Three books on the Achaemenids

[sean_m]

One which came out a few years ago, one which is new, and one which is in editing.

Waters, Matthew (2014) Ancient Persia: A Concise History of the Achaemenid Empire, 550–330 BCE (Cambridge University Press: New York)

I read this and its a good concise overview which tries to be 'cutting edge' which is always a bit of a gamble. Its definitely more digestible than Pierre Briant's book or Amélie Kuhrt's amazing sourcebook.

Brosius, Maria (2020) A History of Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire (Wiley-Blackwell: Hoboken, NJ)

Prof. Brosius just quit the ancient racket, I have not seen this book but I liked her earlier ones.

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is also working on a textbook, I would guess it will appear in 2021 or 2022.

[Jeanne Reames]

Glad to see Brosius's book. I use her smaller one, The Persians, in my ANE class. Will be sure to put the new one on order.

But what do you mean she "quit" the ancient racket?

[sean_m]

Glad to see Brosius's book. I use her smaller one, The Persians, in my ANE class. Will be sure to put the new one on order.

But what do you mean she "quit" the ancient racket?

Last time we talked, she was about to take early retirement from the University of Toronto and look for something else to do for the rest of her working life. As far as I know she carried through. I don't know her closely so if you do you should probably contact her and get her take.

[Jeanne Reames]

Ah, okay. There are days I agree with her. LOL. I realized just recently that I'm about 5 years from retirement as of next fall. Covid has made me wish it was less. Ha. Although I'd like to get a sabbatical before the end. Got things to write!