Back to Hardcore History
Hardcore HistoryFebruary 28, 2000
Show 56 Kings Of Kings
Book mentions
13 book mentions in this episode.
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Books Mentioned
“The excerpt discusses the old Hebrew Bible, its accounts, and the historical context surrounding its writing, particularly regarding the Persians.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: historical perspectives on religion
For: Individuals interested in biblical history and religious studies
Key quote: “It's hard to describe exactly what the old Hebrew Bible is.”
The host discusses the complexities of the Old Hebrew Bible and its historical context, particularly regarding its accounts of the Persians. They highlight the dramatic narratives within the Bible and the challenges of dating its various texts.
ASIN: N/A
Search on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The excerpt mentions the Book of Daniel, specifically a spooky story involving a ghostly hand writing on a wall.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: the Book of Daniel
For: Readers interested in biblical narratives and historical context.
Key quote: “The Book of Daniel has this scary story, spooky story.”
The host discusses the Book of Daniel to highlight its intriguing narrative and the historical context of its writing. The mention of the ghostly hand writing on the wall serves as a captivating example of the book's dramatic storytelling.
ASIN: 1543165303
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
the Iliad
Homer
“The excerpt mentions the Iliad as an example of ancient storytelling that predates written prose history.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: ancient storytelling and history
For: students and enthusiasts of ancient literature and history
Key quote: “if you want to get drama and color and stories before the period of Herodotus, you're looking at things like the Iliad by Homer”
The host mentions 'the Iliad' to illustrate the transition from oral storytelling to written history. It serves as an example of how ancient narratives were performed for entertainment, contrasting with the more utilitarian writings of later periods.
ASIN: N/A
Search on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The excerpt references Gilgamesh as a story from Mesopotamian history that was likely told for hundreds of years before being written down.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: ancient storytelling and history
For: Students and enthusiasts of ancient history and literature
Key quote: “Think of Gilgamesh from Mesopotamian history, both of which are believed, by the way, to have been stories told for hundreds of years that were finally compiled and written down.”
The host mentions 'Gilgamesh' to illustrate the transition from oral storytelling to written history. This reference highlights the importance of narrative in understanding ancient cultures and their histories.
ASIN: 014044100X
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The excerpt mentions Beowulf as another ancient story that was likely compiled and written down after being told for generations.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: ancient storytelling and history
For: Readers interested in ancient literature and history
Key quote: “Same thing with like a Beowulf in Scandinavian history.”
The host mentions 'Beowulf' in the context of discussing ancient storytelling traditions and how they differ from historical writing. This reference highlights the transition from oral traditions to written forms, emphasizing the entertainment aspect of stories like 'Beowulf'.
ASIN: 0393320979
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Cyrus from Alexander
Pierre Breon
“The excerpt references Pierre Breon's book, which is a detailed historical account of Cyrus and the ancient Persian empire.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: historical accounts of Cyrus
For: Readers interested in ancient history
Key quote: “The excerpt references Pierre Breon's book, which is a detailed historical account of Cyrus and the ancient Persian empire.”
The host briefly mentions Pierre Breon's book as a resource for understanding Cyrus and the ancient Persian empire. It serves as a reference point for those interested in historical narratives.
ASIN: B0F5W5W67T
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
From Sumer to Rome
Richard Gabriel and Karen Metz
“The Assyrian army of the 8th century BCE was comprised of at least 150,000 to 200,000 men, and was the largest standing military force that the Middle East had witnessed to this time.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: Assyrian military capabilities
For: Historians and enthusiasts of ancient military history
Key quote: “The Assyrian army of the 8th century BCE was comprised of at least 150,000 to 200,000 men, and was the largest standing military force that the Middle East had witnessed to this time.”
The host mentions 'From Sumer to Rome' to provide a detailed understanding of the Assyrian army's size and sophistication during the 8th century BCE. This book serves as a comprehensive resource for grasping the military dynamics of ancient civilizations and their impact on history.
ASIN: 0313276455
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Histories
Herodotus
“One of Herodotus' best stories is about the rise of Cyrus, and he provides insights into the events and the worldview of his time.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: Greek and Persian wars
For: History enthusiasts and students of narrative techniques
Key quote: “Herodotus of Halicarnassus, sometimes called the father of histories, occasionally called the father of lies, writing his history a generation after the events at Thermopyli.”
The host discusses the contrasting narratives of historical events, particularly the Battle of Thermopylae, and highlights Herodotus's storytelling as a significant departure from other historical accounts. This mention serves to illustrate the importance of narrative style in shaping our understanding of history.
ASIN: 0199535663
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
The Story of Civilization
Will Durant
“Historian Will Durant tries to tie the downfall of the meads to their moral degeneration and the fact that they were sort of Nouveau-Riche, he writes about their rapid degeneration compared to their rise.”
Sentiment: Critical Analysis
Trigger: moral degeneration of societies
For: Historians and students of sociology
Key quote: “Historian Will Durant tries to tie the downfall of the meads to their moral degeneration and the fact that they were sort of Nouveau-Riche.”
The host references Will Durant's 'The Story of Civilization' to illustrate how moral decline can lead to societal downfall. Durant's insights on the Nouveau-Riche serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of rapid wealth accumulation without moral grounding.
ASIN: N/A
Search on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Discovering Cyrus
Reza Sargami
“Reza Sargami has an interesting take on something that the Babylonian king did as part of the fighting with Cyrus for Babylon.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: Cyrus and Nabonidus
For: Historians and readers interested in ancient governance
Key quote: “Faced with the very real prospect that his cities would open up their gates to the conqueror, Nabonidas settled upon a drastic policy.”
The host discusses the complexities of Cyrus's character and governance, referencing Reza Sargami's insights from 'Discovering Cyrus'. The book provides a unique perspective on the actions of Nabonidus and their implications for Babylonian society and religion.
ASIN: B00JYHXMFA
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
From Cyrus to Alexander
Pierre Briant
“This is from Pierre Brianne's book from Cyrus to Alexander but it's the translation from the bible that he uses in the same way that the cyrus cylinder says the babylonian god marduk took cyrus's hand.”
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
Trigger: ancient history storytelling
For: Historians and students of ancient history
Key quote: “I actually laughed out loud when I read Pierre Breon's book from Cyrus to Alexander.”
The host mentions Pierre Briant's book 'From Cyrus to Alexander' to highlight the complexities of ancient history and the challenges historians face in separating fact from fiction. The book is praised for its exhaustive detail and serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the history of Persia.
ASIN: 1575061201
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The book I had that places Cyrus is one of the top most 100 influential people of all time says that that's one of the things maybe you credit him with.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: Cyrus the Great's influence
For: History enthusiasts and students
Key quote: “The book I had that places Cyrus is one of the top most 100 influential people of all time says that that's one of the things maybe you credit him with.”
The host briefly mentions the book to highlight Cyrus's significance in history. It serves as a reference point for discussing influential figures.
ASIN: N/A
Search on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
A History of the Persian Empire
A.T. Olmstead
“How about letting historian A.T. Olmstead in a book published in 1948 say it?”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: Cyrus the Great's impact
For: Historians and those interested in ancient history
Key quote: “How about letting historian A.T. Olmstead in a book published in 1948 say it?”
The host discusses the significant role of Cyrus the Great in shaping history, particularly in relation to Judaism and its continuity. He references A.T. Olmstead's book to highlight the historical importance and the enigmatic nature of Cyrus's life and death.
ASIN: B0BC3TZ4HL
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