Peace in the Ancient World : Concepts and Theories

Peace in the Ancient World: Concepts and Theories conducts a comparative investigation of why certain ancient societies produced explicit concepts and theories of peace and others did not.

Explores the idea that concepts of peace in antiquity occurred only in periods that experienced exceptional rates of warfare
Utilizes case studies of civilizations in China, India, Egypt, and Greece
Complements the 2007 volume War and Peace in the Ancient World, drawing on ideas from that work and providing a more comprehensive examination

"Considering how under-studied ancient peace is compared with conflict, this work is a welcome and important contribution to an increasingly topical subject; the issues addressed concern scholars not only in peace, but in international relations, state doctrines, philosophical schools and historiography, which provides the book with the benefit of a wide readership. By allowing for cultural comparisons, the book allows for a wider engagement concerning the issues that are usually omitted in political discussions of antiquity…. Raaflaub and the other scholars deserve credit for bringing this research gap to the forefront…." Bryn Mawr Classical Review Blog