Customer Reviews

Roots of the Western Tradition: A Short History of the Ancient World

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is a survey of the main themes in ancient history. It is not, and obviously is not meant to be, a detailed history. It provides a good overview for the casual reader, and a basic foundation for those wanting to learn more. I disagree with the reviews that state the book is inaccurate or a waste of time.

...The 3rd edition is a very, very good summary of the key contributions made to Western Civilization by the various ancient civilizations, with emphasis on the Greeks and Romans, but also covers the Mesopotamian, Egyption, and Persian civilizations.

This edition has 18 illustrations and 14 maps to augment the text, and I have found it very useful and informative, and recommend it to people as a good basic text. I also like the list of suggested additional readings.

All in all, a very good book. Perhaps the other, more recent editions have been altered too much. If so, look for this one.

Creative attempt to overcome overwhelming students with too much information. In avoiding the encylopedic approach, Hollister offers the broad outlines of Ancient History and suggests the most authoritative sources for further study of Ancient World topics. This enables the student to pursue topics which are of further interest to him. It is important to know that the late Professor Hollister was not only an outstanding scholar, the foremost authority on the Norman Conquest but a very popular and entertaining lecturer. He had the ability to animate his lectures with wit, humour and in his course in the Middle Ages was known to chant monastic music of St. Gregory.

I really enjoyed reading this book, but $50 for a small paperback book with 288 pages? This is one of the most expansive books I have ever bought.

Buy it used and/or buy an older edition. No need to overpay.

Result of teacher-scholar ideal. Those who sat in on the late Professor Hollister's lectures know how talented he was in breathing life into the Middle Ages. His texts are based on the popular history courses he taught for many years and his equally outstanding talent as scholar. Warren was the probably the most outstanding authority on the Norman Conquest. In this text on the Ancient World, Hollister offers his insights into the generalized side of European history. He attempts to get away from encylopedic history by offering managable summary and suggesting more study by including lists of the most authoritative sources. This is an effective way of overcoming loss of interest through saturating students with too much information.

It arrived at my college even before I need it and in the condition I expected. Thank you! I appreciate it.

It's a great book. It came in the exact condition it say it would be in. It came in sufficient time as well.

AVOID THIS BOOK. The history of the Ancient Middle East, Greece and Rome collectively form the bedrock of western culture, setting standards in politics, philosophy, literature, art, architecture and religion that have shaped modern Europe. Indeed, one might say with a great deal of confidence that it was the collective influence of Medieval chaos and ancient order that propelled Europe into the modern age after the Renaissance. Hollister, a strong Medievalist, sees this significant period as an era of lesser importance than the Middle Ages, demanding less coverage, less discussion, less analysis. Where he might be an expert in medieval history, it is clear he is no authority here, regurgitating traditional and completely out-of-date opinions of the ancient world, very scantily covering Greco-Roman achievements and creating an overall sense of entropy undermining this textbook. Though former reviewers claim that this is neccesary to avoid "overwhelming students", I believe that an ugly, unillustrated book simplifying significant matters and sometimes simply presenting wrong information should be AVOIDED at all cost. I would recommend "A History of the Ancient World", by two noted Dutch historians, as an alternative. AVOID THIS TEXTBOOK!

The threatment of Greek and Roman history by C.W. Hollister is so superficial and so vague. In my opinion, there are lots of important topics left out from this book.

I am an avid reader/student of history. This book is horrible! Hollister's work reads more like a book of fiction than an accurate account of hisorical facts. His arguements are not based on any documentation, citation, or anything else. His accounts of history seem to be based soley on his opinion. If I had paid [money] for this book I would have been thoroughly disappointed but at [the price], I feel ripped off! This book is a very, very, very quick gloss over of world history. If you are considering using this book for teaching purposes... DO NOT! Your students deserve more.