Books in Ancient World Leaders series

Once Akhenaton came to power in fourteenth-century Egypt, life changed dramatically. He completely reformed the countrys religion, and he replaced the traditional gods with a single god: Aton the sun god. His religious fervor went so far that he changed his own name to Akhenaton, meaning beneficial to the Aton, from Amenhotep IV. His people were dissatisfied, and soon after his death, and with the rule of Tutankhamen, the country returned to its traditional deities. Although Tutankhamen is famously known for his lavish tombs, his short rule is also marked by the restoration of art and any temples damaged during Akhenatons rule.

The rise of Constantine marked a pivotal and transformative time for the Roman Empire. Besides imposing many important changes to Rome's government and currency and a reorganization of civil and military spheres, Constantine is also well known for being the first Roman emperor to embrace and eventually convert to Christianity, a religion once oppressed and reviled by pagan Rome, and for shifting imperial power to the eastern part of the empire. In this book, the life of Constantine the Great, as he would become known as, is explored, analyzed, and enlivened via historical images of artworks and ancient Roman relics.