:: Greece
::
History
of the Peloponnesian War- Thucydides
The history of the Peloponnesian War through Thucydides'
eyes. The war takes place from about 431 to 404
B.C., between the two leading City- States of Greece:
Athens and Sparta.
The
Histories- Herodotus
Herodotus was called the 'Father of History', in
his books, you can see why. Herodotus covers the
history of Greece through the Persian Wars, and
up to Alexander of Macedon.
Gates
of Fire- Steven Pressfield
A novel based on the life a survivor of the Battle
of Thermopylae (480 B.C), and his retelling of the
event to the Persian King Xerxes.
Tides
of War- Steven Pressfield
Another great novel by Pressfield. Moving a
few decades forward, 'Tides of War' follows two
Athenian soldiers under the brilliant and unorthodox
general, Alcibiades.
The
Last of the Wine- Mary Renault
An excellent novel based in Fifth Century B.C.
Athens. The novel follows Alexias, the son of an
oligarchic general, as he goes through life in Athens.
As a young man, he becomes a pupil, or as his teacher
calls them, 'Friend', of the great philosopher Socrates.
:: Rome
::
Cicero:
The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician
-
Anthony Everitt
Cicero was, without a doubt, the greatest politician
of Rome. Everitt's book creates the life of this
Cicero (103
-43 B.C) through letters and other sources. Using
his oratorical skills, Cicero put down many oppositions
of the dictators of Rome, as well as many other
great deeds during the last era of the Roman Republic.
The
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire- Edward
Gibbon
A three-volume set, The Decline covers
the Empire of Rome and how it made its way downhill.
A great set.
The
Conquest of Gaul- Gaius Julius Caesar
Part of Caesar's Commentaries, The
Conquest of Gaul outlines Caesar's campaign
during 50- 58 B.C.. This is the only written material
of the ancient world actually written by the general
who was there.
Fall
of the Roman Republic- Plutarch
Plutarch goes through the Republic, and explains
vividly how it fell. The book is situated around
six men of Rome: Gaius Marius, Lucius Cornelius
Sulla, Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus,
and Marcus Tullius Cicero. A great book to go with
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
The
Civil War- Gaius Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar recounts his war with Gnaeus
Pompeius Magnus.
The book goes from the crossing of Rubicon, to dealing
with Pompey's heirs. Another book of Caesar's Commentaries.
Caesar-
Christian Meier
The author, Meier, shows Julius Caesar through
his life, and what changes in the political and
social world made Caesar what he was. An excellent
read.
:: Japan
::
Shogun-
James Clavell
An English explorer travels to Japan during
seventeenth century Japan, and meets the powerful
Lord Toranga and the the Catholic convert, Lady
Mariko. A great novel.
:: China
::
San
Guo Yan Yi (Three Kingdoms)- Luo Guan
Zhong
Written during the Yuan- Ming period of China,
Three Kingdoms takes place during the second
and third century China. The Han Dynasty is falling,
and with that comes three new warlords, Cao Cao,
Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. An excellent novel indeed.
:: Other
Great Books ::
Warfare
in the Classical World- John Warry
An awesome book about warfare from the earliest
Greeks (Myceneans)
to the end of the Roman Empire.
The
Art of War- Sun Tzu
The book on warfare.
"Folded into this small package are compact
views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the
profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy,
speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation,
responsibility, and practicality."
The
Prince- Niccolo Machiavelli
In a similar fashion to Sun Tzu, Machiavelli
has created more of a "how-to" on actually
ruling a city. You might say this is the "Ruling
Cities for Dummies". Many world leaders today
have had this book as their bible...I'm sure.
"It must be understood, that a prince ... cannot
observe all of those virtues for which men are reputed
good, because it is often necessary to act against
mercy, against faith, against humanity, against
frankness, against religion, in order to preserve
the state."
:: Great Games ::
(What is history without games?)
Empire
Earth- Sierra
My personal favorite RTS game, Empire Earth
is wonderful. Starting from with prehistory to the
Space Age (Expansion: The Art of Conquest).
Romance
of the Three Kingdoms- Koei
Anyone interested in the Three Kingdoms era
of China, could tell you about this game.
Age
of Empires- Microsoft
Another RTS games, AOE came out before Empire
Earth. Similar in looks and the feel of Empire Earth.
Copyright © 2002 Jessica
(Webmasteress)
All content is copyright © its respected authors and owners.
The
Hall of Warriors
