5 comments about Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day (5 Denarii).

1. My husband and I were both Latin scholars when in school years ago.
   
   Imagine our delight at finding this wonderfully informative travelogue through Ancient Rome!
   
   This is not humor in the usual sense of the word, but rather a well-informed guide for the visitor to ancient Rome. It puts the reader back 2000+ years, and provide her with every bit of information needed to make a visit safe and enjoyable. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoyed their Latin studies, is a history buff, or is just curious about what life was like in the Rome of the Caesars.
   
   Readable, packed with little-known facts, and not at all stuffy. Written by someone who clearly has gone deep into the subject, and come up with a gem.



2. I wondered whether this would prove to be too much of a gimmick, but took a chance and am glad I did. The book has just the right mix of facts, impressions, humor, and typical travel information truly geared to an ancient traveler coming to the imperial capital. Both fun and informative from start to finish.



3. Five denarii? You've gotta be kidding! Back when I was a kid touring Europe, you could paint Ancient Rome red on a mere two denarii.



4. This text is hysterical! I laughed out loud repeatedly while reading it. There is a wealth of information about everything you could ever want to know about the City of Ancient Rome. Although told as if written for a traveller in 200 C.E., the text makes occasional forays into the distant past as well as ahead to modern times as such excursions become important to understanding what is being said. I wish there had been a bit more detail in some sections, but at least I didn't spot any blatant factual errors. It was particularly useful for figuring out what had and what had not yet been built by the year 200. It is definitely entertaining and well worth a read.



5. A guide for Rome of 200 AD, it is full of history, advice to keep out of trouble, and lots of humor. It really gives you a sense of daily life during the height of the Roman Empire. The chapters really do their best to explain how to get around Rome, from places to eat to sites to see, from the games to the marketplaces, from the brothels to the temples. There is a section that even explains how to change your money. From the page numbers, to the list of useful phrases, you get the sense that this would be a great tour book for a time traveler. If only you knew how to speak Latin and had a Time Machine.

5 comments about Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings: Evidence of Advanced Civilization in the Ice Age.

1. This book is about medieval and some Rennaissance maps which are very unusual: They show continents not yet (re-)discovered. Isles now submerged. The coastal areas of Antarctica and Greenland entirely free of ice. A remarkable precision completely out of place for the Imes (times). Based on cartographical systems utterly unknown back then - and obviously completely not overstood by the copyists of ancient maps. Ancient maps which are based on source maps which were ancient in the Imes what we today consider as ancient.
   
   When I first browsed through the ads for other books in this book's back I dreaded what I got myself into. From Atlantis to UFOs you will find anything no hard evidence will be found of currently. Personally, I do not DISbelief any of that either, I just dread to read wild speculation. Because that usually turns out to be utter non-sense later. Yet, occasionally sparking the search for more knowledge. Which IS important then, after all. This shows perfectly with this book. Most of it is very 1960s state of the art scientific fact based. No wonder, as the author worked on this subject for seven years (1959-1966) - as a professor with his students and the help of the US air force map division. After the presentation of the facts on the various maps, he adds a concluding chapter - with a lot of speculation. The theories therein were valid at the Imes. Reproduced is a foreword by no less than Albert Einstein for an earlier book by the author, which theory gets new attention in this follow up book. The specifics of the main theory of earth crust shifting (as in one peace moving in one direction) due to the heavy ice caps at the poles causing centrifugal displacements sound extremely hilarious today. Yet, at the Imes, ANY continental shifting sounded hilarious, and today we know that the continents move around indeed. Just not the way, the author once suspected.
   
   Which leads me to the subtraction of a star for major dust having accumulated on this book, without getting updated with a preface or reworked altogether. This book is historic already. It has been written at Imes, humans were just starting to get pictures of earth from space, but hadn't been on the moon yet. It was published eight years before the invention of Arno Peters' superior projection of the world. When the ice ages were still pure mysteries. When the age of humans of some 195,000 years wasn't known. And when historic legends such as the supposed burning of the Alexandria library by Muslim conquerors was still believed in, i.e. hadn't been exposed as the medieval European Christian propaganda it was. (In reality, it was first Julius Caesar, then fanatic Christians who successively burned that (once rebuild) world treasure, the last Imes some seven centuries before the Muslims arrived.)
   
   All which in a way makes a point for that which the author is writing: That some superior knowledge may get forgotten/never known by (mainstream) humanity while in other areas common progress is made. He's referring to the lost source maps. I am referring to his book. His speculation about the earth has been dealt with and progressed on. His very scientific facts about the maps he has conducted has not entered general human consciousness. After the first edition, his book remained unpublished for some 20 years, till a publisher had to reprint it, whose usual readership is satisfied with less strict scientific standards. After reading the other reviews here, I may add that the paperback of 1996 indeed is in black and white. That may have contributed to the very bad reproduction of SOME of the maps, contributing to the subtraction of a star. Most are clearly recognisable, but with individual ones I felt insulted with the presentation. Luckily, some are schematized on the following pages.
   
   I am very thankful that the author unravelled the SEEMING imprecision of some old maps, which only have to get looked at within the correct cartographic system to become virtually perfect. Just not for easy long distance navigation, something e.g. Columbus didn't realize. (The same as the Peters Projection isn't the best choice for navigation.) By the way, it is known in the meanwhile that Columbus knew not only of ancient maps, but also of previous African travels to the Americas. That's why he chose his sea route starting from West Africa to catch the best current. For more on that read e.g. They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America by Ivan Van Sertima and in a way also The Lost Treasure of King Juba: The Evidence of Africans in America before Columbus. The latter suggests an additional reason for the loss of the source maps: A fleeing African King's court taking the maps with it upon Roman invasion, making sure this way that the Romans wouldn't be able to follow.
   
   Other seemingly hilarious elements on the maps are explained as making sense - when the original source maps get considered, not the knowledge lacking later copyists -, such as mythical beasts presented in some territories.
   
   If anybody knows a more recent source about these maps, please leave a comment. For example I am amazed that it doesn't strike anybody, such as the author as odd that some land masses are free of ice, yet on other maps the sea level is DROPPED or equal to today. There are some "odd" climactic conditions making this half way possible, yet I would like to clearly know about the specific scenario at hand. (Or wether this ancient map making knowledge is supposed to have existed THIS long that it covered different fundamentally changed world climates.) And about other confirming or challenging information which has accumulated by now. Such as a bathymetric comparison of the Aegean Sea proving wether the once depicted additional islands are really there, i.e. submerged. One confirming fact I DO know is that residues of American cocaine and Australian eucalyptus have been found in Egyptian mummies, as the Western edge of Australia is presented on one of the maps as well. It has also been found out that the Egyptian culture is much older than presented in 20th century orthodox egyptology, so the question of who might have come up with the now lost source maps isn't really such a mystery anymore (and is not restricted to the admirers of "Atlantis"), especially considering that the maps were obviously centered on Egypt.



2. What Hapgood is suggesting is almost beyond belief. Yet, he presents his well-argued case with clear documentation. I just don't see how anyone with an open mind could dismiss his argument without serious consideration.
   
   The problem is, the ramifications of what he is saying are staggering. If what Hapgood suggests is true, we will have to rewrite the history of mankind.
   
   I'd have given it 5 stars if the writing were better. Many will find it dry, but it is well worth the read.



3. Maps was a refreshing perspective on a topic which is very much under-researched for whatever reasons.



4. Great stuff in this book.
   
   Talks of an ancient civilization that certainly knew what was going on...
   
   Great start in finding out the truth about the world before we came around!!!



5. There are many theories about the ancient civilizations. If we look back to the human history, somehow we always cross the boundaries of official science. The biggest problem is the lack of solid evidences. Prof. Hapgood finds his evidence in old maps. In his book he analyze maps with scientific methodology, and gets some really interesting results. Focusing mainly to the map of Piri Reis, he extracts data out of an old map, and presents the results as an "accurate map" of the American coastline long before it was explored by the Europeans. I read this book twice and I carefully studied the chapters of map making and writing, and I think that Prof. Hapgood and his students made a great job. Are the results convincing? For me, not really, there's a point, when a coastline of the Antarctic is extracted from the map. It needs to much assumptions to be true. The same is true with the map of Oronteus Finaeus map.
   Besides, ther are some really interesting points, e.g.: a very good explanation of why Colombus estimated shorter distance between Europe and America, and some REALLY EXACT midieval maps of the medeterranium.
   This book is well above most of the books of "ancient history, lost civilizations, etc" category, because it is based on facts and calculations, you can check if you want. This could be a 5 star book, but I feel, that some of the conclusions are forced.

5 comments about Chronicle of the Roman Emperors: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Rome (Chronicle).

1. I bought a second one for a friend a week after the first copy arrived. Great, concise book.



2. Excellent book, very few errors. Good source of information, very nice colorfull pictures and sketches. Worth the cost.



3. Replete with timelines, maps, sidebars, and photographs, this is a wonderful resource. Whether you're watching a DVD of "I, Claudius" or reading Gibbon, it's a highly useful reference book where you can get a quick read on any emperor. Often, I'll pull it down from the shelf to research a particular emperor, then find myself still reading it an hour later.
   
   What I like best about it are the photographed busts of the emperors which along with the lively writing really bring the Roman rulers to life. They also allow one to trace the change in Roman art from the idealized classicism of Augustus to the grim realism of the mid 3rd century's portrait of Philip the Arab when the Empire was falling apart to the stolid and blank cartoonlike portrait of Constantine the Great in the 4th century when the Empire had been restored, but had become Christian and more medieval.
   
   A real gem, this book is highly recommended for fans of Roman history.



4. 
   For anyone with even a passing interest in Roman history this book is an invaluable source of knowledge about the Roman Emperor's. Personally it helps to set the scene for me even if the book is a work of fiction if I can pin point the period of Roman history that is being written about and knowing what emperor was reigning in Rome and in what years is a sure fire way of pin-pointing the period in which the book is written.
   
   Of course the book is so much more than a time scale of Roman history, there is also information regarding what wars if any were fought during a particular emperor's reign and what Roman building were attributable to any given emperor. The book covers the succession of 80 emperors, with biographical portraits of the 56 most notable ones. Names that leap out from the pages of the history books, Julius Caesar, Hadrian, Nero, all names to conjure with.
   
   There are contemporary judgements made by writers of the time including Suetonius and Tacitus and these are balanced by character assessments made in the light of modern research. This is a book that is well worth having, not only for its reference capabilities but also it is a good read in its own right.



5. Fun to read, but also very informative. A good book for the non-speacilist who wants to learn more about history or simply get a good overview before taking a trip to Rome.

5 comments about In Search of the Old Ones.

1. Not being from the Southwest this book acted like a walking guide to the mysterious disappearance and the researched history of the ancient civilization inhabiting the canyons. It was a good, easy read, with lots of references for more research. I would read more of his work without hesitation. I just wish he'd put in some maps to give an overview of the canyons he was hiking.



2. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to explore the far reaches of Anasazi territory, this book takes you there! If you enjoy armchair travel there isn't a book that puts you there better than this one. David Roberts describes in detail his adventures through many Anasazi sites in the Southwest. Even those ruins that many people will never see because of their remote location.



3. For anyone with a passing interest in the Anasazi and the southwest, this is a great read. It's not a scientific archeology book but instead an easy to read guide to some of the Anasazi ruins of the southwest and the description of the author's hikes and explorations. He touches upon various theories of the fate of the Anasazi and current issues relating to the remaining ruins and National Parks. It has a few B&W photos (could definitely had more). It is a very easy read and to be honest I'm writing this review after having read it for the 3rd time. I have visited many of the sites that he writes about and for anyone who has been to any of the Anasazi sites and National Parks you will truly enjoy this book and have a better understanding of the history and of the ruins of this vanished (or moved) people.



4. David Roberts is my favorite outdoor adventure writer and this, in my opinion, is one of his best works.
   
   Mystery will always surround the Anasazi. The land on which the remnants of their habitations remain is hauntingly beautiful and desolate. For me this book brought back many memories of trips I've made to these areas since childhood and also rekindled the desire to return for more. Natural Bridges, Grand Gulch, Mesa Verde have always been special places for me.
   
   David does an excellent job providing a broad spectrum of thought and research into how the Anasazi lived and why they seemingly disappeared. He also provides a fascinating look at his own travel adventures in southern Utah and the other four-corner states.
   
   I highly recommend this book to all David Roberts fans, southwest canyoneers, Anasazi enthusiasts, or armchair adventurers!



5. If you are at all interested in the ancient Anasazi culture of the southwest, this book should be on your reading list. Excellent stories of hiking on Cedar Mesa in southern Utah. David Roberts has written some good tales of adventure in the canyons. Another very good read is his book "Sandstone Spine".

2 comments about Nature's Clocks: How Scientists Measure the Age of Almost Everything.

1. The main focus of this book is on how objects can be dated using measurements of radioactive isotopes and their products, that is the elements and isotopes that form after radioactive decay.
   The author begins with a brief discussion of ideas about the earth's duration before the advent of dating techniques using radioactive isotopes. Here he discusses the duration of the earth as inferred from the Bible, the influence of James Hutton in moving scientific opinion towards a longer time scale, William Smith's use of fossils to come to a relative (that is, the order in which rocks were formed, but not when they were formed) dating of sedimentary rocks, and the conflict in the later half of the 19th century between geologists' belief in a long earth history and the physicist Lord Kelvin's model of a relatively short (20 million years in some versions of the model) duration for the earth.
   With the discovery of radioactivity, in the early 20th century it became apparent that radioactive decay could be used a sort of clock. The physicist Ernest Rutherford was one of the first to attempt to estimate geological time scales using radioactive decay. The British geologist Arthur Holmes in his early work was one of the first geologist's to use the decay of uranium to lead to estimate geological time scales. These early efforts were hampered by the lack of understanding that different isotopes of the same element exist, and that there can be more than one radioactive isotope of an element.
   As understanding of the complexity of the problem increased, more accurate methods resulted. Claire Patterson, at the University of Chicago and later at Caltech, came up with the roughly 4.55 billion year estimate of the duration of the earth's existence in the 1950s using the uranium to lead decay series, after much difficulty in eliminating laboratory contamination of lead from leaded gasoline. Starting in the 1940s at the University of Chicago, Libby and his graduate students developed carbon 14 dating, which is suitable for dating objects that contain carbon from roughly the last 50,000 years and is therefore useful for archaeologists, and for geologists who study ice ages. One thing I was interested to learn is that the carbon 14 method is the only one that involves the actual counting of radioactive decay; the other methods, such as uranium to lead or potasssium argon, actually require the measurement of the "parent" element and isotope (such as uranium) and the "daughter" element and isotope (such as lead) with a mass spectrometer, because radioactive decay is too slow for practical counting from small samples of these isotopes.
   Each radioactive method is suitable for different time spans, The uranium lead method is suitable for very long (billions, hundreds of millios of years) time spans, the potsssium argon method for intermediate (in a geological sense!) time spans, and carbon 14 for the last 50,000 years or so. Because carbon 14 is produced at varying rates over time in the upper atmosphere (from the interaction of cosmic radiation with molecules in the air), to improve its accuracy it is calibrated with (mainly) tree ring data. The calibration at the moment goes back about 26,000 years.
   Recent developments have allowed for collecting information from smaller samples, such as individual crystals of zircon,
   I found the book easy to read. The author includes two appendices with some discussion of the mathematics of radioactive decay, a chart of the geological time scale, and the periodic table of the chemical elements.



2. This excellent book provides an overview of how things or events from the past can be dated - from when the earth formed to events in human history. As the author points out, although much of the distant past can be dated in a relative way, i.e., by classifying events in the order in which they occurred, the determination of actual ages has received an incredible boost through the use of radioactive isotopes of certain elements. The author weaves this fascinating tale very well - from the discovery of radioactivity, through the discovery of its use in dating ancient artifacts to refining the age of the earth and the timing of milestones in human evolution. The individuals who did the early pioneering work, as well as those who currently strive for greater precision and refinement in this field, play prominent roles in this gripping story which clearly illustrates how science works. The writing style is clear, friendly, authoritative, very engaging and quite accessible. This book appears to have been aimed at broad readership; specialized terminology is well explained when first used in the main text and a glossary of technical terms can be found at the back of the book. But also, an appendix is included that concentrates on some of the mathematical formulas involved, for those who are more mathematically/technically inclined. Consequently, this book can be enjoyed by anyone, although science buffs may consider it a particularly special treat.

3 comments about The Lost Tomb of Viracocha: Unlocking the Secrets of the Peruvian Pyramids.

1. Maurice does it again...I don't believe that he will ever write a book that is as good as 'The Tutankhamun Prophecies', but 'The Lost Tomb of Viracocha' reveals more of the great secrets encoded into artifacts by clever ancient peoples.
   
   The book can be read simply as an archaeological or anthropological guide to the lost pyramids of Peru. The pictures and expanations of the pyramids and artifacts are fantastic (my favorite is the Crab Man). Cotterell also makes a cogent case regarding the spiritual messages encoded in the burial sites. The ancient Lord of Sipan, who should not have not more about physics than what can be seen in the heavens at night with the naked eye, knew more about some aspects of physics than our modern science does. He (and Tutankhamun and the rest of the Supergods) also had sophisticated knowledge about the physical world and its relationship to the spiritual world.
   
   Cotterell has a special talent: finding, presenting, and explaining information that has previously been a mystery. The 'Lines of Nazca' is an example of this. Nobody knew who made these lines, many miles long, or why, and then suddenly Maurice says exactly who made them and what the significance of the lines is. This type of research makes it difficult for mainstream science or any other interested party to remain in a state of cognitive dissonance. Maurice's books are definitely for the open minded reader.
   
   I highly recommend the book, although it is not a masterpiece like 'The Tutankhamun Prophecies'. Maurice tends to repeat himself, giving a great deal of old information to his fan base, and at the end of the book goes a little too far in attempting to explain how we escape the reincarnation cycle. Even after all of his research, we still don't know as much as we don't know. And who's to say that the path of the ancients is the only one? Other than that, the book really is a great read. Hold on for another wild ride in 'The Lost Tomb of Viracocha'. econ



2. I was pointed to this book while looking for "Fingerprints of the Gods" by Graham Hancock, wanting to read up on Inca culture and Machu Picchu before visiting the actual site. Unfortunately, since there's no Amazon.com in the Amazon, I got this instead.
   
   I say "unfortunately" because even though it was recommended to me by a bookstore owner and I began by enjoying it, I very quickly got frustrated with the author. Throughout the book he uses terms like "super-science" to refer to ancient civilisations' knowledge of the sun. What's wrong with plain "science"? This isn't a marvel comic book.
   
   That annoyance pales in comparison to the myriad theories he puts forth without any kind of solid reasoning. For example, he suggests that the Nazca lines in the desert in southern Peru bear a striking resemblance to drawings made on the computer using a mouse to connect points on a line. Therefore, the ancient culture which made the Nazca lines must have possessed computer technology.
   
   I don't know where to begin, but the reasoning is so preposterous and leaves so many questions unanswered that poking holes in it would be like beating up on a child. That is the level of some of the theories and arguments put forth to support those theories on show in this book.
   
   The final chapter of the book turns into a full on diatribe against modern western society's failure to accept the idea of reincarnation. Regardless of your beliefs, whether they be for or against reincarnation, I can't imagine why the author thought a book on South American archeological artefacts and mysteries is the proper place for such a rant. He finishes by picking random scientific theories, drawing vague correlations to religious beliefs, and thereby "proving" his own spiritual beliefs. This is the type of "scientific proof", similar to the above example theory and proof I mentioned, which bears no relation to any kind of real science or scientific process.
   
   Overall, he spends a bit of time discussing genuinely interesting aspects of South American history. He also has some though-provoking theories, but the arguments he presents to backup his thories utterly fail to convince me that he's not grasping at straws.
   
   Not recommended.



3. I like his style to a point. However, I prefer the explanantions found in the Book Of Mormon. So get past the election year rhetoric and find out about the ancient Americas.

5 comments about Lost City of the Incas (Phoenix Press).

1. This book is valuable for many reasons. First and foremost, it presents us with the views and attitudes of one of the world's foremost anthropologist-explorers from the beginning of the 20th century. This means lots and lots of passion and enthusiasm, a willingness to risk one's life in pursuit of an elusive goal and an ability to follow one's gut instincts. All traits which, sadly, have practically dissapeared from modern anthropology. In addition, of course, the book is permeated with the spirit of the times (1910-40ies) - which means patronizing attitudes toward the natives (the "savages", who for the most part clearly resented the tasks of having to clear the jungle, build bridges across impassable rapids and climb hills infested with snakes) and an eurocentric view of the world which now seems a bit naive.

   All this being said, I must emphasize that this book is a treasure and a must read for anyone about to visit Macchu Picchu - if only to contrast the conditions encountered by Bingham and his Indians to those that exist today, when busloads of clueless tourists are delivered straight to the Temple of the Sun. The first third of the book consists of a superb Introduction including a recapitulation of the16th century records of the Incas and their empire (including the awesome Pachakuti Inca), very competent review of Inca technology (many of their and an excellent recapitulation of the life stories of the last 4 Incas. The last part describes the actual "discovery" of Macchu Picchu which occured by procuring, for a silver coin, the services of Anacleto Alvarez, a local Qechua who had been living among the ruins all along. Macchu Pichu therefore had never been truly "lost" and "discovery" has in this context many interesting connotations.

   For my part, I have a respect for Bingham and for his guts that served him so well. In time, for example, they led him to the US Senate (from Connecticut). I suspect it will take many a pachakuti (turning of the Wheel of Time) till another anthropologist gets an opportunity to represent Democracy and the People.




2. Hiram Bingham goes on an exploration with a couple specialist friends to find the four capitals of the ancient Incan civilization. On the way, he goes through countless jungles, helpful indian cities, and steep mountain trails. The first part of the book is dedicated to informing the reader of interesting information about the Incas. The second and third parts described the trip through "Inca-land". I would request this book to anyone who wants to explore the Amazon Jungle someday.



3. Although some (actually many)of Bingham's ideas/theories have since been disproved, this is none-the-less a great true story about how he discovered Machu Pichu. He was actually a professor (and political representative) that went to Peru to increase his knowledge about South American history for teaching purposes. He decided to go back with a team of experts to try and find the lost city of the incas. And he did find it! It is great "adventure" reading...hiking through jungles, steep and dangerous terrain, exploring a long forgotten (and uncharted) area of Peru.
   
   He also shares a lot of history about the incas in the book. We "owe" a lot to them. For instance, they domesticated/cultivated some of the common agriculural foods we still eat today. And they domesticated the guinea pig. Your kids can thank the incas for their furry little pet!
   
   If you are considering visiting Peru and Machu Pichu, I'd highly recommend this book. It is a great starting point to learning more about this country and culture.



4. In 1908, on a diplomatic mission he attained in the interest of increasing his understanding of South America and thus qualify as a professor of South American studies at Yale, Hiram Bingham casually accepted an invitation to visit the site of Incan ruins in Peru. His readings of the original Spanish conquistadores and explorers suggested there were more never found by the Europeans and he returned with an adventurous expedition. In 1911, on his own with a couple of local Indian farmers who were quietly using the land, he found the ruins of Machu Picchu high in the Andes under jungle overgrowth. Thus he ushered in the new era in Incan scholarship, 20th century adventurous exploration, archeology and, what he did not imagine at the time, tourism.
   
   Bingham wrote THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS with verve nearly 30 years after his achievement. To its credit, it is not riddled with hindsight but offers an immediacy of perspective. He begins with a very lucid, unbiased reading of the end of the Incan empire by the Europeans who leveled it. Bingham then recounts his own adventures in the discovery and subsequent archeological efforts, after which he provides a gloss on Incan culture as understood in those first digs. Bingham's narrative never bogs, even among the dryer material. The book stirs with wonder. Bingham may have been an ambitious man but his ambitions in this context are all about furthering knowledge for all.
   
   The only reason to nick a star in the rating: datedness. Thanks to Bingham's inspiration, Incan studies perpetuate and some of his conclusions are no longer current. Though in one section he refers to native Indians as "savages," the book is largely and refreshingly free of elitism. He struck a deal with Peru to remove artifacts for study at Yale, with the stipulation that Peru could have them back when it wanted them. That's a drama that's unfolding now.



5. I bought this because of an upcoming trip to Machu Picchu. The first part about the last days of the Inca kings was very interesting. A lot of the discovery or rather rediscovery part was very interesting. Some of it was tedious georgraphical details that made very slow reading. Most of his comments about the indigenous population was less than enlightened but was probably no worse than most of his generation. It is probably necessary now to read something more modern about the area. I will definitely reread the the first part about the kings right before going there.

5 comments about The Lost Civilization of Lemuria: The Rise and Fall of the Worlds Oldest Culture.

1. I have read lots of books most of them pretty good in their domain, i have read books about Atlantis but not much about Lemuria, the thing about
   this book is not that is about Lemuria, if it was about Egypt it would still be good, it is the writer's minds that impressed me..
   
   Nothing is new under the sun, like Dalis said "We have not invented a thing" right after he saw the paintings in the french caves of Lascaux.
   
   WE think we are so smart with our cellulars and computers and airplanes and radios, huh .... think again ignorant man for the sun is about to set



2. This book provides excellent archaeological evidence that Lemuria exsited. However, I agree with Robert Muniz's review. I too found it odd that the author made "continued emphasis on caucasians as the central agents of early civilization in every location he discussed." Edgar Cayce stated that the Lemurians were a brown and black race, and that the people of Atlantis were of the red race and white race. Why did Frank Joseph write an entire chapter around Edgar Cayce's readings of Lemuria, not mention this statement, and then imply that the inhabitants were white?
   
   Furthermore, it is scientifically proven that polynesians migrated to oceania from Madagascar and that polynesian languages have roots in African languages. This makes Edgar Cayce's theory have weight to it, that the Lemurians were a dark/black race.
   
   Recently, scientists have found that chicken bones of Polynesian origin in what is today Chile. The chicken bones match those of the species found in Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and SE Asia. Also, the Olmec statues in SE Mexico are distinctly black African in appearance.
   
   If anyone has studied Huna, the ancient art of Hawaiian spiritualism, they would have known that the ancient Hawaiians were psychic.
   
   It should also be known that in the 13th century a Japanese was shipwrecked in Hawaii and the Native Hawaiians called him the "white chief with an iron knife". For more documentation on how shipwrecked Asians were considered "white" by the polynesians, go to http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hhl/hhl14.htm and read about the first foreigners to Hawaii after the polynesians settled there.
   
   I do admire the archaeological evidence of Lemuria that the author documented. Don't get me wrong. This book provides good hard evidence that the civilization existed. However, as far as race goes, I am inclined to believe that the evidence links the Native Americans, Asians, Polynesians, and people of African descent to Lemuria.



3. excellent research on a once forgotten continent.Frank Joseph does a great job interviewing those who are native to the pacific and on getting there input on many myths and legends that are relative through out the entire pacific rim.



4. Much has been made over the years about the myths of Atlantis while Lemuria is a far less discussed and potentially more intriguing legend. Now, with the release of The Lost Civilization of Lemuria, Frank Joseph, the editor of Ancient American, has written the definitive tome on Lemuria.
   
   Lemuria was a great archipelagoe-based nation that was flooded when a massive tsunami hit the island chain some time before the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000 BC. The survivors then made their way around the world, sharing their scientific and mystical skills throughout Asia, Polynesia, and the Americas.
   
   This book is a compelling read, well-written, and painstakingly researched. Joseph uses the latest archaeological findings, from the totem poles of the Pacific northwest, the stone monuments of Easter Island, to the enigmatic glyphs and symbols in Japan--as well as recent deep-sea discoveries and DNA analysis--to recreate a portrait of a socially and technologically advanced ancient civilization. Joseph's investigations reveal a culture that lived in harmony with nature while attaining a high level of science and spiritual sophistication, a mother culture that gave birth to the various Oceanic-Asian cultures.
   
   One of the reasons why this may be the decisive book on Lemuria is Joseph's erudite and methodical analysis of the topic. Unlike most books about Lemuria, which dance fancifully with speculative theories and metaphysical nonsense, Joseph focuses on factual findings to build his hypotheses. He covers many mysteries that seemingly have Lemurian connections, such as the Yonaguni site off the coast of southern Japan, the magnetized basalt of Pohnpei, the rongo rongo script of Easter Island, and even Caucasian tribesman in ancient China and the Pacific Rim.
   
   In the same manner that Graham Hancock and John Anthony West write with passion and intellect about ancient civilizations, so does Frank Joseph on this fascinating topic.
   --www.mysteriesmagazine.com



5. Just some notes on some reviews. Two reviewers mentioned statues of what they thought looked like black Africans in the Americas. There are also statues that look like white Europeans. What's the point? I had a link to a site discussing how the black Olmec theory is based on bad science & continues to pull the theory apart. Unfortunately, the link is now broken, but I'm sure everyone here knows what Google is.
   
   One of the two reviewers that mentioned the Olmecs also mentioned how Cayce stated the Atlanteans were partly of a "red" race. If Atlantis existed anywhere, it would be near the Canary islands & the Azores. The Azores were not populated when they were re-discovered & the Canaries were occupied by the Guanches, a proto-Berber people which were described by the Spaniards as being tall & fair with many blondes in their numbers. Hey, maybe Cayce "saw" some sun tans, but I think that's about it.
   
   Explorers also had mentions of "White skinned" indians who themselves said they were descended from another civilization. Everything I've read on Lemuria mentions the inhabitants as being tremendously tall & fair skinned, so I don't see where this "possible discrimination" comes from.

5 comments about The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character (Phoenix Books).

1. Kramer provides a brief survey of the history of ancient Sumer. Even though this book is listed as archeology, he gleans most of his narrative from literary sources. It includes a history of the area from early dynastic times down to the time of Hammurabi, as well essays on Sumerian literature, education, religion, and so forth. Kramer writes very elegantly and includes a large collection of primary sources, making this book, despite its age, one of the best on its subject. On the other hand, it is a rather old book, and there are some subjects where Kramer's interpretations do not seem to have been accepted by more recent scholars, for instance his theories about Magan, Meluhha, and Dilmun. Despite this, his book is a good introduction to the history of Sumer, worthy of a read by anyone who is or thinks they might be interested in the subject.



2. An extremely rich series of tableaus of a fascinating cvilization in all its past glorious history. The author is a superb writer. And this book is a treasure...almost all the vital aspects of Sumer are depicted with bright colors:...religion...culture, way of life...society..ideology...history and fascinating stories..It is rich rich rich. No library on history and civilizations is complete without this book! Really a rare gem!!



3. Very good book to start reading about a people and a time that is hard to research and investigate.I think the author presented a very good account of the Sumerians and in a clear and concise manner.Excellent book!



4. I am neither an ancient history buff nor a historian, but began to explore the Sumerians only after my curiousity about the beginnings of civilization enabled me to discover this amazing culture. Here were the beginnings of epic literature. myth and religion, writing and an advanced
   culture almost three millenia before the birth of Christ! Samuel Noah Kramer is a specialist and authority in this field, and has produced an interesting, factually correct and fascinating book. If you're bored with the 21st century, give this one a try!



5. _The Sumerians_ by Samuel Noah Kramer is a very readable overview of the ancient Sumerians, those ancient, non-Semitic peoples who produced the world's "first high civilization" and were the world's first urban culture. This ancient culture spanned the fifth to the second millennium BC though its scientific and literary achievements would have lasting influence throughout the ancient world and down through today.
   
   The first chapter reviewed the history of the modern study of the Sumerians. As late as the 19th century the Sumerian culture was completely unknown. When scholars and archaeologists began excavating in Mesopotamia they were looking for Assyrians, not Sumerians. The Assyrians were discussed in Greek and Hebrew sources, but of the Sumerians, there was "no recognizable trace of the land, or its people and language, in the entire available Biblical, classical, and postclassical literature" (though some experts now think that Sumer is mentioned in the Bible with a variant name). Sumer had "been erased from the mind and memory of man for more than two thousand years."
   
   This chapter revealed the history of the decipherment of Sumerian writing (the name cuneiform dates from 1700 when Thomas Hyde coined the word to described Old Persian writing that he believed was decoration, not actual speech) and the naming of these people (Sumerian was proposed as a term in 1869 by Jules Oppert, who used the name from the title "King of Sumer and Akkad" found in some royal inscriptions, believing that Sumer referred to the non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia while Akkad referred to the Semitic people of Mesopotamia).
   
   Chapter two dealt with political history. The Sumerians didn't really produce what we would call histories; they were rather more archivist than historian, chroniclers more than interpreters of history. The first real record of Sumerian events was essentially to preserve for posterity what great building projects (particularly of temples) Sumerian rulers had accomplished. Not all historical source material is "curt and lifeless" though, as one source of information is the royal correspondence between rulers and officials, letters that can reveal motives, rivalries, and intrigue.
   
   As far as history itself the reader learns that two of the truly ancient Sumerian rulers were deified (Dumuzi, a deity whose worship would have profound influences in Judaism and in Greek mythology, and Gilgamesh, the "supreme hero of Sumerian myth and legend," his deeds written and rewritten not only in Sumerian but also in other languages), and that Sargon the Great was the conqueror that finally brought about the end of the Sumerian people as "an identifiable political and ethnic entity" and began the "Semitization of Sumer."
   
   Chapter three looked at life in the Sumerian city. In the third millennium B.C. Sumer consisted of a dozen or so city-states surrounded by a few villages, each city's main feature being the main temple situated on a high terrace, one that gradually evolved into a staged tower or ziggurat, "Sumer's most characteristic contribution to religious architecture." The temple was the largest and most important building in a Sumerian city, reflecting the importance of religion in Sumerian life (though scholars have debated for decades whether Sumer was a "totalitarian theocracy dominated by the temple" or whether there was some relative freedom and private property; opinion now leans towards the notion that while the temple was the major economic player, private individuals could buy and sell property and own businesses).
   
   An important chapter, Kramer looked at such things as the average Sumerian house (a small, single story, mud-brick building with several rooms arranged around an open courtyard), the Sumerian calendar (they divided the year into two seasons, emesh, "summer", and enten, "winter," with the new year falling between April-May), even Sumerian medicine (providing translations of several ancient prescriptions).
   
   Chapter four looked at religion and mythology. The Sumerians recognized a very large number of gods, some of which had some very specific areas of interest (such as a deity in charge of the pickax) but recognized seven gods who "decree the fates" and fifty deities known as "the great gods." Sumerian gods were entirely anthropomorphic, appearing human in form and could eat, drink, marry, raise families, and even die.
   
   Sumerians believed that rite and ritual were more important than either personal devotion or piety, and that man was "created for no other purpose than to serve the gods." They also believed in something called me, essentially a set of rules and regulations that were meant to be followed in order to keep the universe running smoothly. These me's included both positive concepts, like "truth" and but also negative ones like "strife."
   
   The parallels between Sumerian and Greek and Biblical stories were quite striking and Kramer discussed several examples (the Sumerian underworld looked a lot like the later Greek version, complete with a "Charon," for instance and the Sumerians had a Flood myth as well).
   
   Chapter five examined their literature, which included religious hymns and lamentations, epics, dirges, elegies, collections of proverbs, and a favorite Sumerian form of literature, the "wisdom" compositions or disputations in which two opposing protagonists debate back and forth (even if the two protagonists might be say personified animals or tools).
   
   Chapter six looked at the Sumerian edubba or school.
   
   Chapter seven examined Sumerian "drives, motives, and values." The author looked at the role of hatred and aggression in the Sumerian character, their drive for prestige, preeminence, and superiority, though they also valued goodness, truth, even mercy and compassion. Kramer noted though that their ambitious drive for preeminence produced many of the advances for which the Sumerians are noted, such as the development of writing and irrigation but also carried with it the "seeds of self-destruction," which trigged bloody wars between the Sumerian city-states and impeded unification which ultimately proved the downfall of Sumer.
   
   Chapter eight examined the legacy of Sumer, its tremendous influences on other ancient cultures and religions, its numerous technological inventions, even its political advances (they invented the city-state which was in marked contrast to the state of affairs in Ancient Egypt).

5 comments about Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni.

1. This is an excellent book for both the beginner or serious student of Southwestern Pottery. It gives examples of all styles, types, and designs, making it easy for anyone to understand what makes each Pueblo's pottery unique. Perhaps not as "in depth" as some others, this book is easily the best book out there today as far as explaining and illustrating the basics. It really is an indispensable guide and reference book. The authors are regular guys rather than scholars, so it is easy and enjoyable to read, and filled with great photos of their quite amazing collections. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a place to begin learning about Southwestern Pottery.



2. I'd been looking for a book like this for ages. It goes through every pueblo's pottery, describing the special characteristics of each, and talks about the important potters in each pueblo.
   
   This is very well written in an easy going, non-snobish style, instantly increasing your depth of knowledge in southwestern pottery. The photographs are excellent and plentiful, giving many diverse examples from each pueblo/region/era.
   
   Highly recommended for those new to collecting. I gave a copy to my parents in New Mexico, and even though they had been doing a bit of collecting for years, they have a much better understanding of the history of some of the pottery sitting on their shelves. They love this book.



3. I was impressed with the display groupings presented and the journey of the authors beginnings of his collections and the knowledge he aquired along the way. He gave good advice to new collectors. I open it daily and alway see something I missed. It's a great book to add to your collection.



4. this is a beautiful book the the pictures in the book are so vivid and colorful, it would make a wonderful addition to any library or it would make a great coffee table book!



5. a beautiful coffee-table book on old and modern Southwestern Pottery. I would have liked a little more on the old stuff and a little less by modern potters, but it is a minor quibble.