Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World

An overview of the lost peoples and cultures who flourished and fought for survival alongside the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Beyond the Greeks, Romans and Hebrews of the Classical and Biblical eras, a rich diversity of peoples helped lay the foundations of the modern world. Philip Matyszak brings to life these cultures and individuals that made up the busy, brawling multicultural mass of humanity that emerged from the ancient Middle East and spread across the Mediterranean and Europe. He explores the origins of forty forgotten peoples, their great triumphs and defeats, and considers the legacy they have left to us today, whether it be in fine art or everyday language. This carefully researched and illuminating history is the perfect introduction for the modern reader, packed with surprising facts and fascinating stories, detailed maps and beautiful illustrations of artefacts and sites of interest. Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World offers a new understanding of these important civilizations that have been obscured by the passage of time.

Table of Contents:
Introduction – Resurrecting A Forgotten World The First Civilizations Introduction – Starting from Scratch in Mesopotamia The Akkadians – The First Empire 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

About the Author :
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.

Review :
'A compelling narrative of displacement and power at the edges of human knowledge' - The Spectator 'Immersive, thought-provoking, and entertaining' - Timeless Travels 'Stimulating' - Nature