Gareth Harney

Doce monedas, mil años de historiaLa historia de Roma puede contarse a través de sus batallas y de sus emperadores, pero también —y de forma sorprendentemente directa— de sus monedas. En este libro,

Hold the gloryand infamyof ancient Rome in the palm of your hand with this brilliant combination of history and storytelling (Conn Iggulden, author of the Emperor series) as it explores historys greatest superpower, as told through humanitys most universal object: the coin.When Gareth Harney was first given a Roman coin as a child, he became entranced by its beauty, and its unique ability to connect us with the past. He soon learned that the Romans saw coins as far more than just currencythese were metal canvases on which they immortalized their sacred gods, mighty emperors, towering monuments, and brutal battles of conquest. Revealed in those intricate designs struck in gold, silver, and bronze was the epic story of the Roman Empire.Now, with his novel and highly readable (Philip Matyszak, author of The Blood-Red Sunset) voice and engaging research, Harney traces ancient Romes rise, from a few huts on an Italian hilltop to an all-conquering empire spanning three continents, through the fascinating lives of twelve remarkable coins. A unique and enthralling combination of history and expert storytelling (Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women) for all history buffs.

* A Financial Times Book of the Year * A Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday Summer Read *HOLD THE POWER AND GLORY OF ANCIENT ROME IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND.Fantastic ... expert storytellingCONN IGGULDENExcellentSUNDAY TIMESRiveting and utterly originalMAIL ON SUNDAYA wild she-wolf tenderly nurses infant twins Romulus and Remus.Marcus Junius Brutus looks out over chaos and conflict, flaunting the bloodied daggers with which he murdered Julius Caesar. Trumpets blare, crowds roar, gladiators enter the grand Colosseum. Let the games begin.Told through the lives of twelve remarkable coins, this is ancient Rome as youve never seen it before. Frescoes fade and books vanish, but the story of Romes epic rise and fall survives in scenes struck in gold, silver and bronze.Extremely enjoyableEMMA SOUTHONWonderful ... there are riches aplenty in these pages CHRISTOPHER HADLEYIngenious - filled with illuminating details MATTHEW KNEALEFascinating, original and funFINANCIAL TIMES

Vivid and pacy storytelling, blending insightful scholarship with evocative narration for readers of Tom Holland, Mary Beard and Bettany Hughes.It was the Greeks who invented money as we know it, striking the first coins in the seventh century BC. Before long this innovative idea of a portable metallic store of wealth spread across the waves of the Mediterranean. But these coins were more than simple units of exchange; they quickly became artistic masterpieces crafted in gold and silver and endure today as some of the most important surviving examples of Ancient Greek art.More important, they advertised the power and virtues of each polis with patriotic fervour; for the empire of Greece was not a single entity but a rich mosaic of wholly distinct city-states spread across three continents. Yet for all their unique identities and rivalries, these states were bonded by their shared worship of a colourful gallery of gods, their devotion to art, literature and philosophy, and the courage and skill of their citizen-soldiers.In this thrilling adventure Gareth Harney introduces us to twelve fascinating coins that provide the perfect introduction to Ancient Greece. We witness the birth of democracy on a sacred hilltop overlooking the Acropolis, battle invading Persians in an existential war on land and at sea, take part in the bitter conflict between Athens and Sparta, and march alongside Alexander the Great as he carries Greek culture all the way to India.

Doce monedas, mil años de historiaLa historia de Roma puede contarse a través de sus batallas y de sus emperadores, pero también —y de forma sorprendentemente directa— de sus monedas.En este libro, e

The extraordinary story of ancient Rome history s greatest superpower as told through humankind s most universal object the coin Fantastic CONN IGGULDEN author of Nero Brilliant EMMA SOUTHON author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Woman Wonderful CHRISTOPHER HADLEY author of The RoadMoneta traces ancient Rome s unstoppable rise from a few huts on an Italian hilltop to an all conquering empire spanning three continents through the fascinating lives of twelve remarkable coins In these handcrafted pieces of ancient art we witness Caesar s bloody assassination follow the legions to the edge of the known world take a seat in the packed Colosseum and ultimately watch as barbarian armies mass at the gates The Romans saw coins as far more than just money these were metal canvases on which they immortalised their sacred gods mighty emperors towering monuments and brutal battles of conquest Revealed in those intricate designs struck in gold silver and bronze was the epic history of the Roman world Hold the glory and the infamy of ancient Rome in the palm of your hand