Civilisation in the margins
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Rees’s book questions the idea that civilisation is a function of urbanism, of giant metropolitan gatherings where trade, religion and politics happen. In this deep and wide-ranging book, Rees shows that the margins, the edges, the barriers between cultures—barriers which are entirely artificial—are where cultures bleed into each other and make things, structures, cultures of their own that are new and different and, in some cases, dangerous.

Using examples from places that I was aware of but had previously put no thought into, Rees demonstrates that the history of any one culture is often dominated by a seemingly single narrative, for example, that Ancient Greece and Athens are the same thing, when in reality there are multiple and overlapping narratives. Rees demonstrates that there are stories from the ancient past that are yet to come to light.

I had little knowledge about the Greek and Roman world beyond certain geographies and I had always wanted to learn more about Ovid’s world.
In this rich, well-researched and easy-to-follow book, we learn more about what makes history so rich, so misread, and underappreciated.

The Far Edges of the Known World is a multicultural history of the ancient world, exploring border-town civilisations beyond the map of the famous Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires.

As a relative newbie to ancient history, I found this an accessible and engaging read, despite the huge amount of historical research that has clearly gone into it. The writing is rich in detail and references, using the literature and artefacts of the past to really bring those long-lost worlds to life. Rees fully acknowledges the limitations of the Western historic tradition, but is able to use those classical parameters to provide context to the world beyond.

A smart and striking take on ancient history, I found The Far Edges of the Known World a fascinating read.