Antiochos III and the Cities of Western Asia Minor [Hardcover]

John Ma (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198152191 | ISBN-13: 978-0198152194 | Publication Date: May 25, 2000

This work examines a test case for the relationship between the polis and the Hellenistic empire focusing specifically on the interaction between Antiochus III and the cities of Western Asia Minor (226-188 BC). Such a study is possible thanks to a rich epigraphical documentation which has been reproduced extensively and translated in an appendix to this book. Dr Ma approaches this material from a variety of angles: narrative history, structural analyses of imperial power, and analyses of the functions played by language and stereotype in the interaction between rulers and ruled. The result is to further a nuanced appreciation of the relation between the Hellenistic king and the Hellenistic polis by drawing attention to the power of the Hellenistic empires, to the capacity of political language to modify power relations, and to the efforts of the Hellenistic polis to preserve its sense of identity and civic pride, if not its political independence.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Ma can claim to have brought a sophistication to this material that advances our understanding; and gradually, with scholarly care, the seriously interesting potential of this bridesmaid of a period is revealed.' Simon Goldhill, TLS

This is an engrossing book to read, very dense, beautifully written and enormously rewarding for anyone interested in how language can shape power relations. Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy

`Ma's discussions, while always starting from some specific document, are wide-ranging, full of insights and challenging.' Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy

`Ma's choice of taking [this] language seriously, as a tool, as "the standard medium for communication between ruler and ruled, shaping communication and actions", and consequently of trying to see how it worked, is in my opinion one of the things which make his book so important and new.' Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy

`A good overview of the history of the period (223-192 B.C.), taking into account the new epigraphical findings and recent research, has been lacking: this one is detailed, extremely well documented and well-balanced. Moreover, in the course of his narrative Ma manages to show in detail how history gets written and rewritten in the course of the interaction between local communities and a super-poleis power' Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy

`Throughout the book - and this is what in my opinion makes its originality - the focus is sharply maintained on the ways in which power expresses itself through language and on the contrast between imperial and local versions of history.' Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy

`Ancient historians will welcome the appearance of this important and fascinating book, which will be of interest not only to students of Seleukid Asia Minor but also to everyone interested in Hellenistic history.' Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy

`an absorbing and thought-provoking study, which will be essential reading for all serious students of the Hellenistic Near East.' G.R.G. Hambly, CHOICE Nov. 2000, Vol.38, No.3.

About the Author

John Ma is at Princeton University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198152191
• ISBN-13: 978-0198152194
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,703,655 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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