Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John’s College, Oxford. He is the author of numerous books on the ancient world, including the highly successful Thames & Hudson titles Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day, Legionary: The Roman Soldier’s (Unofficial) Manual, The Greek and Roman Myths, Ancient Magic and Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece and Rome, all published by Thames & Hudson.

'A compelling narrative of displacement and power at the edges of human knowledge' - The Spectator

• Introduction – Resurrecting A Forgotten World The First Civilizations • Introduction – Starting from Scratch in Mesopotamia • The Akkadians – The First Builders • The Amorites – ‘Founders’ of Babylon • The Canaanites – Israel Before the Israelites • The Elamites – The Empire Before Persia • The Hittites – Masters of Anatolia • The Hyksos – Invaders of Egypt • The Sea Peoples – Riders of the Storm • From Assyria to Alexander • Introduction – Recovering from the Bronze Age Collapse • The Lost Tribes of Israel – Ten Still Missing • The Arameans – Nomadic Conquerors in the Middle East • The Philistines – Strangers in a Strange Land • The Dorians – People of the Spear • The Phrygians – King Midas and the Gordian Knot • The Illyrians – Balkan Raiders • The Lydians – As Rich as Croesus • The Sicels – Settlers of Sicily • The Medes – Destroyers of Nineveh • The Chaldeans - Masters of Magic • The Kushites – Egypt’s Southern Conquerors • The Bactrians – Powerful Traders on the Silk Road • The Coming of Rome • Introduction – Civilization Spreads West Beyond the Mediterranean • The Epirots – The Original Pyrrhic Victory • The Sabines - Co-founders of Rome? • The Samaritans – Survivors of Antiquity • The Garamantes and Numidians – Forgotten Peoples of North Africa • The Sarmatians – Horse Riders of the Steppe • The Nabataeans – The People of Petra • The Celtiberians – The Celts of Spain • The Galatians – Gauls in Asia Minor • The Arverni – For Vercingetorix and Victory! • The Thracians – Masters of Metalworking • The Catuvellauni – The Tribe of Caractacus • The Iceni – Led into Battle by Boudica • The Batavi – Allies and Enemies of Rome • The Dacians – On the Edge of Empire • The Fall of Rome in the West • Introduction – Barbarian Invasions and the End of Empire • The Alans – Westwards Through a Falling Empire • The Vandals – More than Vandalism • The Visigoths – The Tribe that Broke Rome • The Ostrogoths – Heirs to Rome • The Alemanni – The Tribe of ‘Humans United’ • The Jutes – Forgotten Invaders of Britain • The Hephthalites – The Mysterious ‘White Huns’ • Epilogue; Timeline of the ancient world; Further reading Sources of illustrations

Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John’s College, Oxford. He is the author of numerous books on the ancient world, including the highly successful Thames & Hudson titles Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day, Legionary: The Roman Soldier’s (Unofficial) Manual, The Greek and Roman Myths, Ancient Magic and Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece and Rome, all published by Thames & Hudson.

'A compelling narrative of displacement and power at the edges of human knowledge' - The Spectator

• Introduction – Resurrecting A Forgotten World The First Civilizations • Introduction – Starting from Scratch in Mesopotamia • The Akkadians – The First Builders • The Amorites – ‘Founders’ of Babylon • The Canaanites – Israel Before the Israelites • The Elamites – The Empire Before Persia • The Hittites – Masters of Anatolia • The Hyksos – Invaders of Egypt • The Sea Peoples – Riders of the Storm • From Assyria to Alexander • Introduction – Recovering from the Bronze Age Collapse • The Lost Tribes of Israel – Ten Still Missing • The Arameans – Nomadic Conquerors in the Middle East • The Philistines – Strangers in a Strange Land • The Dorians – People of the Spear • The Phrygians – King Midas and the Gordian Knot • The Illyrians – Balkan Raiders • The Lydians – As Rich as Croesus • The Sicels – Settlers of Sicily • The Medes – Destroyers of Nineveh • The Chaldeans - Masters of Magic • The Kushites – Egypt’s Southern Conquerors • The Bactrians – Powerful Traders on the Silk Road • The Coming of Rome • Introduction – Civilization Spreads West Beyond the Mediterranean • The Epirots – The Original Pyrrhic Victory • The Sabines - Co-founders of Rome? • The Samaritans – Survivors of Antiquity • The Garamantes and Numidians – Forgotten Peoples of North Africa • The Sarmatians – Horse Riders of the Steppe • The Nabataeans – The People of Petra • The Celtiberians – The Celts of Spain • The Galatians – Gauls in Asia Minor • The Arverni – For Vercingetorix and Victory! • The Thracians – Masters of Metalworking • The Catuvellauni – The Tribe of Caractacus • The Iceni – Led into Battle by Boudica • The Batavi – Allies and Enemies of Rome • The Dacians – On the Edge of Empire • The Fall of Rome in the West • Introduction – Barbarian Invasions and the End of Empire • The Alans – Westwards Through a Falling Empire • The Vandals – More than Vandalism • The Visigoths – The Tribe that Broke Rome • The Ostrogoths – Heirs to Rome • The Alemanni – The Tribe of ‘Humans United’ • The Jutes – Forgotten Invaders of Britain • The Hephthalites – The Mysterious ‘White Huns’ • Epilogue; Timeline of the ancient world; Further reading Sources of illustrations