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Kaveh Farrokh
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Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War (General Military) Hardcover – April 24, 2007

by Kaveh Farrokh (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 36 ratings
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The ruins of Persepolis evoke the best-known events of ancient Persia's history: Alexander the Great's defeat of Darius III, his conquest of the Achaemenid empire, and the burning of the great palace complex at Persepolis. However, most of the history of ancient Persia remains as mysterious today as it was to contemporary Western scholars. Compared to the world-famous Alexander, the many wars won by the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanian empires, and their revolutionary military technology, have been almost forgotten in the sands of the East.

In its day, Persia was a superpower to rival Greece and Rome, and conflict between them spanned over a millennium. Through these wars, and trade, these foes learnt from each other, not only adopting elements of military technology, but influences in the arts, architecture, religion, technology and learning. In this beautifully illustrated book, Dr Kaveh Farrokh narrates the history of Persia from before the first empires, through their wars with East and West to the fall of the Sassanians. He also delves into the forgotten cultural heritage of the Persians, spread across the world through war and conquest, which, even after the fall of the Sassanians, continued to impact upon the Western world.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Osprey Publishing
  4. Publication date
    April 24, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    7.72 x 1.19 x 9.78 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1846031087
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1846031083
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent well-illustrated survey of an important period, useful for students and a general readership alike. It deals not only with military matters, but also more broadly with political developments in Persia. My students have consulted it with profit." -Geoffrey Greatrex, University of Ottawa

 

"This beautifully illustrated book will no doubt serve as a useful companion for all those interested in the military history of the pre-Islamic Middle East... Useful maps, photography and color plates make this a handsome and desirable volume; it will be of interest to students and scholars alike." -Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, University of Edinburgh (Department of Classics)

 

"... a book for all who have ever been curious about the 'other' view on Persia, not from the Western standpoint rooted in Greece, but from the traditions of the Persians themselves... Meticulously researched and documented... I have recommended it to many and am also using it here at Stanford not only for research but also in a course ... There is not only no better book on Perisan warfare, it is carefully and sensitively written with great verve and love of history. I much appreciate how the research and analyses of texts showed Achaeminid, Parthian and Sassanid military accomplishments, often to the astonishment of Greeks and Romans and beyond. I notice from excellent reviews that other scholars agree.” -Patrick Hunt, Stanford University (Classics)

 

"In this beautifully illustrated book, Dr. Kaveh Farrokh narrates the history of Persia from before the first empires, through their wars with East and west to the fall of the Sassanians." -Paul Houston, 300spartanwarriors.com

 

"Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War is perhaps on of the finest books that has been produced from Western publishing houses, in this case Osprey Publishing... For the first time, we see a clearly written history book that outlines the relationship between these Iranian achievements to the wars that took place between the Greco-Roman world and ancient Persia...this book draws on excellent research that has received little mention; not to mention previously un-translated Greco-Roman historical sources." -Professor Nikoloz Kacharava, MD, PhD, The University of Georgia in Tbilisi, Member of Academy of Sciences in Georgia, Active Member of New York Academy of Sciences

 

Dr. Kaveh Farrokh's "Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War," is the definitive work in the field. This Osprey Publishing effort combines the scholarship of Dr. Edwin Yamauchi's "Persia and the Bible" and Dr. Lindsay Allen's "The Persian Empire" with a readability accentuated by beautiful maps and photography which bring academic data and precise historical analysis into play with the majestically artistic. Put simply, it is a masterpiece and reference work which will stay on the shelf of the interested generalist and specialized scholar for decades to come. -Mark Dankof, Republic Broadcasting Network

 

 

"...those with an interest in this period of history or the military will find it an invaluable resource. Indeed, those pursuing degrees associated with these fields may find It on their required reading lists." -Timothy Baghurst, The Traveler

About the Author

Dr Kaveh Farrokh has been researching the military history and technology of Persia for two decades. He obtained his PhD in 2001 from the University of British Columbia, where he specialized on the acquisition of Persian languages. He has given lectures and seminars in the University of British Columbia and has written articles for various journals. He is the author of Elite 110: Sassanian Elite Cavalry AD 224-642. He is currently acting as historical advisor on a film project titled Cyrus the Great, and will be appearing in a History Channel documentary on the Persian Empire in October 2006. The author lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Osprey Publishing; First Edition (April 24, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1846031087
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1846031083
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.02 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.72 x 1.19 x 9.78 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 36 ratings

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Kaveh Farrokh

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
36 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michael Navabi
5.0 out of 5 stars The two unparalled characteristics of Shadows in the Desert
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2009
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Dear Kaveh:

I just finished reading my first round of "Shadows in the Desert", and I would like to leave you with a few comments and observations from a my humble viewpoint of a casual history reader: I believe the book is fantastic in a way that it can easily aim to at least three classes of readers simultaneously and with full clarity of English language: (1) The future generations; (2) history scholars and students of the present; and (3) casual readers of history(like myself). All these groups can read this work, understand it, and appreciate it. All of these groups, I think, are very important to gain in-depth knowledge of Iran (Persia), especially the third group that will be a conduit and a representative of the majority. Most fascinating to me is the fact that this work has two special simultaneous unprecedented characteristics:

(1) It appears to have been written in full compliance with modern convention of journalism (without resort to any exaggeration or shortcomings in reporting format and with trying to convey the realistic aspects);
(2) It is also written from a view point of an Iranian historian.

No such work has ever been done before with these two characteristics. My initial exposure to Iranian history was limited to my earlier years in Shiraz and Tehran elementary and high school education of the Shah's era in Persian language. While I always enjoyed this education, I became aware that it could not have been without bias, and therefore it was without full modern journalistic merits and values. In more than 3 decades of American years, I have at times read articles and books in English about Iran - in cursory manner and in depth, as much as I had time. Unfortunately, the majority of the work I have read appeared to lack the second attribute that I mentioned above.

Also, it is interesting that during my high school years, my history teachers eliminated most of the areas about Parthians, other than touching the highlights (i.e silk route, etc.). I was always curious to know more about them. Thanks to your book. It gave me much more insight about this great dynasty and important long period. I only have two suggestions - in case you may want to have future editions: These suggestions may only help the third class of the casual reader like myself. Many of the terms show alternate versions. For instance, you state clearly that Atropatence is the modern day Iranian Azarbaijan. Other times, I had a hard time finding the equivalent names that I was more aware of. For example, "Cyaxares" is the same as "Hovakh Shatarah". Incidentally, none of these terms and words are dictionary words. It takes more effort to find and understand their equivalents. (Thanks to Google, I was able to find many of these equivalent names after losing hope to dictionaries). Also, I am a very much of a map person, and I did not find more than 4 or 5 maps in this frequently changing 1,000 year history. This could have been elaborate on your part, wanting the student to research more, which I am thankful to you for that.

"Shadows in the Desert" is truly a first phenomenon for the three mentioned groups. Thanks again and again for this great work. It is a service to humanity.

Sincerely,

Michael Navabi,
Columbus, Ohio
3 people found this helpful
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Peyman ADL DOUSTI HAGH
5.0 out of 5 stars In the name of Iran
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2007
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This is a great book to read and learn about pre-Islamic Iran/Persia. This book is divided in three segments. One is Achamenian dynasty in Iran, second is Parthian dynasty in Iran, and last Sassanian Dynasty in Iran.

Author gave great details about Parthian dynasty contribution to political stability of Iran Zamin. Taking into account that for some bizzar reason Parthian dynasty has been eschewed from scholars point of view.

Author discussed Iran's contribution in field of mathemathics and other field of science. Plus, Iran contributed to field of music. The most intriguing point was that Iranian people invented hospital, and fusion India, Greek science in Iran.

What author was sought to achieve by publishing this book? As I was reading the book, and asking myself that why this author publish this book, and right at the end, the author stated that West think that Alexandra the Great invaded Iran, and brought Iran to its knee. However, this author provided evidences that Iran rose from ashes, and became a super power.

It is called Persian Gulf because Arabs called Persians skilled seafaring from Persian Gulf, and acted as a bridge between Europe and Far East.

Once, one person told me that how world would be alike if Sassanian, and Rome did not wage war against each other and exhaust their military so Arabs could not defeat Persia and Rome? Also, author of this book made above question.

I wish this author and other other author would focus on Iranian women that they became Queen of Queens of Iran Zamin and how they contributed to Iran Zamin.

The bottom line, this book worth every penny.
6 people found this helpful
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Omid
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book and history telling.
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2022
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This is a great book. Well authored.
Highly recommend.
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Daniel Weitz
4.0 out of 5 stars How The Persians Invented Just About Everything
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2008
Verified Purchase
This is a very interesting book that I purchased as it was part of the very good Osprey series on military history...It is, however, very different from the other works in the series. There are none of the usual color paintings of troops or battle scenes that are usually common in these works, so the book has limited value as a painting guide. It also is an excellent introduction to the culture and religion of the Persians as well as a military history. There is much here on the Persian military systems and the various campaigns.

This book has notable strong points. The author has a fine bibliography, and much of it is to contemporary Iranian sources that we tend to ignore in the United States. The maps are good, and the pictures of the golden objects are beautiful.

I have certainly profited from reading a work that gives one a view "from the other end of the telescope". The Persians are more than actors who simply appear on the stage as a foil to the Greeks and Romans; here we see things from their point of view. I must, however, take issue with several of the books comments. Persephone does not mean "Persian speaker"; origin of the name is far more complex, and the name was first used in Hesiod long before the Greeks had contact with Persia. I cannot believe that the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome is a copy of a Persian structure. His descriptions of Marathon and Thermopylae (4,000 Greek Casualties???) leave much to be desired. The author seems to ascribe everything that is noble (King Arthur Legend), valiant (Polish military tactics), scientific (Parthians invented batteries)or artistic (the tympanum of the church of St. Pierre in France is modeled after a theme in Sassanid art- even though in actuality it is a rendering of the Byzantine Christ Pantocrator which in turn is the Olympean Zeus)or nautical (Persian ships reached the Pacific...I was waiting for him to say they discovered America!

There is a noxious series of books about how "ethnic group x or y or z" saved the world, preserved learning or invented dry cleaning. This work comes perilously close to being one of those. Yet, I am happy that I read this work; it was illuminating and intellectually stimulating.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

edmund hall
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2016
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Charles Vasey
4.0 out of 5 stars The Persian Version
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2008
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This book takes the history of Persia from its rise before Cyrus to the defeat of the Sassanids by the armies of Islam. It approaches the topic as a single theme in which the various dynasties are but chapters, and it approaches the history from the Persian point of view, not just as "noises off" to Roman history. Reordering one's confused memories into a coherent whole is an important part of Dr Farrokh's book. One also gets to see the common Iranian themes of these predominantly "knightly" cultures; rather than just seeing them as exotic bit-parts. This is especially important in a period when the Persian Wars against Greece have been taken hostage for the purposes of current geopolitics.
17 people found this helpful
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