The exceptional history of the interconnected civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, spanning more than six millennia, from the late Bronze Age to the seventh century. The marvelous civilization created by the ancient Greeks and Romans is the greatest legacy of the classical world. However, the narratives about the "civilized" empires of Greece and Rome standing against the barbarians are far from the truth. Tony Spawforth, a recognized academic, author, and media collaborator, follows the line of civilization through more than six millennia of history. His story reveals that Greek and Roman civilization, to various degrees, were extremely and surprisingly receptive to outside influences, especially from the East.

From the rise of the Mycenaean world in the 16th century BC, Spawforth traces a path through the ancient Aegean to the pinnacle of the Greek city-state and the rise of the Roman Empire, the advent of Christianity, and the repercussions of the first caliphate. Deeply informed, provocative, and completely fresh, this is the first and only accessible work to tell the exceptional story of the classical world in its entirety.