Post: #1

I always thought it was a funny trope, the guy who said things like "I'm really into 14th century Incans" or whatever. However, I've found myself more curious to learn about the cultures and civilizations of the past. For those of you who are deep into this stuff, I would love recommendations on books or particular cultures and periods you are interested in.

Ultimately, I am curious about the kinds of economic and political systems used and how they influenced the people of those times. But of course, I am also interested in the other knowledge that comes along with learning about it. Thanks for any recommendations.

Post: #2

I would strongly recommend looking at your local used/half price book stores. There is some amazing stuff out there, you just have to put yourself in a position to find it.

Last week at my local half priced book store I found the 1936 25 volume set called "A History of Nations" that goes back to Ancient Sumer and covers all the way to America. And I got it all for $50!

It is an amazing series and I would strongly recommend it if you can find it online. I think its just what you're looking for.

Post: #3

A personal favourite of mine is "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". She really covers his leadership style, and how he motivates people. Not a 'civilization' book per se, but it's a fantastic look at a polarizing political figure.

Another one is "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century". It's about the crisis in Europe during the 14th century. A really good look at how civilizations/individuals dealt with great strife.

Post: #4

I would recommend anyone interested in dipping their toes into ancient history read this very quick document, The Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival

http://people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/glubb.pdf

It outlines how similar the rises and falls of many great civilizations have been. How many civilizations have a period of a great outburst from obscurity, a period of great military victories while seemingly outmatched, a period of great inventiveness and vitality, and then a period of consolidation, growing wealth, increased intellectualism and focus on material well-being. Then, collapse.

It is relevant to us today, and relevant to those reading about the ancient past as well.

Should take about 30-60 minutes to read.

Post: #5

Search for the The Great Courses. I listen to their audio-lectures. These are a bit longer than a book, but very informative. I like the Rome and Barbarians. Which describes the fall of Roman empire, and that same thing is actually happening now with the migrants.

Post: #6

I love reading historical books. Typically something will spark my interest in some period, then I would read several books about that period until I am satiated. I believe you have to have some intrinsic interest in that particular period otherwise you will give up and not finish the book.

I would recommend you listen to Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Podcast. He has a way of making history interesting, providing insights that would not not typically get in reading books. Start with his Wrath of the Khans series, it will get you hooked. It makes learning so much more fun.

Post: #7

(01-18-2016 10:22 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  I would recommend anyone interested in dipping their toes into ancient history read this very quick document, The Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival

http://people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/glubb.pdf

It outlines how similar the rises and falls of many great civilizations have been. How many civilizations have a period of a great outburst from obscurity, a period of great military victories while seemingly outmatched, a period of great inventiveness and vitality, and then a period of consolidation, growing wealth, increased intellectualism and focus on material well-being. Then, collapse.

It is relevant to us today, and relevant to those reading about the ancient past as well.

Should take about 30-60 minutes to read.

That was OK, but falls victim to a whole lot of fallacious reasoning and ambiguity. The author seems to use civilization, empire, and nation interchangeably and while the concepts certainly overlap, they are not the same thing. This is indicative of a lack of rigor which shows up frequently throughout.

For example, the list of civilizations is far more arbitrary than it needs to be. While the begin and end dates aren't always clear and consistent, what you CAN do is pick some reasonable standard, explain it, and then make a reasonable attempt to apply it consistently. In this case it's important, because such a definitely would probably not have resulted in the same 200ish year length for all of them. The mongols, for example, though mentioned in the paper, are conveniently left out of the "list of empires," which is important because it would obviously contradict the assertion that empires always seem to last 200-300 years.

And about Rome:

Quote:The division of Rome into two periods
may be thought unwarranted. The first, or
republican, period dates from the time when
Rome became the mistress of Italy, and ends
with the accession of Augustus. The imperial
period extends from the accession of
Augustus to the death of Marcus Aurelius. It
is true that the empire survived nominally
for more than a century after this date, but it
did so in constant confusion, rebellions, civil
wars and barbarian invasions.

Then later in the paper:

Quote:This empire broke in half, the western half
being overrun by northern barbarians, the
eastern half forming the East Roman or
Byzantine Empire.

OK, except that the Eastern Roman Empire was just completely left off that list. No formal definition was given to determine whether this particular analysis should or should not include Byzantium as either a valid extension of the original Roman Empire or as a separate empire in its own right. So it's just left off the list altogether?

That said, whether you want to count the Roman Republic and Empire separately or not, the transition between the two is one of the more fascinating and certainly most famous geopolitical events in western history. The era was shaped equally by the change in the balance of power in the Mediterranean, as well as by the force of the personalities involved. As Rome emerged as the unquestioned, dominant power in the region, the Republic gave way to Empire, driven by figures you've all heard of like Julius Caesar, Crassius, Pompey the Great, Octavian (Caesar Agustus), Mark Antony, and Cleopatra.

Quote:Immense changes in the technology of
transport or in methods of warfare do not
seem to affect the life-expectation of an
empire.

This is likely again affected by selection bias. That is: the list does not include civilizations that did not make the list because they were prematurely wiped out by changes in technology or superior innovations in warfare.

Post: #8

Reading the primary historical sources is always the best way to go. I prefer to read a general contextual history book and then dive into the primary sources.

For the Rise and Fall of Civilizations: Oswald Spengler's "The Decline of the West", Arnold Toynbee's "A Study of History", "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William Shirer

For the History of Christianity: "The Cambridge History of Christianity: Origins to Constantine" Edited by Margaret M. Mitchell and Frances M. Young

For American Chattel Slavery: "Roll, Jordan, Roll" by Eugene Genovese

For Medieval Times: "Cambridge Medieval History" by J.B. Bury

For the horrors under Soviet Communism: "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

I also highly recommend Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast.