Synopses & Reviews
An innovative and intriguing look at the foundations of Western civilization from two leading historians. The influence of ancient Greece and Rome can be seen in every aspect of our lives. From calendars to democracy to the very languages we speak, Western civilization owes a debt to these classical societies. Yet the Greeks and Romans did not emerge fully formed; their culture grew from an active engagement with a deeper past, drawing on ancient myths and figures to shape vibrant civilizations.
In The Birth of Classical Europe, the latest entry in the Penguin History of Europe, historians Simon Price and Peter Thonemann present a fresh perspective on classical culture in a book full of revelations about civilizations we thought we knew. In this impeccably researched and immensely readable history we see the ancient world unfold before us, with its grand cast of characters stretching from the great Greeks of myth to the world-shaping Caesars. A landmark achievement, The Birth of Classical Europe provides insight into an epoch that is both incredibly foreign and surprisingly familiar.
Synopsis
A stunning work of research and imagination that sheds new light of the ancient world.
The western world has long been fascinated by classical Greek and Roman cultures, whose ideas and achievements underpin our own. Yet little has been written about how those ancient societies existed in conversation with an even deeper past, reaching back to the world of the Trojans and the time of Homer. An authoritative history covering two millennia of human experience, The Birth of Classical Europe presents provocative new perspectives on the world in whose shadow we continue to live. The authors' thoughtful, innovative approach to understanding the epochs of Alexander the Great and Augustus Caesar shows how our own changing values and interests have shaped our feelings about an era that is at once remote and startlingly close.
About the Author
Simon Price was a lecturer in Greek and Roman history at Lady Margaret Hall and St. Hugh's College, Oxford, and has writtenk and edited numerous books on ancient religions.
Peter Thonemann taught Greek and Roman history at Wadham College, Oxford.