The Greek World (Cultural Atlas of) [Hardcover]

Peter Levi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cultural Atlas of | Publication Date: April 1983

New York: Facts on File, 1980. Hardbound, 12.25 inches tall by 9.5 wide, 240 pages. Glossary, bibliography, gazetteer, index. Map endpapers. Features 87 specially drawn maps and 441 illustrations, including 326 in color. Includes a Chronological Table.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (April 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871964481
• ISBN-13: 978-0871964489
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,292,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Atlas of the Greek World, March 30, 2009

By 

Ryan S. Mease "scott.godwin" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greek World (Cultural Atlas of) (Hardcover)

I cannot utterly condemn this atlas, because it is an excellent source of maps and information; it presents a complete picture of Greek history from the earliest archaeological data to the imprint of Greece on the modern world. However, it is almost without doubt that there are similar resources with superior information: newer, more thorough, more updated.

Also, the author has an obvious bias toward art history, which is almost always the focus of his overview. This is nice, but one would appreciate similar, extensive coverage of political movements and philosophical trends.

A likely resource for a public library, but for the individual I would recommend something newer.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A poet writing about Greeks, August 2, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greek world (The Cultural atlas of the world) (Hardcover)

Beware, I found this book is not easily readable, but if you persevere you will increase your knowledge of Ancient Greeks quite a bit.

The difficult arises with the way the book is written, the author being from time to time more a poet than a prose writer. If you like poetry, the book reads itself differently. Some sentences are unusually long, and holding more than one substantial idea in them. So from time to time I found myself guessing what was the main point, because more than usual sound ideas are crammed together.

Compared with two other books of similar aim and scope, Cornell's The Roman World and Baines' Ancient Egypt, The Greek World lags behind. In this book the geographical approach is not followed, but rather a cultural one is. Then, it fills the ranks of other books on Greece, but I found it harder to read. That's why I'm ranking it with three stars. Illustrations, many and of quality will help. All three books are good additions to a library of anyone with and interest in ancient history and geography.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit of an attitude problem..., October 29, 2002

By 

"leventissa" (Grevena Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greek World (Cultural Atlas of) (Hardcover)

While this is an essential general reference on Greece, the reader should beware that it contains inherited bias when dealing with some subjects. Of particular note is the role of women in ancient Greek society and religion. While a difficult topic to cover in today's PC world, neverless the Victorian imprint in Levi's work is hard to miss. There are also patronistic references to ethnic Greeks today, and quoted sources and the author frequently relate observations from Greeks who obviously had their "tongues in their cheeks" when talking to the curious foreignors. Other statements are made as "given" which could be challenged -- for example, "caves are mysterious" thus they are the center for religious mysteries. Some caves may be mysterious, but others are now and in past times used as animal stables and shelters, certainly not a very mysterious usage.

So, while I recommend this book as a good general reference, and the gross amount of material presented is exceptional, the student should not swallow all its attitudes and opinions without critical study.