Ancient States and Empires

What It's About

A sweeping textbook history of the ancient world, written for college and school use. Lord organizes the material into three parts: the ancient Oriental nations (the Hebrews, Egypt, Assyria and Chaldea, Persia, and Phoenicia), the Grecian states from their legendary origins through Alexander the Great, and the Roman Empire from its founding through its eventual fall. The narrative moves chronologically through major wars, rulers, and turning points, from the Persian Wars and the Age of Pericles to the Punic Wars and the decline of Rome.

Key Concepts

The book traces recurring themes of empire-building, conquest, and civilizational decline across the ancient world. It gives particular attention to the rise and fall of governing systems, from the patriarchal constitution of early Hebrew society to the republican and imperial phases of Rome, alongside the military and political history of Greece's city-states and Persia's empire.

About the Author

John Lord (1810–1894) was an American historian and lecturer. Originally trained for the ministry at Andover Theological Seminary, he briefly served as a Congregational pastor before turning to public lecturing full-time, eventually delivering thousands of lectures across the United States and Britain over his career. He later served as a lecturer on history at Dartmouth College.