Greeks [Hardcover]

Paul Cartledge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

Who were the classical Greeks? Paul Cartledge examines the Greeks in terms of their own self-image, mainly as it was presented by the supposedly objective historians - Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon. The Greeks were the inventors of history as it is understood today, just as they are the cultural ancestors of the West in so many other ways. Yet their historiography remained rooted in myth. The mental and material context of many of the inventions of Greek achievement which are rightly treasured today - especially democracy, philosophy and theatre, as well as history - was often deeply alien to today's way of thinking and acting. The aim of this book is to probe fully that achievement, principally using a typical Greek mode of conceptualization - polarity or binary opposition. It explores in depth how the dominant - adult, male, citizen - Greeks sought, with limited success, to define themselves unambiguously in polar opposition to a whole series of "others" - non-Greeks, women, non-citizens, slaves and gods. Colin Burrow is co-editor of the "Key Themes in Ancient History" series.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An unusual approach is taken here by Cartledge, a respected scholar of ancient history at the University of Cambridge. A companion volume to a PBS series that aired this month, the book doesn't offer a chronologically anchored narrative of the ancient Greek city states. Rather, the book's 15 chapters focus on the lives of individuals, some well-known to us from history, literature and art: Sappho, Pericles, Socrates, Alexander the Great. Cartledge's main achievement is bringing to our attention others who have been familiar mostly to scholars: Artemisia (a woman who fought on the Persian side in the Persian Wars), Pasion (a money-changer), Neaera (a courtesan). Cartledge personalizes ancient Greek history by using this biographical material to introduce the reader to broader aspects of life in ancient Greece. The focus is primarily social-historical, but the book also connects with such grand military/political events as the Peloponnesian War and the conquests of Alexander the Great. Easy to read and even jaunty in style, this volume also provides an abbreviated time line, a necessary aid for those unfamiliar with the chronology of Greek history, as well as a thoughtful introduction and suggestions for further reading.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This compact survey of classical Greek history and culture serves as a companion to the three-hour PBS series that premieres this month. Cartledge, a reader in Greek history at the University of Cambridge, has written a superb general history that weaves the individual stories of diverse Greek icons (i.e., Cleisthenes, Pericles, Alexander) with the broader themes of Hellenic society. While Cartledge pays tribute to the Hellenes for providing many of the pillars of Western civilization, he does not shrink from detailing their warts as well as the striking differences that separate their world view from that of "modern" Western man. The text is enriched with excellent illustrations that convey the grandeur and diversity of Greek civilization. Jay Freeman

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: TV Books (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575000938
• ISBN-13: 978-1575000930
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Cartledge is the inaugural A.G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Clare College. He is also Hellenic Parliament Global Distinguished Professor in the History and Theory of Democracy at New York University. He written and edited over 20 books, many of which have been translated into foreign languages. He is an honorary citizen of modern Sparta and holds the Gold Cross of the Order of Honor awarded by the President of Greece.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lively, engaging, compelling story of Greek history., March 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greeks (Hardcover)

The Greeks examines life in the ancient Hellenic world: an era when the foundations of modern science and politics were laid. Based on a three-hour PBS series airing February, this provides a lively story of Greek experience through the eyes and experiences of her heroes and heroines in an excellent, involving account which comes alive. Highly recommended as a strong alternative to the usual dry Greek history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect companion for the video, December 24, 2000

By 

Mario Fantoni (Nevada City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greeks (Hardcover)

Focusing in the lifes of remarkable Greeks, this series (book and video) makes the Greek civilization accessible to us. Indispensable to anybody interested in the Greek culture.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good content--poor quality sound., March 14, 2007

By 

Jim (Asheville, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (Hardcover)

I bought this item on DVD three years ago and discovered that the sound quality was terrible. The volume constantly dropped out which made viewing a frustrating experience. I just replaced it and the new disc has the same problem! It's a shame because the other films in the PBS Empires series are so well done. Do not purchase this item--it is defective!