Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a person—especially if prominent or important.It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, personal, financial, or military motives.Assassinations are ordered by both individuals and organisations, and are carried out by their accomplices. Acts of assassination have been performed since ancient times. A person who carries out an assassination is called an assassin.

Assassination is one of the oldest tools of power politics. It dates back at least as far as recorded history.The Art of War, a 5th-century BC Chinese military treatise, mentions tactics of Assassination and its merits.

The Egyptian pharaoh Teti, of the Old Kingdom Sixth Dynasty, is thought to be the earliest known victim of assassination, though records are scant,and thus evidence is circumstantial. Other Egyptian monarchs who were assassinated were Ramesses III, Seqenenre Tao II, Berenice III etc.

Assassinations also took place in Persia and the Middle East, e.g. Sennacherib, Phalaris, Xerxes I, Xerxes II, Darius III etc.

Chanakya (c. 350–283 BC) wrote about assassinations in detail in his political treatise Arthashastra. His student Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire, later made use of assassinations against some of his enemies. Brihadratha Murya was assassinated by war general Pushyamitra Shunga.Anula of Anuradhapura was another victim.

Assassinations also occurred in the Bible,such as Cain and Abel etc.

Some infamous assassination victims are Philip II of Macedon (336 BC), the father of Alexander the Great, and Roman dictator Julius Caesar (44 BC).Roman emperors were often assassinated. The practice was also well known in ancient China with the well-known failure of Jing Ke to assassinate King Zheng in 227 BCE.

Ancient Greek academics Socrates and Archimedes were assassinated.

Whilst many assassinations were performed by individuals or small groups, there were also specialised units that used a collective group of people to perform more than one assassination. Mass assassinations were carried out through massacres and genocides.

Phil Carradice turns a critical eye toward assassinations throughout history in our ancient worlds. Politics bleeds red as the ancient world is remembered by the lives lost to malicious circumstances; these incidents, depending on their location, have shaped our modern world for better or worse. Assassinations That Shaped the Ancient World exposes the ideologies, theologies, and dynamics that created silent revolutions, which either brought down the swords or prompted people to take change into their own hands.

Although a morbid subject, I was intrigued by Carradice's book, as he examines each chapter with a matter-of-fact, almost clinical narrative, maintaining a distance that allows the reader to see the full picture. Instead of portraying a villain and a hero, Carradice emphasises that there are only victims, both of the knife and of circumstance. I was particularly interested in how Carradice investigates the "how" rather than the "why, " highlighting that these assassinations were not sporadic or driven by madness; there were reasons, not whims.

Overall, Assassinations That Shaped the Ancient World is an engaging exploration into the darker side of history, where empires and nations crumble due to blood, steel, and death. I recommend Carradice's book to anyone interested in the corrupting nature of political ambition, the downfall of empires initiated by a single decision, and the darker aspects of history.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pen & Sword, for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In *Assassinations That Shaped the Ancient World*, Phil Carradice turns his critical eye to the moments where blood met politics—where single deaths shifted the trajectory of empires, ideologies, and dynasties. This is a history not of slow revolutions, but of swift blades and calculated silences—one that explores how assassination, as both a political act and a cultural phenomenon, reshaped the ancient world in ways both immediate and enduring.

Carradice offers a sharp, accessible narrative that moves across centuries and civilizations—from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Rome, Greece, and Persia. Each chapter explores a different case of high-profile murder: not merely the act itself, but the world that enabled it, and the consequences that unfurled in its wake. Figures such as Julius Caesar, Philip of Macedon, and other less-examined victims of political violence are given renewed focus, contextualized within the power struggles, dynastic rivalries, and ideological fractures of their times.

The strength of this work lies in its clarity and pace. Carradice avoids unnecessary embellishment, instead presenting a brisk, engaging account of each assassination while maintaining scholarly attentiveness to causality and consequence. He writes with narrative economy, but also with philosophical awareness—recognizing assassination not simply as an act of murder, but as a deliberate rupture in the political order.

Particularly commendable is the author's insistence on examining *why* assassinations occurred—not merely *how*. He probes the fears, ambitions, and resentments that drove individuals to kill kings, emperors, and religious leaders, while also interrogating the legitimacy, necessity, or sheer opportunism behind such actions. In doing so, he offers a rich analysis of power: how it is won, preserved, and occasionally destroyed in a single moment.

**Final Verdict:**
*Assassinations That Shaped the Ancient World* is a compelling and concise history of ancient political violence. Phil Carradice delivers a thoughtful, well-paced narrative that reminds readers of how fragile empires can be—and how often history pivots on the edge of a dagger. Highly recommended for readers of ancient history, political intrigue, and the mechanics of regime change in the classical world.

**Rating**: ★★★★☆

I was so excited to read this book since I love history and wanted to learn more about how assassination played such a pivotal role in the ancient world. However, this book was really more of a confusing mish-mash of different time periods without defining what an assassination really is since we get examples of mass genocide, suicide and more ambiguous deaths. Parts of history which are speculation are assumed to be true and in the end I wasn’t even sure what point the author was trying to make. This could’ve been so good, hopefully some editing will happen with the final version.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy! All opinions are my own.

Stopped reading at 15% due to significant logical inconsistencies, including inaccurate historical and scientific claims. Editing issues were also prevalent.

Phil Carradice’s Assassinations that Shaped the Ancient World offers a unique perspective on key historical figures whose untimely deaths changed the course of history. The book dives into the lives of individuals like Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great, exploring the political motives and consequences of their assassinations. Carradice's research is impressive, and he effectively conveys the historical context surrounding these events.

The strength of the book lies in its engaging narrative style. It’s clear that Carradice knows his material and is passionate about bringing these lesser-known historical events to life. The writing is accessible, making the book suitable for both casual readers and history enthusiasts.

However, despite its merits, the book feels a bit superficial at times. While Carradice discusses several key assassinations, the depth of analysis and the broader impact of these events could have been more thoroughly explored. There are moments where the narrative feels like a collection of facts rather than an in-depth examination. It also feels a bit rushed in certain sections, especially when addressing the aftermath of the assassinations.

In conclusion, Assassinations that Shaped the Ancient World is an interesting read with solid historical insights but lacks the depth and comprehensive analysis that would have made it truly exceptional. It’s a good starting point for readers interested in the topic, but it leaves much to be desired for those looking for a more thorough exploration.

Assassination’s That Shaped The Ancient World, by Phil Carradice, in this book, we not only get to know those that were assassinated, but there’s even a section on the weapons used for said assassination and the most cases we get the truthful story of what happened. Theres even one case where a man’s choices assassinated his own reign. I really like the way Mr. Carradice, didn’t do like most historians and just wrote about the most popular although those are in here as well I found he picked some very interesting stories from multiple different countries and different sections of the book and it all made for great reading. I love historical nonfiction and this one kept me busy for a while. #NetGalley, #PenAndSwordPress, #TheBlindReviewer,#PhilCarradice, #AssassinationsThatShapedTheAncientWorld,

Unfortunately, I DNF'ed this book at 40 pages. There were a lot of editing errors, but I can get past that with an advanced reader copy. Hopefully more editing will be done before the book is released. The reason I didn't finish the book, though, were due to some logical issues. At one point the author asserted that it wasn't until we discovered DNA were we able to determine when people were poisoned. You don't need DNA; you need chemistry tests. Maybe they didn't have ways to test for poisons in the ancient past, but it didn't take until the Human Genome Project was completed in the 1990s. I kept going after that even though it really bothered but had to stop in the chapter about the Persian Empire. In one paragraph the author stated Emperor Sennecherib was assassinated by his sons and then the next sentence stated the emperor and one son wanted revenge on the death of the other son/brother. Just too many things that didn't make sense.

From the Biblical murder of Abel by his brother Cain, assassination has been a drastic solution carried out by many of the millennia. This book takes a look at some of the pivotal assassinations which were either ordered or committed by the rulers of Greece, Rome, & Egypt, plus the less well-known Hittites & Persians to name a few. Some of them were even victims too.

The book is not linear with regards to timelines so the reader wanders in & out of civilisations sometimes circling back. Many of the assassinations are suspected (i.e. the death of Alexander the Great, & that of several important Romans, etc) but the evidence is suggestive yet equivocal in many cases. To little surprise, ancient Rome takes up quite a bit of the book, ranging across several chapters. My only quibble is that I expected this to be a more interesting read than it turned out to be as it was a little academically dry in places.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword History, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Quick Summary: A non-fiction/history read

My Review: Assassinations That Shaped the Ancient World by Phil Carradice is a 2025 release.

About the Book: "In this new book, Phil Carradice takes a broad sweep at assassinations in the ancient world. Beginning with the Egyptian Empire, it traces the assassin's art through Greek, Roman, Biblical, Chinese, Byzantine and other periods or empires, up to and including the Kings and Emperors of the Dark Ages. The book does not stop there. It examines individual assassinations, motivation and practice and looks at assassination groups such as the thugee of India and the Sacred Band of Thebes."

My Final Say: This book proved to be interesting, informative, opinionated to a degree, and thought provoking. There was so much content to consider and such different perspectives offered on familiar cases that it caused me to want to conduct my own detailed research.

I, particularly, liked the introduction and the chapter one considerations on how the author chose to categorize and/or approach assassinations. I found the inclusion of plots, plotters, methods, and tools to be extremely captivating. The most fascinating mention related to the female assassins from Japan, the assassination bands and sects of India, and the assassination gangs of Thebes. I also appreciated the mention of Teti.

While I liked the writer's attempt to do a broad stroke on assassinations over the course of time, I cannot help but wonder if a more specific temporal based series might have worked better for this type of material. There was a lot of information presented. I would have liked to delve deeper, if possible. Also, the tie in between historical accounts and personal views was very evident.

Because I was reading an ARC, I am unsure as to what the final approved book layout will look like at the time of publication. With that said, I think it would be extremely helpful to disperse the pictures throughout the book versus concentrating them in the back of the book. As it stands, the typed text which is devoid of images, gets monotonous. There were no visual breaks for the reader. After a time, it came to be rather laborious. While this may be a personal preference, it may be the same for other readers.

Other: This would be a good history book club recommendation.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes +/-
Audience: A
Status/Level: 💬

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The thoughts and opinions I have voluntarily shared are my own. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Assassins have always been kind of cool, from Comics to movies, books and games; The Bride from Kill Bill, Ezio from Assassin’s Creed, Deadshot, Deadpool, Fitz, Margot Fenring, Lady deWinter … the list goes on and on. But what about the real assassins? Is the reality drab and unimpressive, zhuzhed up and made glossy and slick for entertainment? Well, a little yes, a little no.

This book has a wry humor which I appreciated as the author looks into the history of assassins, from the Thuggees to the Sacred Band of Thebes to Hashashins and so many more. Each assassination covered in the book is given context, from the politics surrounding fathers, sons and grandsons to the cities, countries and kingdoms beyond which led to external stresses. Because it’s not just how they die, or who killed them, but how their deaths affected the world they left behind.

Like Darius III, who was — for a time — a postmaster in Persia, overseeing mail. This book shows us how he rose to power and why. Alas for poor Darius, Alexander the Great was on the way up, which meant people like Darius were now on the way down. Scattered in between all the gory and politically motivated deaths are stories from the bible, such as Cain and Abel, or Amnon and Absalom. There are even accounts of female assassins, be it wives who wanted to be rid of a husband or the women of Sarmatian who stood up to Hannibal, or even the Poison Damsels of India.

For all that this is a slightly grim subject, the deaths are handled with respect — if with a little mordant humor at times — and the historical trivia is fascinating. I’m going to be buying a physical copy of this book for my shelves. If you’re interested in history, politics, empires, kings and queens, this book has just enough detail to be int4eresting without being overwhelmed. And, if you’re interested in world building, there are enough evil kings and plots here to fill so many, many books or campaigns.

Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!