Offering comprehensive coverage of the ancient world, from prehistory to the fall of Rome, including Western and non-Western cultures and civilizations, the four-volume Encyclopedia of Society and Culture in the Ancient World begins with an introduction that outlines the key milestones in the development of human society, from the peoples of the Ice Age whose way of life is so remote from ours to the citizens of Greece and Rome whom we easily recognize from history books.

Compiled by 160 contributors, the 69 A-to-Z entries--;including 14 on "major" topics with more in-depth coverage; provide readers with an overview of the various ways in which people lived in the past. Each entry explores a specific topic (such as architecture) across the entire world, beginning with an introduction that outlines the major developments in chronological sequence, followed by subsections on the following centers of civilization: Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Greece, Rome, and the Americas. Each entry concludes with a list of "see also" references to related entries, followed by a further reading list of books, articles, and Web sites on the topic. Primary source documents, sidebars, and about 250 black-and-white photographs and maps supplement the text. A glossary, general bibliography, chronology by region, and a comprehensive index make this set an easy-to-use and essential reference for high school and college students, researchers, and general readers alike.

Entries include: *Agriculture *Architecture *Art *Astronomy *Building techniques and materials *Calendars and clocks *Ceramics and pottery *Death/burial practices *Drama and theater *Economy *Education *Employment and labor *Festivals *Food and diet *Government organization *Language *Literature *Military *Music *Natural disasters *Nomadic and pastoral societies *Pandemics and epidemics *Religion and cosmology *Scandals and corruption *Sports and recreation *Transportation *Weaponry and armor *Writing *and more.

Offering comprehensive coverage of the ancient world, this four volume encyclopedia begins with an introduction that outlines the key milestones in the development of human society.