdom in Christendom. An invasion force on a scale not seen since the days of the Romans. One of the bloodiest and most decisive battles ever fought.
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A Balanced, Entertaining, and Informative History
- By Jefferson on 06-01-14
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The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt
- By: Toby Wilkinson
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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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The Holy Roman Empire lasted 1,000 years, far longer than ancient Rome. Yet this formidable dominion never inspired the awe of its predecessor. Voltaire quipped that it was neither holy, Roman, nor an empire. Yet as Peter H. Wilson shows, the Holy Roman Empire tells a millennial story of Europe better than the histories of individual nation-states.
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Mixed feelings on this one.
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Very interesting, but not in my truck
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An arduous trek through Eurasia
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What listeners say about Empire of the Black Sea
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Than
- 04-14-23
Reluctant Recommendation
Have you ever recommended a TV show to someone but prefaced it with "so long as you get through the first two seasons you'll love the third season!" that's kinda like this book. It's an interesting book if you're a history nerd. It sticks to the sources, which are sadly lacking (as many ancient sources are) for details. But once you get to the last 1/3rd of the book with Mithridates VI it starts to pick up and get interesting. I usually ignore if a narrator is good or bad but for me I didn't really care for the one reading this. If you're not familiar with the territory around the Black Sea you'll probably be referring to a lot of maps over and over as I did.
So I give this book a tepid endorsement, but a similar book on the opposite side of the Black Sea from the Kingdom of Pontus called "The Scythians" by Barry Cunliffe I'd highly recommend you try before this book.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-09-23
The last great king of the Greeks/persia
I liked the narrator, he has a great voice. I sincerely enjoyed this book. I have heard of mithradates before but learning about him and the kingdom of Pontus was exciting. I consider myself a lover of Hellenistic Greek history and Rome. Now I need to find more books based on that time period.
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- Grant C Willis
- 01-16-23
detailed dive into an over looked kingdom
a great Great telling of a long forgotten kingdom. this book is like getting the full details of a side character to an epic story. it helps you appreciate how diverse the ancient world was.
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- JP
- 08-18-22
I’ll Tell You the Story
As I heard it told
Mithridates,
He died old
Arianes? The Poison King Bio and this essentially contain everything anyone anywhere knows about Pontus of yore. Top marks.
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-05-23
More of an academic journal than a book.
In terms of information the book is great. I always wanted to know a little more about this kingdom and I'm glad to have listened to this title.
That said, the information is presented in the same style as a 1990s history professor would teach a class. Names, dates, event, next item. It's not very interesting nor does it hold your attention for any length of time. A Dan Carlin Hardcore History mega episode this is not.
If you're just looking for information on Pontus, I give it a recommendation for sure. If you're into books by Dan Jones or history podcasts etc, this book likely isn't for you.
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