Empire

A New History of the World: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Civilizations

By: Paul Strathern

Narrated by: Elliot Fitzpatrick

A dazzling new history of the world told through the 10 major empires of human civilization.

Eminent historian Paul Strathern opens the story of Empire with the Akkadian civilization, which ruled over a vast expanse of the region of ancient Mesopotamia, then turns to the immense Roman Empire, where we trace back our Western and Eastern roots.

Next the narrative describes how a great deal of Western Classical culture was developed in the Abbasid and Umayyid Caliphates. Then, while Europe was beginning to emerge from a period of cultural stagnation, it almost fell to a whirlwind invasion from the East, at which point we meet the Emperors of the Mongol Empire...

Combining breathtaking scope with masterful narrative control, Strathern traces these connections across four millennia and sheds new light on these major civilizations - from the Mongol Empire and the Yuan Dynasty to the Aztec and Ottoman, through to the most recent and biggest empires: the British, Russo-Soviet, and American.

Charting five thousand years of global history in 10 lucid chapters, Empire is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by the history of the world.

©2020 Paul Strathern (P)2020 Tantor

A good overview for a beginner

A good high level interview marred by a few mistakes - Treaty of Westphalia was in 1648 not 1668; Mexican American War ended in 1848 not 1847. The newcomer may still enjoy it. The more experienced will likely not be satisfied. Moves at a brisk pace.

Recency & Western bias

Great overview of historic empires but it definitely has a positive, Euro-centric view on history. Focuses on odd aspects of the US, unsure what Kennedy's sex drive has to do with empire. I'd recommend listening right up to England and then go a listen to How to Hide an Empire.

Wishy washy

Vague, unfocused, big picture history. The author cherry picks anecdotes to make sweeping claims and can't stay on subject.

Good writing, but ripped it’s own credibility apart

Performance and writing are great, but I simply can’t rake it seriously after one sentence in particular…

In talking about the collapse of the (Western) Roman Empire, the author decides the “”Byzantines”” don’t count as the Romans despite the fact they were. That’s only a minor quibble (and not the first), but in talking about the fall of the Western half the author says “Serious scholars don’t like term ‘Dark Age’ for what they call the ‘Early Middle Ages’, *but it was a Dark Age*…”

Emphasis at the end is mine, but you really can’t say something like “The educated people consider this to be false. But they’re all wrong, actually.” with a straight face - in my opinion at least. I simply can’t take an author that discredits themself that blatantly serious for a second!

If that doesn’t bother you, I sincerely suggest this book! The writing and the reading are pretty decent light reading. You’ll definitely pass a handful of tests, YMMV on whether it’s <= a C-, but the book isn’t bad or anything. I just can’t take someone seriously after writing something like that down and publishing it.