Ancient Biography

Cimon was forced into prison because of his father's debts, but rescued by his wife. From then, he sought great heights, battling the Persians on land and sea within the same day. His power grew so great he was kicked out of Sparta; would he manage to make a triumphant return?

Hamilcar was a Carthaginian so brilliant and so brutal that even a Roman like Cornelius Nepos - one of Carthage's sworn enemies - could not help but respect him and write of him. Hamilcar, much like Philip the Great, was a great father of an even greater son. Explore Spain and Carthage with him and Hannibal as he trains his son in the arts and wiles of war.

The biography of Titus Pomponius Atticus was one of Nepos' greatest writings during his life. Considered by many to be one of the most upstanding men in ancient history, and the friend of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, he lived during one of the most turbulent and important periods of ancient Rome. Learn how a politican could actually manage to maintain honor and fulfill his duty without being swayed or tempted by personal interest and gain.

Cornelius Nepos greatly admired Timoleon, a man of wisdom and patience who knew evil when he saw it. He was ready and willing to do right by his homeland of Corinth, even when it meant betraying his own brother, the dictator. Timoleon stands through time as a model citizen and leader who, in his old age, became blind just like true justice.

Lo imaginamos caminando con un aire de desdén, desgarbado y sucio, mofándose de la idea de patria o polis. Vestido con un burdo manto y con su morral a la usanza de su maestro, Diógenes de Sinope, apodado "el Perro", proclamaba ser "ciudadano del mundo", después de renunciar a su fortuna y a su estatus privilegiado. Era la Grecia del siglo IV a. C., recientemente sometida por los ejércitos de Alejandro Magno, y el malestar de la época se manifestaba de varias maneras.

Su nombre ha llegado hasta nosotros como un mito lejano y sin tiempo, uno de los filósofos más conocidos de la Antigüedad clásica. En su célebre escuela, denominada el Jardín, eran admitidos por igual hombres y mujeres, los cuales gozaban de los mismos derechos. Para él, la filosofía es un instrumento útil para conquistar la felicidad. ¿Cómo conquista el ser humano la felicidad? Cuando pone el placer como finalidad. Sin embargo, no es el placer sensual vinculado a las apetencias del cuerpo lo que el ser humano debe perseguir, sino....

"Me esfuerzo por conducir lo divino que hay en mí a lo divino que hay en el universo" fueron las palabras postreras de un filósofo hierático y reservado como un oráculo, seguidor de Platón. La identidad con lo divino es un caro anhelo para los místicos de todas las épocas y tradiciones culturales, incluyendo los místicos occidentales cristianos. El pensamiento de Plotino sería estimado considerablemente por filósofos posteriores, incluyendo a los padres de la Iglesia Católica como por ejemplo el célebre San Agustín.

Lucius Licinius Lucullus, besser bekannt als Lukull und Sinnstifter der deutschen Redewendung "lukullische Genüsse", lebte von 117 v. Chr. bis 56 v. Chr. Für das Römische Reich zog er als Feldherr gegen Mithridates und schlug diesen in mehreren Schlachten und eroberte das Königreich Pontos.

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus lebte von 235 v.Chr. bis 183 v.Chr. Durch seine Erfolge im Zweiten Punischen Krieg wurde er der erste weltgeschichtlich bedeutende Feldherr Roms. Er schlug seinen großen Gegenspieler Hannibal in der Schlacht bei Zama. Seine Erfolge auf dem Schlachtfeld konnte er politisch nicht fortsetzen; vielmehr sah er sich in dem sogenannten Scipionenprozess mit dem Vorwurf der Unterschlagung konfrontiert.

Possibly the most important man of antiquity, and even all of history, was Julius Caesar. Alexander Hamilton, the famous American patriot, once remarked that "the greatest man who ever lived was Julius Caesar". Such a tribute, coming from one of the Founding Fathers of the quintessential modern democracy in reference to a man who destroyed the Roman Republic, is testament to the enduring mark that Caesar left upon the world.

Possibly the most important man of antiquity, and even all of history, was Julius Caesar. Alexander Hamilton, the famous American patriot, once remarked that "the greatest man who ever lived was Julius Caesar". Such a tribute, coming from one of the Founding Fathers of the quintessential modern democracy in reference to a man who destroyed the Roman Republic, is testament to the enduring mark that Caesar left upon the world.

Over 1500 years before Leonardo Da Vinci became the Renaissance man, antiquity had its own in the form of Archimedes, one of the most famous ancient Greeks. An engineer, mathematician, physicist, scientist, and astronomer all rolled into one, Archimedes has been credited for making groundbreaking discoveries, some of which are undoubtedly fact and others that are almost certainly myth.

In Charles River Editors' History for Kids series, your children can learn about history's most important people and events in an easy, entertaining, and educational way. The concise but comprehensive book will keep your kid's attention all the way to the end. Over 1500 years before Leonardo Da Vinci became the Renaissance Man, antiquity had its own in the form of Archimedes, one of the most famous Ancient Greeks.

La figura di Caligola è estremamente complessa: passato alla storia come imperatore folle, Caligola è divenuto esempio di tiranno che non conosce limite ai suoi più turpi desideri. Ma la vita dell'imperatore cela luci e ombre: l'infanzia travagliata, la persecuzione di Tiberio e poi l'adozione da parte di quest'ultimo, l'inaspettata ascesa al potere, l'amore dei cittadini nei suoi confronti. Poi la malattia, la follia e, infine, la morte violenta, lo hanno consacrato come uno dei peggiori tiranni che la storia abbia mai conosciuto.

Giulio Cesare è uno de personaggi più affascinanti della storia romana. La sua ambizione lo portò, sin da giovane, ad essere sempre partecipe della scena politica; ogni mossa e ogni singola scelta, furono compiute da Cesare con estrema cautela e lungimiranza. Impiegò ogni sforzo per raggiungere il potere, non esitando davanti a nulla. Fu in grado di compiere atti di grande coraggio, ma anche di estrema crudeltà quando le circostanze lo richiedevano.

Quella di Alessandro Magno fu una vita avventurosa. Divenuto re a soli vent'anni, il sovrano macedone rese le città-stato della Grecia prive di potere e sconfisse definitivamente la Persia. Ancora giovanissimo, regnò sull'impero più vasto che la terra abbia mai visto. Ma i suoi sogni erano ancora più grandi: egli voleva raggiungere i confini del mondo. Solo la morte poteva fermare il suo desiderio di espansione, e così avvenne.

History knows Cleopatra as a beautiful and powerful ruler of Egypt. But if that’s all that you know about her, then you're missing a lot! Cleopatra VII was an important figure during her time. Her words were laws. She ruled over her people, so their future relied heavily on her actions and decisions. Learn about ancient Egypt through the eyes of their last pharaoh.

The China that we know today was shaped by three big religious beliefs: Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. This book will not just differentiate the three through definitions, but it will also include historical truths to facilitate deeper understanding. Unearthing ancient history will help you to better understand China and its people today. So what are you waiting for? Get a copy now!

Listen to the story of Spartacus in this audiobook of ancient history for kids. Listening about the lives of people from the past will help you understand how they lived, what decisions they made, and what circumstances brought them into the pages of history books. You can also learn about ancient societies just by listening to their stories.

Did you know that the Inca road system was the most advanced in pre-Columbian South America? Listen about how such an ancient civilization managed to create a complex road system. Who planned it all out? What materials did they use? How did the Inca road system affect their way of life? You’ll find all the answers in this book for fourth graders.