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Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age (Volume 1) Paperback – October 19, 1993
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In this monumental work, Peter Green―noted scholar, writer, and critic―breaks with the traditional practice of dividing the Hellenistic world into discrete, repetitious studies of Seleucids, Ptolemies, Antigonids, and Attalids. He instead treats these successor kingdoms as a single, evolving, interrelated continuum. The result clarifies the political picture as never before. With the help of over 200 illustrations, Green surveys every significant aspect of Hellenistic cultural development, from mathematics to medicine, from philosophy to religion, from literature to the visual arts.
Green offers a particularly trenchant analysis of what has been seen as the conscious dissemination in the East of Hellenistic culture, and finds it largely a myth fueled by Victorian scholars seeking justification for a no longer morally respectable imperialism. His work leaves us with a final impression of the Hellenistic Age as a world with haunting and disturbing resemblances to our own. This lively, personal survey of a period as colorful as it is complex will fascinate the general reader no less than students and scholars.
- Print length970 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherUniversity of California Press
- Publication dateOctober 19, 1993
- Dimensions7 x 1.9 x 10 inches
- ISBN-109780520083493
- ISBN-13978-0520083493
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Product details
- ASIN : 0520083490
- Publisher : University of California Press; First Edition (October 19, 1993)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 970 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780520083493
- ISBN-13 : 978-0520083493
- Item Weight : 4.08 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 1.9 x 10 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #898,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #934 in Ancient Greek History (Books)
- #3,503 in History & Theory of Politics
- #40,918 in Social Sciences (Books)
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About the author

Peter Green lives by the Solent, and loves sailing and kite surfing. Having spent time in the military and in business, he is now an appraisal manager for a leading CV & Career Consultancy.
His writing and editing experience focus on imparting information, including detailed technical manuals, policies and procedures for the military and for global corporations. He is the author of the ILO (UN) Code of Practice for the Security of Ports, and more recently has produced CV appraisals, interview preparation, career and job hunting information, and advice and help for people in all walks of life, all over the world.
Philosophy: Persevere and Persist
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One comment by the other readers concerns me. In my view, based on my background in the sciences and his own comments, Green is, above all, a scientist, believing that every item in historical analysis is subject to criticism and refutation. There's little in this text (and it IS a text--not casual reading) that suggests it is in any way "subjective." He was also, in my mind, a great teacher, providing a last gasp of academic brilliance into what's become a polytechnic degree mill.
Green is a master of the discipline, and this tome represents a lifetime of work. I doubt if it's meant to be "enjoyed." It is meant to be read and to be understood, and hopefully to serve as a reference for further investigation.
He's certainly written other books that are far more succinct and accessible. This one is for true students of Hellenistic Greece.
My main problem is that his writing style is just so hard to follow, as many evaluators before me have noted. At least a half dozen times, I put the book down, only to give it a second chance and then realize that I'm reading a fantastic chapter, every sentence and fact right in place. Reading this book is like watching Michelangelo chisel marble with a toothpick.
Additionally, while the book is written in about 25 chronologically organized chapters, each chapter is more of a thesis argument, taking information from all over the place, than straight descriptive prose. Once again, after getting frustrated, I repeatedly realized that Green does this because he deeply understands the material and focuses on main themes. The Hellenistic Era is hugely complicated, therefore, it makes sense to focus on a narrow, yet basic theme and flesh that out, as has does each time.
The book is almost 700 large pages of dense reading, nicely interspersed with very relevant images. I'm not sure how to advise you, if you're looking for a book on the Hellenistic Era. The Hellenist Era is receiving a lot of attention these days, perhaps because it's importance was under-recognized until recently. He does have a 100-page book out on the Hellenistic Era, written in 2008. I'm hoping it's easier to read and has recent scholarly updates.
empires and dynasties which fought for dominance after the death of Alexander, the artistic and philosophical heritage of the times, the rapid ascendency of Rome, and a great deal more.
This is the kind of work which anyone with an interest in history can pick up, open to any page or chapter, and discover a wealth of exotic characters and settings.
My only criticism is the lack of color photographs to help illustrate this sumptuous period. Perhaps a later edition can correct this one failing.
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What makes this book so great is its inclusiveness. It covers basically everything that happens in the eastern Mediterranean for a period of three hundred years. There may be a string of names which seem to go by at lightning speed, but Green does as good a job as he can at keeping the protagonists clear and separate. He also manages to reveal a good deal about the character of each man, and he does this with the same cutting insight he brought to his examination of Alexander.
This book is perfect as either a reference book or an introduction to the period.
For the first few decades after Alexander it's also worth checking out Dividing the Spoils and Ghost on the Throne . Green's account of The Greco-Persian Wars is excellent as well, although that has little to do with the period in question.


