Persians: Masters of Empire

This book is part of the Time-Life series: Lost Civilizations. It examines Persian history and civilization from ancient Elam through the conquest by the Arabs in 642. The book has a wealth of information on its subject, along with a large number of beautiful and interesting pictures.My one complaint against this book is that it largely ignores the religious aspect, devoting only one small sidebar to Zoroastrianism. If you are interested in the ancient Persians, then this is an excellent book to own.

I am glad to have bought and read this book. It is quite informative and interesting to read. The pictures are excellent and the writing is plain. The book treats the origins and development of the Persian (Iranian) Empire before the coming of Islam. It celeberates the archeological efforts and historical research that have brought this important part of human's history and planet into light. I only wish that the title of the series was not Lost Civilizations but First Civilizations. Egypt, Persia and India are very much alive. These books can make very good gifts.