Customer Reviews

The Greek World (Cultural Atlas of)

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

People like Greek mythology and Greek civilization as I do. This book is a good source of information for the subject.