The AHA Prize in History Prior to CE 1000 is offered for the best book in English in any field of history prior to CE 1000. Established in 1985 and originally named in honor of James Henry Breasted, a pioneer in ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern history and president of the Association in 1928, the prize was endowed by Joseph O. Losos, a longtime member of the Association. The prize name was changed in 2024.
The current prize amount is $1,000.
The general rules for submission are:
- Only books of a high scholarly nature should be submitted. Research accuracy, originality, and literary merit are important factors.
- Only books bearing a copyright of 2025 will be eligible for the 2026 award.
- Nomination submissions may be made by an author or by a publisher. Publishers may submit as many entries as they wish. Authors or publishers may submit the same book for multiple AHA prizes.
- Nominators must complete an online prize submission form for each book submitted. Once you fill out the form you will receive an email with the committee’s contact information.
- One copy of each entry must be sent to each committee member and clearly labeled “AHA Prize in History prior to CE 1000 Entry.” Print copies preferred unless otherwise indicated. If only e-copy is available, please contact review committee members beforehand to arrange submission format.
Please Note: The competition will open in mid-March 2026. Entries must be received by May 15, 2026, to be eligible for the 2026 competition. Entries will not be returned. Recipients will be announced on the AHA website in October 2026 and recognized during a ceremony at the January 2027 AHA annual meeting in New Orleans.
For questions, please contact the Prize Administrator.
Past Recipients
Current Recipient
Paul J. Kosmin, Harvard University
The Ancient Shore (Harvard Univ. Press)
The Ancient Shore examines Mediterranean and Indian Ocean coastlines as distinct from seas, ports, or land. These liminal spaces united distant populations of “fish-eaters,” from lighthouse keepers to traders and geographers; they provoked confrontation with the cosmos through creation myths, scientific observations, and reflection on death. Neo-Assyrian, Achaemenid, Hellenistic, and Roman rulers alike attempted to control them through theatrical displays, from ritual weapons washing to ordeal-like marches. The book’s breadth, erudition, and elegant writing deeply impressed the committee.