The Parthians: The Forgotten Empire

ISBN-13: 9780367481902 / Angielski / Twarda / 2021 / 362 str.

Uwe Ellerbrock

Opis

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the history and culture of the Parthian Empire, which existed for almost 500 years from 247 BC to 224 AD.

Recenzje

"This book is a welcome introductory account of the society, culture, and impact of the traditionally much neglected and maligned Parthians in English. It does not address one common narrative or time period, but rather it addresses the entirety of the Parthians’ long history (middle third century BCE to early third century CE) and the evolution of their society from migrants on the Central Asian steppe to world imperialists... Ellerbrock has published an engaging and important work long overdue and much needed for an anglophone audience. This book will quickly become a leading reference for scholars and students interested in the society and culture of the Parthians. No doubt it will help create further awareness of the Parthians as a great and accomplished civilization and stimulate further debate about their place in world history." - Nikolaus Overtoom, Ancient History Bulletin

Spis treści

List of figures List of tables Foreword Glossary of historic place names I. The Parthian Empire: A First Approach II. History of the Great Empires in Iran III. History of the Parthian Empire III.1. Phase 1: The development from a Seleucid vassal state to the Parthian Empire: from Arsaces I to Phraates I (c. 247-171 BC) III.2. Phase 2: Expansion of the Parthian Empire: from Mithradates I to Darius of Media Atropatene (c. 171-70 BC) III.3. Phase 3: Parthia as Great Power: from Phraates III to Vonones II (c. 70 BC – c. 51 AD) III.4. Phase 4: Phases of stability – inner turmoil – decline of the Parthian Empire: from Vologases I (ca. 51 – 79 AD) to Artabanus IV (c. 216 – 224 AD) III.5. Ardashir I and the newly founded Sasanian Empire III.6. The end of the Parthian Empire - reasons for the downfall IV. The Structure of the Parthian Empire IV.1. The king IV.2. The nobility IV.3. The Parthian army – standing army - Parthian Shot IV.4. Administrative structure of the Empire IV.5. Parthian Queens and marriage policy V. Vassal States and Kingdoms under Parthian Influence VI. The Parthian Empire and the Peoples of Eurasia VII. Cities and Architecture in the Parthian Empire VII.1. Structure and architecture of the Cities VII.2. Cities in the homeland of the Parthians and in Iran VII.3. Cities in Syria and Mesopotamia VIII. Trade and Business in the Parthian Empire IX. Insights into Social Life in Parthia X. Parthian Art: Art in the Arsacid Kingdom XI. The Parthian Empire and its Religions XI.1. General information to Zoroastrianism and the Avesta XI.2. Iconography of Parthian coins - references to the Zoroastrian faith XI.3. Manichaeism - religion with Parthian origins XI.4. Mithraism XI.5. Judaism in Parthia XI.6. Christianity in Parthia: the proselytizing by the Apostle Thomas Bibliography Recommended websites

O autorze

Uwe Ellerbrock has been studying the Parthian Empire for more than 30 years. His book Die Parther, written with archaeologist Sylvia Winkelmann, was published in 2012 (revised edition 2015).