Cover of On the Shores of the Great Sea by Margaret Bertha Synge, Volume I of the The Story of the World Series
The Story of the World Series · Volume I

On the Shores of the Great Sea

by Margaret Bertha Synge

4h 54m
Duration
1903
Published
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About This Audiobook

On the Shores of the Great Sea, the first volume in M. B. Synge’s Story of the World series, offers a vivid narrative of ancient civilizations clustered around the Mediterranean—the “Great Sea”—spanning from the era of Abraham to the birth of Christ. The book opens with the patriarch Abraham leaving the prosperous Chaldean lands beyond the Euphrates and traces the journeys and fortunes of the Hebrews, including their time in Egypt, the Exodus, and settlement in Canaan. It explores the seafaring Phoenicians, who established trade routes and colonies, the mighty Egyptian civilization with its Nile-dependent life, and the rise of other powers such as the Assyrians and Persians. Interwoven are the legendary tales of the Greeks, from the Argonauts and the siege of Troy to the heroic stand at Thermopylae and the victories over Persia, bringing to life the dawn of Western history through stories of exploration, conflict, and cultural awakening.

The latter part of the book shifts focus to the emergence of Rome and its epic struggles, particularly the Punic Wars against Carthage and the campaigns of Hannibal. Synge chronicles Rome’s steady expansion until it achieves mastery over the entire Mediterranean world, creating a unified realm known as Pax Romana. Throughout, the author blends biblical accounts, mythology, and historical events into an engaging, accessible tapestry that highlights themes of migration, faith, bravery, and human endeavor. Written in a lively, story-like style ideal for younger readers and families, the book serves as an excellent foundational history text, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the ancient world.

Meet the Author
Margaret Bertha SyngeBritish historian, biographer, and author · 1861 – 1939

Margaret Bertha Synge was a British historian, biographer, and author of popular educational books for children and young readers. Born into a clerical family as the daughter of Reverend Francis Synge and Margaret Harkness, she grew up in an environment steeped in learning and faith. She never married and dedicated much of her life to scholarship and education, eventually earning recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, an honor that reflected her contributions to historical studies.

Synge is best remembered for her engaging, accessible histories that brought the past to life for young audiences. Her most acclaimed work, A Book of Discovery: The History of the World's Exploration from the Earliest Times to the Finding of the South Pole, remains a classic. She also authored the multi-volume Story of the World series (including titles like On the Shores of the Great Sea, The Awakening of Europe, The Struggle for Sea Power, and The Growth of the British Empire), along with A Short History of Social Life in England, Great Englishwomen, and other instructional volumes. Many of these were illustrated by her brother, the etcher Edward Millington Synge, blending narrative flair with careful scholarship.

As a director of various schools and a prolific writer, Synge excelled at making complex historical topics compelling and straightforward for children. Her works emphasized exploration, British history, and social life, aligning with the educational ideals of her era. Though no known photograph of her survives, her legacy endures through the enduring popularity of her books in public domain collections, libraries, and homeschool curricula focused on living history. She died unmarried in 1939, leaving behind a substantial body of work that continues to inspire curiosity about the past.

In This Volume
  1. Paideia Introduction2:15
  2. The Home of Abraham5:16
  3. Into Africa5:14
  4. An Old Trade-Route5:11
  5. Joseph in Egypt5:38
  6. The Story of the Nile Flood5:13
  7. In a Strange Land5:23
  8. The Children of Israel5:14
  9. Back to the Fatherland5:03
  10. The First Merchant Fleet5:07
  11. Conquerors of the Sea5:09
  12. Early Pioneers4:31
  13. Hiram, King of Tyre4:34
  14. King Solomon's Fleet5:12
  15. The Story of Carthage5:03
  16. Out of the Shadowland5:32
  17. The Story of the Argonauts7:13
  18. The Siege of Troy5:21
  19. The Adventures of Ulysses6:26
  20. The Dawn of History5:10
  21. The Fall of Tyre4:12
  22. The Rise of Carthage2:36
  23. Hanno's Adventures5:15
  24. Some More About Greece5:31
  25. A Cloud in the East5:13
  26. The Battle of Marathon5:21
  27. King Ahasuerus5:20
  28. How Leonidas Kept the Pass5:17
  29. Victory for the Greeks5:24
  30. Some Greek Colonies4:30
  31. Across the Blue Waters3:32
  32. The Beauty of Athens6:04
  33. The Death of Socrates6:59
  34. Retreat of the Ten Thousand6:19
  35. The Story of Romulus and Remus4:40
  36. How Horatius Kept the Bridge6:29
  37. Coriolanus5:54
  38. Alexander the Great4:55
  39. King of Macedonia4:35
  40. Conquest of the East6:26
  41. The Conquest of India7:09
  42. Alexander's City5:40
  43. Back to Rome Again4:42
  44. A Great Conflict6:22
  45. The Roman Fleet5:30
  46. Hannibal's Vow4:22
  47. The Adventures of Hannibal6:25
  48. The End of Carthage5:59
  49. The Triumph of Rome5:01
  50. Two Young Romans5:20
  51. Julius Caesar6:02
  52. The Flight of Pompey5:48
  53. The Death of Caesar8:24
  54. The Empire of Rome6:01
  55. Pax Romana3:31

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