Norman Cantor's Antiquity is an interesting, intelligent primer on ancient history from the birth of the Sumerian Civilization to the fall of Rome. Don't know what the Sumerian Civilization was? Not to worry: Cantor will tell you. The book has a measure of caustic humor to it at times, and on occasion there are a few whiffs of academic elitism (as Cantor writes in his author's note, he feels that his Basic Narrative lays out "the fundamental knowledge about antiquity that every educated person should possess"). Once past that, however, Cantor does an excellent job of presenting an engaging Cliff Notes version of ancient history. I mean, we're talking a lot of history crammed into a slender 227 pages.

He divides the book up into two sections. The previously mentioned "Basic Narrative" focuses on the nuts and bolts of history, from the early "hydraulic despotisms" of Egypt and the early Middle East onward: the Greeks, the Romans, the Christians, and the "Decline of the Ancient World" are all presented in memorable detail. For example, here's his take on the early Christians:

Under Simon Peter ("Rocky"), the small sect of Christians remained loyal to the laws of the Torah, but memorialized Jesus as someone special. People wondered why this impoverished sect went around with smiles on their faces. They gained converts. Everything changed when Saul of Tarsus, an eccentric Jewish rabbi (teacher of the law, not a priest), joined the group and, much to Peter's chagrin, set about transforming the beliefs and practices of the Christians.

One can certainly argue with Cantor's interpretation of early Christianity (and many would), but one can hardly deny that you're likely to remember his presentation - be it about Christians or about the host of other societies and cultures covered in Antiquity.

The second part of the book is devoted to more of a societal or cultural exploration: rather than just outlining the military history of each nation, he expands upon the legal and cultural underpinning of the major societies of the ancients. His quick and engaging portraits of important figures of ancient life are far more likely to catch in the memory than a straightforward recitation of dull facts. For example, of Socrates he writes that the philosopher was a "hippie stonecutter who expounded on philosophy in the Athenian marketplace, perhaps to avoid going home to face his shrewish wife," while in the other corner of the philosophical ring Plato was "part of a fast crowd of rich young men." Much of what he writes reflects the varied and fascinating tapestry of life in those distant days. Here's an interesting insight into life in ancient Egypt: