Awakening World

Antiquity was an era of human awakening and transformation that encompassed the entire Eurasian continent. Tracing 2,000 years of history, scholar Raimund Schulz presents a panorama of the ancient world as never before. From Celtic settlements and the caravan cities of northern Iran to the epic travelers of the Silk Road, Schulz expands our horizons to reveal the profound impacts of empires and peoples beyond the West. Guided by five defining forces—nomadism, cities, empire, trade, and religion—Schulz reveals the period’s major developments, from the rise and fall of civilizations to the roots of today’s political and economic systems and the emergence of all major world religions.With epic scope and vivid storytelling, An Awakening World reimagines our shared past—and sheds new light on its enduring impacts.