{"title":"Books by Barry Strauss","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780099474333","title":"The Trojan War","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid the Trojan War really happen?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpectacular new archaeological evidence suggests that it did. Recent excavations and newly translated Hittite texts reveal that Troy was a large, wealthy city allied with the Hittite Empire. Located at the strategic entrance to the Dardanelles, the link between the Aegean and Black Sea, it was a tempting target for marauding Greeks, the Vikings of the Bronze Age. The Trojan War may have been the inevitable consequence of expanding Greek maritime commerce.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by a leading expert on ancient military history, the true story of the most famous battle in history is every bit as compelling as Homer's epic account - and confirms many of its details. In \u003ci\u003eThe Trojan War\u003c\/i\u003e, master storyteller Barry Strauss puts legend into its historical context, without losing its poetry and grandeur.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43399653163186,"sku":"9780099474333","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780099474333_3c077820-d940-468b-baad-d3c1491d4b3d.jpg?v=1786011235"},{"product_id":"9780753826980","title":"The Spartacus War","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe story of the most famous revolt of the ancient world, and its legendary leader, Spartacus the Gladiator.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpartacus was a Thracian gladiator who started a prison breakout with 74 men, armed with kitchen knives. It grew into a full scale rebellion against Rome, the most famous slave revolt in history. With an army of gladiators, ex-slaves and other desperadoes, he managed to defeat a succession of Roman armies and bring the Republic to its knees.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56294708969845,"sku":"9780753826980","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780753826980_e0f4e965-8086-4bdd-9c3b-805c328d7933.jpg?v=1786015816"},{"product_id":"9781668009598","title":"Jews vs. Rome","description":"A new history of two centuries of Jewish revolts against the Roman Empire, drawing on recent archeological discoveries and new scholarship by leading historian Barry Strauss.   Jews vs. Rome is a gripping account of one of the most momentous eras in human history: the two hundred years of ancient Israel’s battles against Rome that reshaped Judaism and gave rise to Christianity. Barry Strauss vividly captures the drama of this era, highlighting the courageous yet tragic uprisings, the geopolitical clash between the empires of Rome and Persia, and the internal conflicts among Jews.    Between 63 BCE and 136 CE, the Jewish people launched several revolts driven by deep-seated religious beliefs and resentment towards Roman rule. Judea, a province on Rome’s eastern fringe, became a focal point of tension and rebellion. Jews vs. Rome recounts the three major uprisings: the Great Revolt of 66–70 CE, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, culminating in the Siege of Masada, where defenders chose mass suicide over surrender; the Diaspora Revolt, ignited by heavy taxes across the Empire; and the Bar Kokhba Revolt. We meet pivotal figures such as Simon Bar Kokhba but also some of those lesser-known women of the era like Berenice, a Jewish princess who played a major role in the politics of the Great Revolt and was improbably the love of Titus—Rome’s future emperor and the man who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.    Today, echoes of those battles resonate as the Jewish nation faces new challenges and conflicts. Jews vs. Rome offers a captivating narrative that connects the past with the present, appealing to anyone interested in Rome, Jewish history, or the compelling true tales of resilience and resistance.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":57682633982325,"sku":"9781668009604","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":56302132494709,"sku":"9781668009598","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781668009604_f031e57a-29c9-43d7-bd27-f2847dc8aff1.jpg?v=1792511544"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-barry-strauss.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}