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Rating: 
Summary: This review is of the 3rd edition
Review: ...The 3rd edition is a very, very good summary of the key contributions made to Western Civilization by the various ancient civilizations, with emphasis on the Greeks and Romans, but also covers the Mesopotamian, Egyption, and Persian civilizations.This edition has 18 illustrations and 14 maps to augment the text, and I have found it very useful and informative, and recommend it to people as a good basic text. I also like the list of suggested additional readings. All in all, a very good book. Perhaps the other, more recent editions have been altered too much. If so, look for this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A Horrible Source, A Poor Textbook
Review: AVOID THIS BOOK. The history of the Ancient Middle East, Greece and Rome collectively form the bedrock of western culture, setting standards in politics, philosophy, literature, art, architecture and religion that have shaped modern Europe. Indeed, one might say with a great deal of confidence that it was the collective influence of Medieval chaos and ancient order that propelled Europe into the modern age after the Renaissance. Hollister, a strong Medievalist, sees this significant period as an era of lesser importance than the Middle Ages, demanding less coverage, less discussion, less analysis. Where he might be an expert in medieval history, it is clear he is no authority here, regurgitating traditional and completely out-of-date opinions of the ancient world, very scantily covering Greco-Roman achievements and creating an overall sense of entropy undermining this textbook. Though former reviewers claim that this is neccesary to avoid "overwhelming students", I believe that an ugly, unillustrated book simplifying significant matters and sometimes simply presenting wrong information should be AVOIDED at all cost. I would recommend "A History of the Ancient World", by two noted Dutch historians, as an alternative. AVOID THIS TEXTBOOK!
Rating:
Summary: This review is of the 3rd edition
Review: I am an avid reader/student of history. This book is horrible! Hollister's work reads more like a book of fiction than an accurate account of hisorical facts. His arguements are not based on any documentation, citation, or anything else. His accounts of history seem to be based soley on his opinion. If I had paid [money] for this book I would have been thoroughly disappointed but at [the price], I feel ripped off! This book is a very, very, very quick gloss over of world history. If you are considering using this book for teaching purposes... DO NOT! Your students deserve more.
Rating:
Summary: Save yourself 40 bucks!!
Review: I am an avid reader/student of history. This book is horrible! Hollister's work reads more like a book of fiction than an accurate account of hisorical facts. His arguements are not based on any documentation, citation, or anything else. His accounts of history seem to be based soley on his opinion. If I had paid [money] for this book I would have been thoroughly disappointed but at [the price], I feel ripped off! This book is a very, very, very quick gloss over of world history. If you are considering using this book for teaching purposes... DO NOT! Your students deserve more.
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