Empires rise; ideas endure still. Philip Van Ness Myers distils the ancient Mediterranean world into a clear, humane narrative that reads with the momentum of a story and the discipline of a classroom text. From near eastern antiquity and the first early empires and kingdoms to the full sweep of Greek and Roman history, this classical antiquity survey maps how power, law, religion, and civic life took shape across the ancient civilisations that still frame modern debates. Brisk in tone and measured in judgement, it shows how one civilisation answers another across centuries of conquest, trade, and thought. Written as an ancient history textbook yet valued as a world history reference book, Myers offers an ancient civilizations overview designed for quick consultation and steady reading alike: names, timelines, turning points, and the connective threads between peoples. Ideal for revision or browsing, the structure supports fast recall while keeping the narrative lively for the armchair reader at home. It suits a high school history course, a college survey study guide, or anyone building a classical studies reading list who wants a reliable public domain history classic with a confident voice and a teacher's sense of proportion. Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions, Ancient History is restored for today's and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector's item and a cultural treasure - it belongs on the shelves of casual history readers and classic literature collectors who prize foundational texts that helped define historical education.