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Loading... The Greeks: Crucible of Civilizationby Paul Cartledge
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This is an introduction to ancient Greek culture and history, written to accompany a TV series in 2000, that I picked up on impulse in my local library. The book is divided into 15 short portraits of prominent (or not really prominent in some cases) Greeks who influenced or were in some way representative of ancient Greek society. It includes a range of obvious examples: Homer, Pericles, Socrates, Aristotle and Alexander, also others much less well known, including one who may be a fictional creation of Plato (who is not included separately from Socrates, but whose influence is felt throughout much of the book). The approach is generally effective in presenting an introduction to its subject, but I think the author bangs on rather excessively about the subordinate role of women in Greek society (which has of course been true historically of women in the great majority of societies over time until recently, and alas still in many societies now). The book does give a reasonable feel for the flow of Greek history, particularly the relations between Athens and the other city states in the 5th and 4th centuries. A reasonable read, though the format and choice of some of the portraits makes for a slightly disjointed feel. ( ) no reviews | add a review
An introduction to the world of Homer, Plato, Sappho and Aristophanes, this book accompanies the BBC TV series on classical Greek history and culture. The author does not avoid pointing out the shortcomings of the Hellenes, nor the differences that separate their world view from our own. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)938History and Geography Ancient World Greece to 323LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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