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Best Ancient Mesopotamia History

From Babylon to Timbuktu: A History of the Ancient Black Races Including the Black Hebrews
This carefully reserched book is a significant addition to this vital foeld of knowledge.
Reviews
"Good Reading of Where the people come from and the things they went through in life."
"We are taught that we were in Africa, brought over on ships, worked as slaves singing negro spirituals in the fields, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Rosa Parks wouldn't give up her seat, Martin Luther King Jr marched, and we were free. I think that if we taught our children that they are Kings and Queens, and conducted ourselves as such, we could make positive change."
"Wonderful reads and incrediblly insightful and informative."
"No problems!"
"I am very glad that I read this book."
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The Excruciating History of Dentistry: Toothsome Tales & Oral Oddities from Babylon to Braces
To all of those dental patients whose whine rises in tandem with that of the drill, take note: You would do well to stifle your terror and instead offer thanks to Apollonia, the patron saint of toothache sufferers, that you face only fleeting discomfort rather than the disfiguring distress, or slow agonizing death oft meted out by dental-care providers of the past. They may not realize that the temporary discomfort they face is negligible compared with the pain and distress endured by patients of previous eras.
Reviews
"This fascinating and educational book on the history of dentistry was an all around. enjoyable read."
"At times horrifying, humorous, and fascinating, this book is an interesting read for everyone."
"This book describes what dental needs & care were like not that long ago."
"I am really interested about dentistry ."
"I don't think anyone could have found more in this unusual topic."
"Nicely informative, fun read, which is quite the achievement given the subject matter."
"Great writing, great history."
"Awesome book!"
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Hidden in Plain Sight
After nearly 400 years of the calculated misuse of religion and removal of cultural markers, Hidden in Plain Sight seeks to provoke thought on religion, racism, and cultural appropriation in order to assist in rebuilding the foundation that has been destroyed by systemic oppression. Yoshiyahu Dauid is Moreh at “The Awakening Remnant Koalition” (THE ARK) Located California’s Central Valley. His mission is to take the “Whole Word, to the Whole World.” Yoshiyahu is a musician, who plays several instruments, he also enjoys cycling and the outdoors.
Reviews
"This is a must read for anyone seeking the Truth of Gods word and his elect."
"You can tell a lot of research went into this book."
"still reading, but so far it is good."
"Start here if you want to know what was the best kept secrets of this world we currently reside in."
"Deeply researched + touching."
"I would recommend this Book."
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Best Ancient Roman History

Meditations
About Marcus Aurelius Meditations Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended his Meditations to be published and the work has no official title, so "Meditations" is one of several titles commonly assigned to the collection. About this translation of Marcus Aurelius Meditations. What a reader says about Marcus Aurelius Meditations. We find several recurring themes in The Meditations: develop self-discipline to gain control over judgments and desires; overcoming a fear of death; value an ability to retreat into a rich, interior mental life (one's inner citadel); recognize the world as a manifestation of the divine; live according to reason; avoid luxury and opulence. A short book that is a source of sanity in a mad world, today's reader will also love the beauty of prose that makes the Meditations stand out against modern philosophical and self-help writings.
Reviews
"In this case, the Hays translation is the hardcover, while the authors who translated the paperback and Kindle versions aren't specified."
"Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example: This version: Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth."
"Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”. Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life. Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate."
"The book is a little bit difficult to follow because the text is written as a long series of short statements, which are often rather disparate in their subject matter."
"Very interesting and, at times, inspirational reading."
"I bought this because it read that it's the one book that General Mattis takes into combat."
"Perhaps the best book to read in a lifetime."
"great book from a great man."
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Best Ancient Egyptians History

Fingerprints of the Gods
The bestselling author of The Sign and the Seal reveals the true origins of civilization. Praise for Fingerprints of the Gods:
Reviews
"After reading you'll have a clearer idea of whether: we should worry about asteroids; science is purely scientific, and; civilization is relatively strong or fragile."
"Was not let down, as the info here was welllll beyond what I had watched in the short YT vid."
"Very important book to read."
"I love this and plan on getting the sequel as well "Magicians of the Gods"."
"Weighty and dense reading, while still intriguing and engaging."
"Worth reading for anyone interested in human history and the varied interpretations of myth and archeological evidence."
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Best Ancient Incan History

The Last Days of the Incas
The epic story of the fall of the Inca Empire to Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in the aftermath of a bloody civil war, and the recent discovery of the lost guerrilla capital of the Incas, Vilcabamba, by three American explorers. Although the Incas fought a deadly, thirty-six-year-long guerrilla war, the Spanish ultimately captured the last Inca emperor and vanquished the native resistance. MacQuarrie, who writes with just the right amount of drama ("After the interpreter finished delivering the speech, silence once again gripped the square"), is to be commended for giving a balanced account of those events. In 1911, a young Yale professor of Latin American history named Hiram Bingham identified Machu Picchu as the nerve center of the empire. Although MacQuarrie dedicates just a few chapters to modern research, the archeologists who made the key discoveries emerge as well-developed characters, and the tale of digging up the empire is as riveting as the more familiar history of Spanish conquest. The author, who lived in Peru for five years, chronicles the adventures of Hiram Bingham, who, in 1911, discovered Machu Picchu and believed it was the Incan capital.
Reviews
"This was a well researched and well written account of the Spanish conquest of the Inca nation. The material was still interesting, just in terms of knowing the timeline of when and how some of these amazing ruins were discovered, but I think the ins and outs of the competition to publish first and the personal lives of some of the explorers might well be a different book."
"He makes it sound like a small band of Spanish on horses fended off hundreds of thousands of the Incas and there allies in one siege that last for more than a year."
"Kim MacQuarrie provides a well-written, and engaging telling of the first Spanish incursions into Peru, from the Extremadura origins of the Pizarro family, to the execution of Atahualpa and beyond."
"One such battle, puts 200 Conquistadors (and slaves) against an Inca army of 20,000 warriors the author puts you in the very heart of the battle so you can not help but feel the rising panic in your throat as you read."
"I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Frankly, in writing my own book, The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes, I found MacQuarrie's work an invaluable guide for understanding the reach and impact of the Incas into the Antisuyo, the Eastern Quarter; that is to say, the eastern slopes of the Andes leading down into the Amazon."
"This is the book to read as you land in Lima on your way to Cuzco and Machu Picchu."
"Amazing story that is stranger than fiction."
"For anyone visiting Machu Picchu it should be a must read, and it gives an eye-opening history lesson on the Spanish conquest that will get you thinking."
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Best Ancient Greek History

The Landmark Thucydides
His authoritative chronicle of what he considered the greatest war of all time is rigorous and meticulous, yet omits the many aids to comprehension modern readers take for granted—such as brief biographies of the story's main characters, maps and other visual enhancements, and background on the military, cultural, and political traditions of ancient Greece. Based on the venerable Richard Crawley translation, updated and revised for modern readers, The Landmark Thucydides includes a vast array of superbly designed and presented maps, brief informative appendices by outstanding classical scholars on subjects of special relevance to the text, explanatory marginal notes on each page, an index of unprecedented subtlety and depth, and numerous other useful features. He has added descriptive paragraph-by-paragraph synopses, topic headers on every page, numerous maps keyed to the adjoining text, explanatory footnotes, an extensive index, an excellent introduction by Victor Davis Hanson (California State Univ.
Reviews
"Excellent edition in English."
"Great book also made in USA."
"The Peloponnesian War in itself is incredible enough - in the realm of concepts on conflict and diplomacy, the equivalent of digging for treasure in a pile of treasure... however, this work's references and notations pull the mists from the more obscure references and add critical details to more familiar pieces of the work."
"What a superb book!"
"This tome orients, helps the reader (me) navigate, both geographically and logically following (understanding) a complex narrative…Footnotes, maps, explanation of the culture and the politics of the period made this read informative, eloquent and most importantly enjoyable..."
"This was an important time when the Greek poleis city-states, fresh from their victory over Persia, destroyed any hope of a Greek/Athenian empire and laid the ground for Alexander's conquest. Thucydides style is sometimes complicated, but reaches wonderful heights in the Pericle's funeral oration and the disaster in Sicily. However, he occasionally assumes that the reader understand his frame of reference and spend little time describing the culture and lands of Hellas -- a shortcoming compared to Herodotus. There are informative appendices written by various scholars, the translation is lively and clear, there are copious footnotes and, most importantly, tons of maps."
"Amazing history of the battle from someone who was there."
"No problems."
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Best Aztec History

Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs
In this astonishing work of scholarship that reads like an edge-of-your-seat adventure thriller, acclaimed historian Buddy Levy records the last days of the Aztec empire and the two men at the center of an epic clash of cultures perhaps unequaled to this day. "For sheer drama, no age compares to the age of exploration, no explorers compare to the conquistadors and no conquistador compares to Hernan Cortes. In Buddy Levy’s finely wrought and definitive Conquistador , the worlds of Cortes and Montezuma collide and come to life. "—Neal Bascomb, author of Red Mutiny: Eleven Fateful Days on the Battleship Potemkin "A century before the Mayflower, a single man settled the destiny of the Americas far more momentously than the Puritans ever could.... Conquistador offers a fascinating account of the first and most decisive of those encounters: the one between the impetuous Spanish adventurer Cortés and Montezuma, the ill-starred emperor of the Aztecs.... [An] almost unbelievable story of missionary zeal, greed, cruelty and courage.
Reviews
"I very interesting perspective on Cortez and the conquest of Mexico."
"I studied Cortez in HS and never learned any details."
"Nonetheless, Conquistador is a detailed and quick read on the conquest of Tenochtitlan and a closer look at the man Cortes."
"Deep insights into the cruel and narcissistic genius of Cortez and how guns, germs and steel brought Mexico to heal."
"I enjoyed the book."
"Academics can sometimes be critical when an author succeeds in providing clear and fluid writing with wonderful character development verses heavy factual nuances not relative to the real experience."
"A thumping good read...as they say."
"And the author doesn't pull punches; all the barbarous faults of individuals, peoples, and cultures are detailed with all the warts and without the modern hand-wringing revisionism."
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Best Mayan History

Jungle of Stone: The Extraordinary Journey of John L. Stephens and Frederick Catherwood, and the Discovery of the Lost Civilization of the Maya
Seized by the reports, American diplomat John Lloyd Stephens and British artist Frederick Catherwood—both already celebrated for their adventures in Egypt, the Holy Land, Greece, and Rome—sailed together out of New York Harbor on an expedition into the forbidding rainforests of present-day Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. In the tradition of Lost City of Z and In the Kingdom of Ice , former San Francisco Chronicle journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist William Carlsen reveals the remarkable story of the discovery of the ancient Maya. Enduring disease, war, and the torments of nature and terrain, Stephens and Catherwood meticulously uncovered and documented the remains of an astonishing civilization that had flourished in the Americas at the same time as classic Greece and Rome—and had been its rival in art, architecture, and power. Based on Carlsen’s rigorous research and his own 1,500-mile journey throughout the Yucatan and Central America, Jungle of Stone is equally a thrilling adventure narrative and a revelatory work of history that corrects our understanding of Stephens, Catherwood, and the Maya themselves. “Carlsen’s cogent and well-written dual biography successfully illuminates the fascinating tale of these intrepid pioneers of a lost civilization. ... Ably researching [Stephens and Catherwood] and affectingly describing their friendship, Carlsen makes an exemplary contribution to the lost-cities genre.” (Booklist (starred review) ). “Carlsen’s masterful chronicle of [Stephens and Catherwood’s] explorations is a welcome excursion to a fascinating story set in the golden age of exploration.” (The Missourian).
Reviews
"Mr.Carlsen's writing gives the reader a real sense of the challenges faced by these adventurers, one of whom, John Stephens was a great travel writer and the other, Frederick Catherwood, was a brilliant artist."
"These men collaborated to find and document many of the major ruins left by the indigenous natives of southern Mexico and Central America. Says author William Carlsen: “Today the ancient Maya are recognized for having achieved one of the most sophisticated early civilizations on earth. In the Acknowledgements section of the book, Carlsen states his passion for his work: “I will hold in my heart always the extraordinary Maya people….May you forever keep your rich culture alive for the benefit of us all.”. I’ve personally had the pleasure of traveling in Mexico and Central America. But I really treasure the way “Jungle of Stone” puts the pieces together, capturing the historic details and bringing the people involved in the early explorations to life. Each had extensive travel experience, including in the Middle East, decades before Mark Twain would publish his book, “Innocents Abroad.” Catherwood was a professional architect by trade. Stephens, as an American, dreamed of bringing Mayan treasures back to New York as the foundation of new prestigious museums that would put the U.S. on the world map. The book, Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan, published in 1841, was met with great success, eventually going through 12 printings and sold all over the world. Stephens’ important conclusion was that the Mayan work was original and without influence of “models or masters.”. The two were off on the trail once again in 1841, this time to focus on the Yucatan Peninsula."
"Fascinating story about Mayan ruins in Central America and the struggles endured by explorers and archeologists to record their findings."
"Well written and part of history and politics that I did not know much about."
"Interesting book on the first explorers who really documented the ruins in Central America with words and hand drawn pictures."
"Loved this book...this is the best I have read on this subject."
"Great story about uncovering the Maya Civilization in 1840s."
"well written with loads of history and events rarely noted."
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Best Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer History

Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization
Civilization was born eight thousand years ago, between the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, when migrants from the surrounding mountains and deserts began to create increasingly sophisticated urban societies. “The lively mixture of topicality, politics, history, myth and culture in this anecdote is typical of Babylon at its best.” ― The Independent (UK).
Reviews
"Good survey work that avoids the plodding detail of archeological pot shard dating for the most part."
"Well researched but at times the writing was a bit awkward."
"Great read , interesting how it applies things relative to recent history."
"An excellent review of a period in history I was not aware of."
"Helpful publication for a low price."
"Wish there were more great books like this."
"not as informative as I expected."
"It's a good book."
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Best Prehistory

Fingerprints of the Gods
The bestselling author of The Sign and the Seal reveals the true origins of civilization. Praise for Fingerprints of the Gods:
Reviews
"After reading you'll have a clearer idea of whether: we should worry about asteroids; science is purely scientific, and; civilization is relatively strong or fragile."
"Evidence of an ancient global human civilization is undeniable."
"Was not let down, as the info here was welllll beyond what I had watched in the short YT vid."
"This is an excellent book."
"Weighty and dense reading, while still intriguing and engaging."
"Worth reading for anyone interested in human history and the varied interpretations of myth and archeological evidence."
"A very informative and enlightening book."
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