This guide provides a visual insight into the civilizations of the ancient world through the medium of over 1,000 colour illustrations. The guide is divided into colour‐coded chapters on ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome followed by a briefer overview of other world civilizations thriving at that time. Each chapter opens with a short overview and timeline of key events which helpfully sets the context for what follows. Chapters are intelligently and attractively subdivided into smaller thematic areas covering aspects of government, warfare, religion, leisure, trade, technology, architecture and society. From a structural perspective, this is useful for those readers who may wish to compare individual aspects of different civilizations as they can easily navigate to the relevant thematic section in each chapter.
The guide's key selling point and what differentiates it from other general products on the market is the focus on illustrative matter as a means of conveying information. Short paragraphs of explanatory text are exemplified by individual accompanying illustrations. Content is fairly broad in its topical coverage and varies from the well known – such as the role of Zeus as the supreme god of the Pantheon – to the more obscure such as the holiday given to donkeys on 19 June during the Festival of Vesta in Rome. The illustrations used throughout the guide date from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries and have been sourced predominately from the classic engravings of Description de l'Égypte (23 bound volumes 1809‐1818). Illustrations are reproduced in the monotone colour scheme of each chapter with some full colour illustrations also included. Whilst not detracting from the visual appeal of the guide, one criticism of the images used is that apart from the key source which is identified only at the end of the sourcebook, individual images are not referenced throughout. Someone wanting more information on a particular image would be required to consult the Description de l'Égypte. Since images play such a prominent role in the structure and purpose of the sourcebook, I was disappointed by the lack of image description. As a result, some readers may be led to question how accurately an image depicts the accompanying commentary. For the author, Dr. Dominic Rathbone, a research professor in Classics at King's College London and contributing editor of the weighty tome, The Cambridge Ancient History, this sourcebook moves away from the more scholarly nature that has previously characterised his publications. However, his expertise in the subject matter and notable publishing history means that the sourcebook can safely be considered a reliable resource despite the lack of image referencing.
As illustrative matter comprises a substantive proportion of the sourcebook this is clearly not aimed at an academic audience. Though coverage of wider themes is broad, individual sections are not sufficiently detailed to the level of knowledge that would be required at university level. The broad content would make this most suitable as an introductory source to the subject of the Classical world, perhaps providing a useful addition to school or college libraries. The guide would also undoubtedly appeal to a more general audience with an interest in the subject matter. The stylish and colourful content and easy to navigate structure makes this the type of book that appeals to the browser in all of us. Overall this is a well‐structured and visually enticing portrayal of ancient civilizations and sure to spark the imagination of anyone who turns its pages. At £19.95 it is also a competitively priced introduction to the subject.
