General Ancient Persia
Embark on a captivating journey into the history, culture, and legacy of ancient Persia with our curated reading list, offering a diverse selection of scholarly works by renowned experts in the field.
Explore the rich tapestry of Persian civilization, from its majestic empires to its enduring cultural heritage, through texts by scholars such as Briant, Waters, and Gershevitch. Delve into the intricacies of Persian politics, society, and religion, and gain a deeper understanding of its influential rulers, innovative art and architecture, and diplomatic relations with neighboring civilizations. Whether you’re intrigued by the Achaemenid Empire, the Parthians, the Sassanians, or the impact of Persian culture on the wider ancient world, our reading list offers a comprehensive overview of the latest research and interpretations on ancient Persia. Engaging and illuminating, these scholarly works provide invaluable insights into one of the most fascinating and influential civilizations of antiquity.
- Allen, L., The Persian Empire, Chicago, 2005.
- Briant, P., From Cyrus to Alexander: a history of the Persian Empire, Winona Lake IN, 2002.
- Cook, J.M., The Persian Empire, London, 1983.
- Curtis, J. & Tallis, N., Forgotten empire: the world of ancient Persia, Berkeley CA, 2005.
- Curtis, J. & Simpson, St. J., The world of Achaemenid Persia: history, art and society in Iran and the ancient near East, London, 2010.
- Gershevitch, I., The Cambridge history of Iran: Vol. 2: The Median and Achaemenian period, Cambridge, 1985.
- Kurht, A., The Persian Empire: a corpus of sources from the Achaemenid period, London, 2007.
- Waters, M.W., ‘Cyrus and the Achaemenids’ in Iran 42, 2004, 91-102.
- Waters, M.W., Ancient Persia: a concise history of the Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BCE, New York, 2014.
- Wiesehofer, J. & Azodi, A., Ancient Persia: from 550 BC to 650 AD, London, 2001.
