Why read Loot?

Book cover of Loot: The Battle Over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World

Book description

For the past two centuries, the West has plundered the treasures of the ancient world to fill its great museums, but in recent years the countries where ancient civilizations originated have begun to push back, taking museums to court, prosecuting curators, and threatening to force the return of these priceless…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Loot as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Roger Atwood

Author

The long history of pillage as an act of colonial conquest – Napoleon looting Egypt, Britain looting Greece, among many others – is well-told in this solid, historically grounded account. Why are so many of the world’s great museums filled with treasures from ancient civilizations? This book tells you how it happened, while also showing why countries stripped of their heritage are demanding it back. There are a few books out there entitled Loot: this is the one to read.

From Roger's list on The best books on the looting of the ancient world.