An authoritative exploration of the rich cultural heritage of the Thai civilization.

Dedicated to the art and culture of Thailand, this volume explores the ancient and various origins of this modern country’s identity. The Thai identity is the result of an extraordinary process of integration, clash and selection of different cultural traditions, the expression of the various civilizations which inhabited the same area over time. From the contacts with the Indian world to the beginning of the first Buddhist Dvaravati civilization, to the provincial features of the Khmer civilization and the flourishing of the first reign, the book looks over the fascinating route to modern Thailand, through the most up-to-date historical studies and the reconstruction based on archaeological and artistic testimonies.

Islam, the third great monotheistic religion with Judaism and Christianity, is an extraordinary historic and cultural phenomenon that originated in the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, and spread over vast areas of the globe. This volume is designed to chronicle the history of its civilization, beginning with its origin, first of all by giving an account of Bedouin society, which was the cradle of Islam and which left a legacy of features typical of tribal social structure that are still valid and recognized. In the 7th century, the Arabs left the boundless desert and defeated the two great political and military powers of the time, the Byzantine Empire in the Near East and the Sassanid Empire in Persia and Mesopotamia, “the two eyes that God had entrusted with illuminating the world.” In these conquered lands they founded the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, the latter of which coincided with the golden age of Islam, a period in which Islamic culture – philosophical, scientific and literary – flourished to the full. The Abbasid caliphs were enlightened rulers who fostered the integration into the umma, or Islamic community, of the heterogeneous ethnic groups in their vast empire. In 1258, the arrival of the Mongols in the imperial capital of Baghdad marked the decline of the Abbasid caliphate, which had already been undermined by the rise of independent caliphates and sultanates that had fragmented the authority and power of the empire. The last chapter in this book sets out to describe the main aspects of classical Islamic culture, a knowledge of which is fundamental for an understanding of present-day Islam, a phenomenon in continuous flux with which we must come to terms.

A fascinating pictorial journey into the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian civilizations.

This meticulously researched and handsomely illustrated volume explores the chronology, historic events, key public figures, and cultural legacy of the Assyro-Babylonian civilization. Tracing the roots of this ancient society to 3000–2001BC, historian Alfredo Rizza reveals the impact of various earlier civilizations on the development of Mesopotamia in the second and first millennium BC (ca. 2000–500 BC). Revealing fresh insight into the pivotal historical events and complex political-cultural configuration of the Assyrians and Babylonians, this book delves into the convergence in Mesopotamia of various ethnic-cultural groups including the Amorites, Aramaeans, Chaldaeans and other western Semitic peoples, the Hurrites and other peoples from the mountain regions in the north, the Hittites and Urartians from Turkey, groups from the east, and others. The authoritative text describes the role played by each group in trade, diplomatic relations, cultural heritage, and military action. The writings of such classical writers as Herodotus and Ctesias, translations of royal inscriptions, and archaeological excavations have revealed, as Alfredo Rizza writes, “A very ancient world … a world that is still revealing its secrets to us and is also certainly still concealing other treasures and a cultural legacy of inestimable value.” Specially commissioned photographs depict the topography, archaeology, and antiquities of this ancient civilization including stone relief discovered in royal palaces depicting battle scenes and kings with different deities and conducting religious ceremonies, ziggurats, ornate gates guarding the cities, and much more, all of which reveal details of this intriguing epoch.

A fascinating pictorial journey into the ancient civilizations of China.

This meticulously researched and handsomely illustrated volume explores the chronology, historic events, key public figures, philosophy, economy, lifestyle, and cultural legacy of ancient China from its pre-dynastic origins to the Mongol conquest and the resulting Yuan dynasty. Revealing fresh insight into pivotal historical events, this book delves into China’s predynastic eras, formation of the First Empire, the onset and fall of the Han dynasty, the Sui reunification, the Tang dynasty, and finally, the establishment of the “barbarian” dynasty. Specially commissioned photographs depict the archaeology, arts, and antiquities of this ancient civilization including vast burial complexes and their sumptuous grave goods and striking works in metal and ceramics, all of which reveal details of this intriguing epoch.

A richly illustrated survey of the civilization of the ancient Egyptians.

This volume is dedicated to Egypt and follows a historical narrative that, adhering to a rigorous chronology and keeping abreast of the most recent archeological investigations, sheds light onto the principal events, cultural and social processes, and religious beliefs that influenced and shaped the development and flowering of a civilization that lasted for thousands of years. Starting from the first Neolithic cultures that settled along the shores of the Nile, this book tackles the era that saw the founding of the Egyptian state (Pre-Dynastic). With the unification of the two kingdoms, the ancient pharaohs started to celebrate and immortalize their lives and achievements with the construction of stone monuments. The most impressive example of these is perhaps the pyramid tombs of the Ancient Kingdom, whose architectural evolution can be followed from the first step-pyramid of Djoser, to the stupendous pyramids of Giza, and then to the necropolises of Abusir and Saqqara. In the Ancient Kingdom, next to the representations of the sovereign, one can follow the development of sculpture and also of private burials, both areas that found new expressive forms during the First Intermediate Period or the Middle Kingdom. Ample space is reserved for the figures of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom who with their military campaigns made Egypt one of the most powerful empires of the Near East. Thanks to a superb collection of photographs the reader is able to better admire the prodigious output of Egyptian art in all its splendor. This book also examines the last centuries of the age of the pharaohs, up to the period of Greek and then Roman control of Egypt. An era when the pharaohs’ culture came into contact and, in some cases, merged with the Hellenistic and Roman cultures.

This book describes the pre-Columbian cultures that developed in central and northern Mexico, from the fertile areas of the Oaxaca Valley and the Valley of Mexico to the great deserts of the north. In chronological order, the text presents the native cultures, from the earliest farming villages to the establishment of great states and urban civilizations such as Teotihuacán and Monte Albán. By investigating the ties between these civilizations and the much more obscure ones of northern Mexico, it offers readers insights into the birth of new cultures such as the Toltec Empire and the creation of the extensive trade networks linking the Mesoamerican cultures with the ones that developed in the American Southwest. This enormous ethnic and linguistic melting pot culminated in the Aztec civilization, and this profusely illustrated book examines its historical events, moving from the mythical original migration into the Valley of Mexico to the political and cultural zenith. The final section covers the Aztecs’ tragic encounter with the Spanish conquistadors. In-depth looks at specific topics such as the Aztec calendar, religion, society and political organization are inserted into the historical narration, adding variety to the book’s chronological approach. Based on the latest research and targeting a broad readership, this book is straightforward and easy to understand, yet is distinguished by its excellent scholarship. The result is an extraordinary historical and cultural tableau that conveys the full appeal these populations have long held for Western readers.