The authors focus primarily on the life and education of Champollion, his extraordinary linguistic skills and his competition with Englishman Thomas Young, who was also seeking to decipher hieroglyphs. Instead of approaching the subject matter with new questions and fresh analysis, the authors' predictable narrative adds little to our knowledge of either the French polyglot Jean-Fran ois Champollion (1790-1832), the genius who deciphered the stone, or of the decipherment process itself. Disappointingly, the Adkinses, though experienced writers and consultants on archaeology, don't make the grade in this bland, lackluster account. The bibliography has been significantly expanded and the maps redrawn.Ĭlear, authoritative, and highly organized, Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome, Updated Edition provides a unique look at a society whose art, literature, law, and engineering have profoundly influenced the development and shape of Western civilization throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and up to today.Set against a background of academic intrigue and international rivalry, with colorful personalities vying to be the first to unveil the meaning behind ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the story of the decipherment of the Rosetta Stone has all the ingredients of a dramatic scientific quest. For this updated edition, the authors have reviewed, revised, and expanded the existing text as needed and added approximately 20 to 30 new illustrations. Organized thematically, nine chapters provide in-depth analysis of all aspects of Roman life. Including information that is often hard to find and even harder to decipher, this volume presents comprehensive coverage of ancient Roman civilization in a way that is interesting to read and easy to understand. Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome, Updated Edition provides full access to 1,200 years of Roman civilization from the eighth century BCE to the fifth century CE. "This is an excellent handbook.Recommended for general readers, undergraduates, and even for their teachers." Choice
Recommended for all public libraries." Reference Book Review High school students should especially find this a useful reference. "Explanations are clear and concise and present a wealth of information. "An ideal and readable resource for students of Roman history and the classics." School Library Journal
".succeeds in making an original contribution to this much-studied civilization.a welcome addition to any library's reference collection.recommended for all libraries." American Reference Books Annual
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