Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History

The text I used for my Greek history course at undergrad level. It's a good basic-level text which takes you through the history of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period, detailing all the major political, social and cultural events. Its main plus point is how well it integrates sources into the body of the text. Accessible even to those who have very little prior knowledge of Greek history.

Not a bad overall introduction to ancient Greece. However, the authors seem to spend way too much of their time talking about the exceptions that prove the rule and about what ancient Greece could have been rather than discussing the cold, hard facts of ancient Greek life. For example, the authors feel the need to constantly quote and discuss the lone individual from ancient Greece who happened to think that slavery or the disenfranchisement of women were unjust, meanwhile glossing over the fact that ancient Greeks actively practiced slavery and actively disenfranchised women. Often, the book became more than apologetic for the ancient Greeks than any real examination of the truth of ancient Greece. As long as the reader approaches this show more book with at least a basic understanding of the harsh realities of ancient Greece and an appreciation for the fact that the ancient Greeks did not adhere to modern Western mores, this book is, overall, a and worthwhile introduction to ancient Greece. show less

A very adequate primer on ancient Greek history. It captures ancient Greece's achievements and flaws; and is written in a scholarly but still readable fashion. The additional reading list is useful.