Tony Valerino’s debut novel, Civilizations of the Ancient World: A Global Survey, is in the historical non-fiction genre. He is featured in this month’s Q&A.

He also writes the popular Facebook blog, Pivotal Historical Moments Fan. We actually integrated (with permission) his blog about C.S. Lewis into our November 2024 Author Birthday feature.

Make sure you check out both articles and his blog.

I consider this book a must read for everyone interested in history and anyone who thinks history is only a bunch of names, dates, and dry facts memorized for exams. If you are part of the latter group, Valerino will prove you wrong.

This book is well researched using reputable sources. The facts are presented with the conversational ease of a gifted storyteller. Valerino adds interesting facts, myths, and amusing anecdotes to help his readers more fully experience the ancient civilizations that helped shape the world we live in now.

By comparing ancient civilizations, we can see how their differences and similarities influenced the ways they interacted with other cultures. Which civilizations were isolationists? Why did others venture into the unknown to conquer other civilizations and/or establish trade relationships?

Who were the leaders, philosophers, artists, military masterminds of each time period? How do they compare with their counterparts from other civilizations? What was happening in the “New World” before anyone considered it new?

I found so many examples of history repeating itself. I grabbed my highlighter and a pencil not because I was studying for a test, but because I wanted to remember the information. I scribbled notes in the margins linking events in these ancient civilizations with other civilizations and with events happening today.

Valerino incorporates the development of art, drama, literature, and religion into his narrative by exploring the influences of culture on ancient civilizations, and mourning the destruction of many important remnants of lost cultures.

He also studies the historians of each ancient civilization. How did they decide which events should be recorded? Why were myths important? How did/do they affect the way people viewed their leaders?

If you want a better understanding of what’s happening in our world today, start from the beginning and work your way through history. Learn about the differences between great leaders and weak leaders. Who failed when their own lust for power became more important than the needs of their people? Who established and protected the rule of law? Why can’t we all just get along?

Each chapter includes links to sources you can explore to find out more about the time periods and civilizations that interest you.

I look forward to more books by Tony Valerino, and in the meantime, I will be reading his blogs. You should, too.

You can follow and subscribe to Pivotal Historical Moments Fan on Facebook,  https://www.facebook.com/PHMfan

You can purchase Civilizations of the Ancient World on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMLSQJH?ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Q1CN4H7GDBG7YWZXHYXG&ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Q1CN4H7GDBG7YWZXHYXG&social_share=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Q1CN4H7GDBG7YWZXHYXG&language=en-US&skipTwisterOG=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawFyiTpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWdXi7ODZ1NOEHnci7nSfpN3ajNGUFYJECA0Gh49a-N07whjuykDsrzDbg_aem_zr57xym75Mly5y92vn_5gw