“The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome”, by Susan Wise Bauer

896 pages, W. W. Norton &Company, ISBN-13: 978-0393059748

The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome by Susan Wise Bauer is perhaps the most compelling history book I've read in a long time, hitting where many other books miss by not assuming anything, just because it's the accepted theory of history. Bauer's narrative starts and ends with the primary source materials available to us, and where she makes conjecture she tells you its conjecture and then supports her reasoning with logic, intelligence and without any obvious bias; moreover, she clearly identifies all of the source material from which she draws her narratives. Add to that solid foundation a crisp, bright and engaging narrative style and this book may just be the finest historical work in decades.

Bauer bites off a very large mouthful but manages to digest it in a way that is both readable and entertaining. With The History of the Ancient World she delivers on her promise to deal with history based on written sources, leaving the dusty archaeological details to others. This approach can be a little disconcerting if you are used to reading dry academic histories, particularly in the study of the ancient Middle East where the usual academic history of Egypt, Sumeria and the Assyrians tends to be heavy on pottery shards and light on plot. I was at first disturbed by Bauer's smooth-flowing, light touch; she dwells almost exclusively on the story and avoided inconvenient archaeological facts and scholarly debates. At times the history seemed to be more an interpretation of mythology or a retelling of the grand story of human civilization, rather than an objective investigation of historical truth. But, of course, this seems to be what was intended here. In spite of the excellent use of maps (possibly the simplest and yet most comprehensive example I have ever seen; no place name mentioned in the text is left off of a map found nearby), and the extensive cited works section, this book is all about drama.

With Bauer, the play's the thing, and not the facts. And this is what makes this book so good: once you realize you are being told a story, you stop worrying and let Bauer sweep you away. From the ancient glory of Sumeria, through the incestuous Dynasties of Egypt (did you know Ramses II had his mummy's nose packed with peppercorns?), the brutality of the Assyrians, the mysteries of the Phoenicians, Alexander the Great and the rise of a small town named Rome, it is all told with verve, biting wit and an eye for the picaresque detail. While this is definitely not an academic work, its vast scope and the way it followsa narrative through time make it an exciting and interesting read – something you will enjoy as someone new to this time period, or as a scholar who wants something that ties together all that academic material you have tried to digest over the years. Of course, experts will quibble about this detail or that; there are probably large swathes of material here that would be contested by serious historians. But I would suggest relaxing, sitting back, putting up your feet and enjoying this book as the rich, old, flowing tale that it is. You can always ferret out the details later.