Pliny the Elder's World

Natural History, Books 2-6

Brian Turner, Richard J. A. Talbert

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781108676885
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

Pliny's World offers readers a translation of the Natural History's opening books unprecedented for its completeness, accuracy and accessibility. Here, in quirky, often breathless style, Pliny lays the foundation of a hugely influential encyclopedia with coverage of the universe, stars, planets and moon, followed by earth's climate and then its physical and human geography. From Rome as ruling centerpoint, Pliny surveys the known world and its countless peoples in a vast arc from the Atlantic to Sri Lanka, embracing the Danube, Euphrates and Nile lands, Atlas and Caucasus mountains, Germany, Africa, Arabia, India. Passages from later books further illustrating his geographical grasp are appended, on topics as varied as wine, water, trees, birds and fish. Throughout, Pliny's frank expression of strong opinions about religion, distorted human values, abuse of the environment (and more) reveals uncannily modern preoccupations. His work remained an inspirational resource through the Renaissance, and still fascinates today.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title page
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Maps
• Introduction
• Book 1 Pliny’s Detailed Table of Contents
• Book 2 The Universe, Astronomy, Climate
• Book 3 Europe: Spain to Italy
• Book 4 Europe: East, North
• Book 5 Africa, Levant, Asia Minor
• Book 6 The East, India
• Books 7–37 Notable Geographical Passages
• Appendix 1 Titles and Technical Terms
• Appendix 2 Units of Measurement
• Appendix 3 Latin Editions Translated (Books 2 to 6)
• Modern Works Cited
• Index