This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
Genre = History, Empires
Review
Overview:
Sources about the Persian Empire are scarce and often biased in favor of some peoples over others, creating a distorted account of events. The author attempts to corroborate sources, and rectify the errors, to make an account of the events and battles as they actually happened. The focus of the book is on the battles and wars. The weapons and tools that were available. The tactics and strategies employed. Naval and land capabilities.
Greek city-states and the Persian Empire had some similarities, such as the need for resources outside those that were available in their regions. The way they obtained those resources was different. While the Greek city-states created colonies, the Persian Empire conquered regions. The decentralized system of the Greek city-states created friction, as their differences did not mix well. The centralized system of the Persian Empire was able to make bureaucracy more systematic, such as with taxation, but created a problem with rebellions, as people did not want to give up their freedoms. Showing the cultural attitudes toward others, and the importance of geopolitics, as the people who could offer valuable services were favored, while others were under pressure.
Caveats?
The writing of the book is difficult to understand without knowing a lot of the background information. The book is detailed, but hard to put together without knowing the cultural forces impacting decisions.
Pages to read: 215
Publication: 2022
1st Edition: 2022
Format: eBook
Ratings out of 5:
Readability 2
Content 2
Overall 2
