History of the Persian Empire - A.T. Olmstead University of Chicago Press | 1959 | PDF
Out of a lifetime of study of the ancient Near East, Professor Olmstead has gathered previously unknown material into the story of the life, times, and thought of the Persians, told for the first time from the Persian rather than the traditional Greek point of view.
Contents: I. Ancient History II. Iranian Origins III. Founder Cyrus IV. Camp of the Persians V. Life among the Subject Peoples VI. Cambyses and the Conquest of Egypt VII. Prophet Zoroaster VIII. Usurper Darius IX. A New Lawgiver X. From India to Europe XI. Problems of the Greek Frontier XII. The Three Capitals: Ecbatana, Babylon, and Susa XIII. Persepolis XIV. A Royal Huckster XV. Paths of the Gods XVI. Xerxes as Crown Prince XVII. The Great King and His Armies XVIII. Failure in Europe XIX. Delian League against Persia XX. New Year’s Day at Persepolis XXI. Overtaxation and Its Results XXII. Triumphs through Diplomacy XXIII. Oriental Tales and Romances XXIV. Science without Theology XXXV. Divide and Conquer XXVI. Decision for Sparta XXVII. Dictator to Greece XXVIII. The Last Egyptian Empire XXIX. Brief Recovery XXX. The Nile Regained XXXI. Science True and False XXXII. Religions Dying and Living XXXIII. Fresh Breezes from the West XXXIV. Philip and the Start of the Crusade XXXV. Alexander, Heir to the Crusade XXXVI. The Oriental God-King XXXVII. Persepolis—The Crusade Ends