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1 Hawthorne Western Civilization- Ancient History

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Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian

by Robin Lane Fox

Classical World: An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The classical civilizations of Greece and Rome once dominated the world, and they continue to fascinate and inspire us. Classical art and architecture, drama and epic, philosophy and politics--these are the foundations of Western civilization. In The Classical World, eminent classicist Robin Lane Fox brilliantly chronicles this vast sweep of history from Homer to the reign of Augustus. From the Peloponnesian War through the creation of Athenian democracy, from the turbulent empire of Alexander the Great to the creation of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Christianity, Robin Lane Fox serves as our witty and trenchant guide. He introduces us to extraordinary heroes and horrific villains, great thinkers and blood-thirsty tyrants. Throughout this vivid tour of two of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known, we remain in the hands of a great master.

Review:

"Framing this history of the classical world as he imagines the second-century Emperor Hadrian (who traveled the classical world and had a 'classicizing mind') would have done, this scintillating survey seeks to understand Greek and Roman civilizations on their own terms. Oxford historian Fox (Alexander the Great) structures his study around the ancient concepts of freedom, justice and luxury, as they evolved from Homeric literature onward. The story arranges itself around two poles: democratic Athens, of which, for all its flaws, Fox is an unabashed partisan, and Rome, whose fatally unequal republic declined into the grotesque tyranny of the early empire. This intellectual framework provides an interpretive skeleton for a loosely structured, well-paced narrative history. (One disappointment, a major one for an 'epic history,' is Fox's sketchy, montage-like treatment of military campaigns.) Into the story the author weaves insightful passages on art, religion, technology, marriage and the prominent role of homosexuality in classical culture, along with set-piece profiles of statesmen and thinkers from Pericles to Plato to Pliny. Fox is a fluent, perceptive color commentator on the pageant of ancient history, while giving readers some idea of where the parade was headed. 71 b&w illus.; 10 maps." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Greek and Latin may long since have lost their central place in Western education, but the influence of the classical world on our own culture remains very strong. It's there in language and law, and far more vividly present in ideas and ways of thinking about the world. Both the name and concept of democracy came from the Greeks (even if in practice ancient democracies varied massively from each... Washington Post Book Review (read the entire Washington Post review)

Book News Annotation:

Having written widely about classical times and themes, Fox (ancient history, Oxford U.) takes a deep breath and puts it all together. Rather than the typical topical approach, he uses a traditional historical narrative framework that he finds better for illuminating change over the 900 years from archaic Greece through imperial Rome. Some monochrome illustrations are included, but the text rules. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Synopsis:

Eminent classicist Robin Lane Fox brilliantly chronicles the vast sweep of history from Homer to the reign of Augustus, from the Peloponnesian War through the creation of Athenian democracy, from the turbulent empire of Alexander the Great to the creation of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Christianity.

Product Details

ISBN:
9780465024964
Subtitle:
An Epic History from Homer to Hadrian
Author:
Fox, Robin Lane
Author:
Lane Fox, Robin
Publisher:
Basic Books
Subject:
Civilization
Subject:
Ancient - General
Subject:
Civilization, Classical
Subject:
World
Publication Date:
October 2006
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
656
Dimensions:
9.68x6.30x1.68 in. 2.31 lbs.

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