Step into the Roman Empire! – New Non-Fiction Releases from Eagles and Dragons Publishing

Greetings, History-Lovers, Readers, and Romanophiles!

Today we have a very exciting announcement to share with all of you.

Eagles and Dragons Publishing is thrilled to announce the launch of three new non-fiction titles about the Roman Empire and the world of Ancient Rome!

As you all know, the history of the Roman Empire has been central to almost all of our books over the years, whether it is the Eagles and Dragons series, the world of The Etrurian Players, Saturnalia or The Carpathian Interlude.

The worlds, people, and places that we’ve researched over the years are as vast and varied as the Empire itself. We’ve learned about great Romans, military campaigns, archaeological sites, and the everyday lives of average Romans.

When we began our blog, Writing the Past, in 2009 as a way to share our research with readers, we never imagined that it would gain the worldwide readership that it has.

And by far, the most popular blog series have been Ancient Everyday and The Worlds of blog series for each of our novels.

That success is what inspired our new triad of non-fiction titles!

Over the last year, we’ve been sifting through over twenty years of articles and essays in which we’ve shared all of the research for our fiction. We have organized them, re-edited them, and compiled them into the following three new titles that will immerse readers in the world of the Roman Empire.

So, without further ado, here they are:

Ancient Everyday: An Educational and Entertaining Look at Everyday Life in the Roman Empire

Step into the world of Ancient Rome!

Did you ever wonder what life was like in Ancient Rome? Do you want to learn more but are wary of droning lecturers and dusty classrooms? Are you looking for an escape to a more colourful, gritty, and exciting time?

Then Ancient Everyday is the book for you!

Join award-winning author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras, as he shares over twenty years of research to explore the world and everyday lives of ancient Romans in a way that is both fun and accessible. You will learn about aspects of daily life, entertainment, politics and government, religious beliefs and more in a banquet of bite-sized, carefully researched articles that are destined to enlighten and entertain!

Answer burning questions such as: What did the Romans do for fun? How did they honour the gods? What and how did they eat? And what exactly did pee have to do with laundry?

All of these questions and more are answered as accurately, quickly, and easily as a gladiator is dispatched on the sands of the Colosseum, only without the blood.

Whether you are a hardcore Romanophile, a complete neophyte, or just find yourself a bit curious, there is something for everyone in Ancient Everyday.

Buy this book today and find out why life in Ancient Rome was the greatest party in history!

Empire: A Mosaic of People and Places in the World of Ancient Rome 

Explore the Roman Empire!

Did you know that the Roman Empire, at its greatest extent, stretched from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to ancient Babylon in the east, and from the land of Egypt in the south all the way to Scotland in the far north? Did you ever wonder how many different peoples and places were found within the borders of the Roman world? What kind of people inhabited and influenced such a world? How did major cities like Rome and Athens compare to outposts at the far edge of the Empire?

If you have pondered these questions, or if your curiosity is piqued, then Empire is the book for you!

Join award-winning author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras, as he shares over twenty years of research exploring some of the people and places that adorn the pages of the history of the Roman Empire.

Learn about the lives and deeds of a wide range of people from emperors to poets, and allies to enemies. Journey back and forth across the Roman Empire to learn about settlements from Britannia to the sand seas of North Africa. Venture into dark forests on the northern frontier, and walk through some of the great cities of the east through articles that range from deep dives into research or snippets of background information, to travelogue-type essays that may inspire your own adventures.

Whether you are a longtime Romanophile, or have a passing interest in the history of Rome, this book has more variety than an emperor’s banquet table! It will also introduce you to some of the people and places that are not usually covered in the average history book.

Buy this book today and find out why the Roman Empire truly was the most colourful mosaic in history!

A World of War: Short Essays on the Roman Army

March to War with Rome’s Legions!

Did you know that the Roman Empire, at its greatest extent, covered an area of roughly 2.2 million square miles stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to ancient Babylon in the east, and from the land of Egypt in the south all the way to Scotland in the far north? Did you know that at the height of its power, the Roman Army was comprised of a standing force of over thirty legions with just under half a million professional soldiers and auxiliaries? How did a small mud hut village on the banks of the Tiber manage to create the greatest military and empire the world had ever seen?

The answer is simple… WAR.

Join award-winning author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras, as he shares his research exploring the world of the Roman Army from its creation to its evolution into the most disciplined and brutal fighting force in existence.

Learn not only about the weapons and tactics of Rome’s legions, but also about the deeply religious side of soldiers, and the role they played in building the Empire. Through short essays that range from deep dives into research to snippets of background information, A World of War also looks at some of the great campaigns of Rome’s legions, as well as some of its most brutal enemies.

Whether you are a longtime Romanophile, or have a passing interest in the Roman Army, this book promises to introduce you to the world of war that the men of Rome were born into.

Buy this book today and find out why the Roman Army truly was the most powerful and effective fighting force of the ancient world.

So, there you have it! Three new epic, non-fiction releases for history-lovers and Romanophiles!

All three titles are now available in e-book, trade paperback, and beautiful deluxe hardcover editions specially designed in-house by the Eagles and Dragons Publishing team.

These titles are available from all major online retailers, independent bookstores, brick and mortar chains, and your local public library. Simply click the image of the book you want above for purchase links and the ISBN numbers for the editions of your choice.

You can also purchase the e-books for these new titles directly from Eagles and Dragons Publishing by CLICKING HERE.

We hope that you enjoy these books as much as we did researching and writing all of the articles within them.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for continuing to join us on our adventures in the world of the Roman Empire.

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New Release! – Historia IV – Camelot

Greetings history lovers and Arthurian enthusiasts!

Today we’re excited to announce the official launch of the next book in Eagles and Dragons Publishing’s exciting non-fiction series of books, Historia, your gateway to ancient and medieval history and archaeology.

If you haven’t seen any of the previous three Historia releases, you can check out the titles at the Non-Fiction tab of the website HERE.

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the fourth volume in the Historia series…

Camelot: The Historical, Archaeological and Toponymic Considerations for South Cadbury Castle as King Arthur’s Capital

This book explores one of the most important sites in British history, archaeology and literature, a place that can, more than any other, lay claim to the name of Camelot.

The search for King Arthur and his famous capital of Camelot is a topic that has been hotly debated for over a hundred years, with many theories being put forward. It is a subject that has always been shrouded in the mist of fairy tales and legends, making the truth difficult to discover. However, there is one candidate for Camelot that shines out and brings the Arthurian legend to life: the hillfort of South Cadbury Castle.

In this book, the reader will learn not only about the evidence for a historical King Arthur, but also discover the most recent historical, archaeological, and toponymic evidence that make South Cadbury Castle the strongest contender for the title of Camelot.

Author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras, helps the reader to explore the possibility that King Arthur’s Camelot was not just a medieval invention, but that it was an actual place that played an important role in history and the British Heroic Age. The true Camelot of Arthur may not be what you expect, but the evidence that exists paints a clear picture of something even more exciting.

If you have an interest in ancient and medieval British history, archaeology, and Arthurian studies, or if you are on your own search for a shred of truth about King Arthur, then you will enjoy this in-depth study of one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the quest for Camelot.

After reading this book, you too may start to believe that Arthur and Camelot are not just medieval fabrications, but that they actually did exist.

Camelot (illustrated by Alan Lee)

As many of you already know, Arthurian studies has always been the focus of my academic career as well as at the forefront of my own, personal interests.

I firmly believe that there was a historical ‘King Arthur’ in the period after the departure of Rome from Britannia, and the Saxon invasions of the island.

But, as with many historical figures who have been turned into heroes cloaked in ages of myth and legend, it’s not easy to gain a clear picture. It is also not easy to find the true places that were linked to these heroes when they walked upon the earth.

Myth and legend keep the memory of people and places alive over the ages, but they can also confuse things and hide the truth.

There is a lot of myth and legend surrounding the capital or fortress of the historical Arthur, the place that we have come to know as ‘Camelot’. There are many candidates for the title, and the location is hotly, passionately debated among Arthurian enthusiasts.

Historia IV takes a look at the main considerations, and strong archaeological evidence, for the hillfort of South Cadbury Castle, in Somerset England, as the main contender in a wide-ranging quest for the true ‘Camelot’.

South Cadbury Castle from the North

This is a site I know well.

Not only did I write part of my masters dissertation on South Cadbury Castle, but I also worked as an archaeologist in the fields surrounding the site as part of the South Cadbury Environs Project team in the early 2000s.

Historia IV summarizes all that I have learned about South Cadbury Castle and its possible links to the historical ‘Arthur’.

And it does so in an easy-to-understand, accessible way.

Included in the book are a few appendices which include maps, loads of images, a video tour of South Cadbury Castle with yours truly, and an extensive bibliography that you can work your way through should you wish to do more reading.

This truly is an exciting addition to the Historia non-fiction series!

If you are on your own quest for Camelot, or if you are simply interested in the history of Dark Age Britain and the historical ‘King Arthur’, then you will want to check out Historia IV.

The eastern ramparts of South Cadbury Castle (photo: A. Haviaras)

If you are interested in getting a copy of this fourth book in the HISTORIA non-fiction series, you can check it out on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Google Play and other retailers, or by CLICKING HERE.

You can also purchase a copy directly from Eagles and Dragons Publishing on the ‘Buy Direct from Eagles and Dragons’ tab of the website, or by CLICKING HERE.

Cheers, and thank you for reading!

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Historia II – Arthurian Romance and the Knightly Ideal

Welcome back, history-lovers!

Last week on the blog we announced the launch of Eagles and Dragons Publishing’s new non-fiction series, HISTORIA. We also introduced you to the first book in the series about Celtic archetypes in the Welsh Mabinogion. If you missed that post, you can check it out by CLICKING HERE.

This week, we’re happy to introduce you to the second volume in the HISTORIA series:

Arthurian Romance and the Knightly Ideal: A study of Medieval Romantic Literature and its Effect upon the Warrior Culture in Europe

This book explores the history and effects of one of the great literary movements in medieval Europe: Arthurian Romance.

This is not just a study of the Arthurian romances and the authors of the genre. It is a study of the true nature of chivalry and courtly love. It is also a look at a revolutionary and inspiring movement and cultural shift among the nobles of medieval Europe, one that altered perceptions of violence and the roles of men and women, influenced social change, and molded the image of the ideal knight.

In this book, the reader will learn about the origins and history of Arthurian Romance, the emergence of courtly culture, the greatest authors of Arthurian Romance, and the evolution of tournaments during the Middle Ages.

Explore the relationship between violence and the knightly ideal, and discover how medieval Arthurian Romance and its ideals may have played a role in civilizing the warrior classes of Europe and creating a new order of chivalry.

If you have an interest in medieval history and literature, Arthurian studies, or if you simply have fond memories of tales of knights and ladies, then you will enjoy this in-depth study of one of the great literary achievements of the Middle Ages.

This might come as a surprise to some of you, but my main field of study over the years has been Arthurian studies, not just the history and archaeology related to the Dark Ages and the search for an understanding of the historical ‘Arthur’, but also the romantic literature that attracted me to the Arthurian legends in the first place.

Of course, the main author that stands out is Chrétien de Troyes who really perfected and popularized the genre of Arthurian Romance.

The writings of Chrétien de Troyes not only influenced my study and perception of history, but they also influenced my own writing a great deal. Perhaps it was because I was first introduced to them at an early age, a time when I was really trying to find myself and my purpose in life, a time when I was filled to the brim with idealism.

In some ways, Arthurian Romance helped to save me from becoming too jaded with the world. It has been my sword and shield during darker times.

What is fascinating is that Arthurian Romance did indeed spark a sort of revolution during the Middle Ages, and enticed the violent knightly class to aspire to something greater than themselves.

Arthurian Romance really did create a new order of chivalry.

I’ve done a lot of research over the years, and this book summarizes much of that work in what I hope is a very accessible way.

If you are interested in getting a copy of this second book in the HISTORIA non-fiction series, you can check it out on Amazon, iTunes and Kobo by CLICKING HERE.

You can also purchase a copy directly from Eagles and Dragons Publishing on the ‘Buy Direct from Eagles and Dragons’tab of the website, or by CLICKING HERE.

Next week, we’ll introduce you to Book III in the HISTORIA series, so stay tuned for that.

Cheers, and thank you for reading!

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HISTORIA – Announcing a new Non-Fiction series from Eagles and Dragons Publishing!

Greetings history-lovers!

This week on the blog, we’ve got an exciting announcement…

Eagles and Dragons Publishing has launched HISTORIA, a new line of non-fiction books that make the study of ancient and medieval history and archaeology accessible for everyone.

Books in the HISTORIA series will introduce readers to a variety of subjects in the form of short, easy-to-understand papers and books.

The first few books, which are now available, focus on my love of Arthurian and Celtic Studies and introduce readers to his academic research over the years.

More books will be added to the HISTORIA series over time, and they will cover history and archaeology from ancient Greece and Rome right through to the Middle Ages. There will be something for everyone!

HISTORIA: A Gateway to Ancient and Medieval History and Archaeology!

This week, we wanted to introduce you the very first title in the HISTORIA series. The full title is ‘Celtic Literary Archetypes in The Mabinogion: A Study of the Ancient Tale of Pwyll, Lord of Dyved’.

This book introduces the reader to some of the literary traditions of the ancient Celts through the study of the first branch of The Mabinogion: Pwyll, Lord of Dyved. This ancient text is both a record of British mythology and a teaching text for ancient princes. It also illustrates the values of Celtic, Iron Age society that carried on into the Middle Ages to shape Arthurian Romance and ideals of chivalry and kingship.

In this book, the reader will learn about the most prominent archetypes in ancient Celtic literature such as occurrences in threes, the importance of contact with the Otherworld, what it meant to be an effective ruler, and more.

Pwyll, Lord of Dyved is a tale of magic and wonder, as well as human trial and experience, and the archetypes it employs are as relevant today as they were over fifteen-hundred years ago.

If you are studying The Mabinogion, or have an interest in Celtic and Arthurian studies, the Arthurian legends and British mythology, then you will enjoy this short, engaging study of one of the great literary achievements of the ancient Celts.

Some people might be surprised that when it comes to historical periods, my interests are, first and foremost, deeply entrenched in what is commonly called the ‘Dark Ages’. To me, that is the Arthurian period, and tales in The Mabinogion are a wonderful source from that time and the traditions that arose out of it.

Why the Dark Ages? Well, to me, the period is a sort of bridge between the classical and medieval worlds. It may have been a time of darkness and despair, with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the effects that had, but it was also a time of hope, of new beginnings. It was perhaps not so much a ‘Dark Age’ as an Heroic Age.

When I first read The Mabinogion, and especially the tale of Pwyll, I was drawn in by the magic of it. After studying it in an academic setting, my eyes were opened to the tale’s importance, and in this new book I endeavour to share some of my research on it with all of you.

If you are interested in getting a copy of this first book in the HISTORIA non-fiction series, you can check it out on Amazon, iTunes and Kobo by CLICKING HERE.

You can also purchase a copy directly from Eagles and Dragons Publishing on the ‘Buy Direct from Eagles and Dragons’ tab of the website, or by CLICKING HERE.

Next week, we’ll introduce you to Book II in the HISTORIA series, so stay tuned for that.

Cheers, thank you for reading, and thank you for joining us on this new adventure for Eagles and Dragons Publishing!

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