Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan by Frank L. Holt

Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan



Download Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan




Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan Frank L. Holt
Language: English
Page: 261
Format: pdf
ISBN: 0520245539, 9780520245532
Publisher: University of California Press

From

Explicitly echoing Afghanistan's tragic recent history, Holt explores the difficulties Alexander the Great encountered when he marched into the country, whose ancient name was Bactria. Like subsequent British, Russian, and, now, American and allied armies, the Macedonian wunderking discovered in 329 B.C.E. that invading was easier than conquering. Not persuaded by Alexander's apologists both ancient and modern, Holt narrates the campaign as an unredeeming exercise in pillage and massacre, with the twist that the Bactrians gave as good as they got: Alexander's armies received more damage invading Bactria than in overthrowing the Persian Empire. Alexander attempted to gain the upper hand through policies alternating scorched-earth campaigns with diplomacy, but the Bactrians would renege, revolt, or retreat to the mountains with frustrating regularity. Sound uncannily familiar? Holt's striking parallels between the warlords Alexander pursued and their modern Afghan avatars result in that rarity of history books: one immediately practical to current-day events. Surely, the journalists, humanitarian workers, and officials rotating into Afghanistan today would profit from Holt's insights. Gilbert TaylorCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"The terrain, climate, and volatile socio-political milieu of Afghanistan have always been a logistical nightmare for invaders. Holt's vivid evocation of Alexander the Great's grueling, brutal, inconclusive war, and the telling parallels he draws with British, Soviet, and U.S. attempts to bludgeon the region into submission, make for grim reading." - Amelie Kuhrt, author of The Ancient Near East, c.3000-330 BC"

MORE EBOOKS:
Download Gems of Wisdom from the Seventh Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy) pdf
The Dog Shogun: The Personality And Policies of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi pdf download
The Respiratory System download ebook







Tags: Download Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook
Download Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook pdf
Download Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook djvu
Download Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook chm
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan download
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan download book
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook pdf
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook djvu
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan ebook chm
Frank L. Holt ebooks