`A Major Guide To and an explanation of the whole Phenomenon of the Persian Empire, from the acknowledged experts.'<BR><BR>Sir John Boardman, FBA, Lincoln Professor Emeritus of Classical Art and Archaeology, University of Oxford<BR><BR>`A Fine New Survey of the first world empire... Will become a standord work.'<BR><BR>Georgina Herrmann, OBE, FBA, formerly Reader in Western Asiatic Archaeology, University College London<BR><BR>`Attractive and Authoritative ... The range of topics covered is quite exceptional ... Includes most of the principal scholars who are active in Achaemenid and ancient Persian studies.'<BR><BR>David Stronach, Emeritus Professor of Near Eastern Archaeology, University of California, Berkeley<BR><BR>`An Outstanding Contribution to the state of research on the first actual world empire in history.'<BR><BR>Josef Wiesehofer, Professor of Ancient History, Kiel University<BR><BR>`It is Wonderful now to have such an up-to-date, competent, and comprehensive account of the history and culture of Achaemenid Persia between two covers.'<BR><BR>Ehsan Yarshater, Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies, Columbia University