The Greeks (Peoples of the Ancient World) (平装) 0415469376

The Greeks has provided a concise yet wide-ranging introduction to the culture of ancient Greece since its first publication. In this expanded second edition the best-selling volume offers a lucid survey that:

covers all the key elements of ancient Greek civilization from the age of Homer to the Hellenistic period

provides detailed discussions of the main trends in literature and drama, philosophy, art and architecture, with generous reference to original sources

places ancient Greek culture firmly in its political, social and historical context

includes a new chapter on ‘Religion and Social Life’.

@text:The Greeks now contains more illustrations, a chronological chart, maps, and suggestions for further reading as well as a new glossary. The Greeks is an indispensable introduction for all students of Classics, and an invaluable guide for students of other disciplines who require a grounding in Greek civilization.

Robin Sowerby read Classics and English at Cambridge. He is currently Senior Lecturer of English Studies at the University of Stirling. His research interests centre on the classical tradition. He has written introductory studies of the major classical epics and is the author of The Augustan Art of Poetry (2006) and The Classical Legacy in Renaissance Poetry (1994).

1. The Homeric World Bronza Age Greece Minoan Mycenaean Homer and history The Iliad The Odyssey Homeric ideals: civilised social living Homeric ideals: poetry and art The Greek love of beauty and Homer's style 2. History The main historical sources The city state before the Persian Wars The Persian Wars Democracy and empire: Periclean Athens The Peloponnesian War Spartan hegemony and the Second Athenian League The rise of Philip of Macedon The opposition of Demosthenes Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age 3. Religion and Social Life Religion The household Women Slaves The gymnasium Games The symposium Homosexuality 4. LiteratureIntroduction Tragedy: festivals and conventions Aeschylus (525-456) Sophocles (c. 496-406) Euripides (c. 485-406) Old Comedy: Aristophanes (c. 450-c. 385) Later comedy Oratory and prose Hellenistic literature: Alexandrianism 5. PhilosophyThe Presocratics Socrates (469-399) and the sophists Plato (c. 427-347) Aristotle (384-322) Hellenistic philosophy: post-Aristotelians6. Art Geometric Beginnings The Archaic Period The Classical Period The Hellenistic Period Appendices: 1. Chronological table2. List of translations cited in the text 3. Glossary. Suggestions for further reading. Index