Braudel's rich, sweeping history draws on his magical storytelling skills and lifelong love of the Mediterranean to bring its long and dazzling past vividly to life - from prehistory to the fall of the Roman Empire. His fabulous journey takes us back to the very first settlers as they developed basic skills, to farmers in ancient Mesopotamia and slaves in Egypt, Phoenician mariners and merchants, the religious sacrifices of Carthage and the mysteries of the Etruscans, as well as the power of Greece and Rome."