Product Description
From the epic poems of Homer to the glittering art and architecture of Greece's Golden Age to the influential Roman systems of law and leadership, the classical world has established the foundations of our culture, as well as many of its enduring achievements. Astonishingly in-depth in its coverage of the entire 1000-year history of the classical world and richly illustrated, The Oxford History of the Classical World offers the general reader the definitive companion to the Graeco-Roman world, its history, and its achievements.

The first volume, Classical Greece and the Hellenistic World, covers the period from the eighth to first centuries B.C., a period unparalleled in history for its brilliance in literature, philosophy, and the visual arts. It also treats the Hellenization of the Middle East by the monarchies established in the area conquered by Alexander the Great.

The second volume, Classical Rome, covers early Rome and Italy, the expansion of the Roman republic, the foundation of the Roman Empire by Augustus, its consolidation in the first two centuries A.D., and the later Empire and its influence on Western civilization.

The editors--three eminent classicists, John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray--intersperse chapters on political and social history with chapters on literature, philosophy, and the arts, and reinforce the historical framework with maps and chronological charts. The two volumes also contain bibliographies and a full index, as well as color plates, black and white illustrations, and maps integrated into the text.

The contributors--thirty of the world's leading scholars--present the latest in modern scholarship through masterpieces of wit, brevity, and style.While concentrating on the aspects essential to understanding each period, they also focus on those elements of the classical world that remain of lasting importance and interest to readers today.Together, these volumes provide both a provocative and entertaining window into our past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Superior Overview of Greek History
The best aspect of this book on Greek history is its comprehensive treatment of all aspects of Greek life. Literature, politics, religion, etc. are all covered in this book. My favorite sections dealt with how theGreeks socialized through organizations such as the Gymnasion and thePrytany. It really showed how the Greeks were devoted to the polis and howthey were required to be very social creatures from cradle to grave. Aserious problem of the book is tendencies by some of the authors to writein a style that is not user friendly. Also, a background in Greek historyis required to recognize names and places. Without that you will be lost.Don't buy it unless you are really interested in Greek culture. ... Read more

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Some of the most popular selections from the formidable Eyewitness backlist are now available with a clip-art CD included-with no increase in price!Amazon.com Review
Ancient Greek culture, which reached its peak in Athens in the5th century B.C., produced some of the most glorious and fascinatingrelics of Western civilization. This terrific Eyewitness Book tracesancient Greek achievements from the Bronze Age through the Hellenisticperiod using evidence found by archaeologists. Greek myths areintroduced by way of statues, carvings, and illustrations. Like allthe books of this series, Ancient Greece is incredibly rich invivid, colorful photographs, which bring the subject to life. Kids andadults can learn about power and politics in Athens, the legendaryHerakles (not quite like the Disney version), temples, and homelife. Archaeological evidence shows what life was like for women andchildren of ancient Greece, what people did for fun, and what theirstandards of beauty and accomplishment were. It's easy to see howinfluential this ancient culture has been on modern life, from scienceand medicine to the Olympic games. Extremely informative, intriguing,and entertaining. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Caution: Children's Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I ordered this book because I have been very happy with DK's travel books.I guess I should have read more carefully:This is a children's book, not a book for travelers.Yes, I know the detailed description says so and I should have read it.But there are probably others who would buy this book based on DK's travel books and without looking at the details.Hence this comment!

A visual mythical fantasy experience in a book
I had the pleasure to vividly experience the feeling of being next to bigger than life mythical creatures when I visited the mythical creatures exhibition in the weekend at the martime museum. It was an extraordinary experience. Mythical creatures have for ever shaped our imaginations in our beliefs of our lives and Greece is in the fore front of all these fantastic legends of gods, goddesses, heroes warriors monsters good and bad. DK eyewitness Ancient Greece is a mini museum between the covers. The coverage includes history, religion, people and customs, occupations, recreation, warfare and of course those great and powerful Gods and Goddess mythical creatures that were part bird part horse part lion whatever was at the time believable. The illustrations as per usual are all a feast for the eyes and give you a visual understanding of daily art, architecture artefacts and the people. There may be a myriad of books out there that are written on Ancient Greece this book however is so visual that you feel as though like the mythical creatures themselves of Ancient Greece you can step inside and, can experience been amongst them allthat time which in the endof course isnaturally a vividly extraordinaryexperience to be a part of emotionally and educationally in been a fantasy world of mythology.

CD very quickly done
DK Publishing did a very quick job in creating the CD.On the index page, some of the links are missing.The pictures are there, but the user has to go to the folder on the CD to see them.As for the pictures, they cannot be resized to a larger size without distortion.For example, the map images are so small there is no possible way that a student could label it, but the caption below the image specifically talks about labeling the map.Only about 1/10th of the pictures from the book are included on the CD.The maximum pictures per two page layout is 5 images.The "At Home" page only has 1 image, the farm house.There are also some images included in the CD that are not in the book, but the caption that goes with the CD picture are not of the same caliber as the text descriptions that go with the pictures on the hard pages.Don't pay extra for the CD version of this book.It is not worth the money.

Love Eyewitness Travel - Photos
Over the past years of travel with my "trusty" Eyewitness Travel Books I have had the most incredible experiences. Changed my life & the biggest reason is the gorgeous photos. When you arrive at a destination you know where to go & what to look for-so exciting. Now, I am a big believer of not taking away the mystery of tomorrow because you will loose your magic of today but these are a must! So funny, whoever is traveling with me is always borrowing-even Rick Steves.I got so tickled at him-getting ideas??

My next adventure is to Greece & on to the magical isles along the coastline -I can barely wait. Bedtime reading to dream of.

Basic education for the entire family
I recomend this book to any family. It makes learning fun and basic as well as interesting. my kids love this book especially being transported back in time to ancient Greece ... Read more

Product Description
The stunning masterpieces of Ancient Greece and Rome are fundamental to the story of art in Western culture and to the origins of art history. The expanding Greek world of Alexander the Great had an enormous impact on the Mediterranean superpower of Rome. Generals, rulers, and artists seized, imitated, and re-thought the stunning legacy of Greek painting and sculpture, culminating in the greatest art-collector the world had ever seen: the Roman emperor Hadrian.

This exciting new look at Classical art starts with the excavation of the buried city of Pompeii, and investigates the grandiose monuments of ancient tyrants, and the sensual beauty of Apollo and Venus. Concluding with that most influential invention of all, the human portrait, it highlights the re-discovery of Classical art in the modern world, from the treasure hunts of Renaissance Rome to scientific retrieval of artworks in the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A CLASSICAL BOOK !
I just received my copy of this book in the mail and I must say that the presentation is outstanding as usual from Oxford.The overall presentation of the material from the classical period is well presented and covered.Simply put, a great Classical book!!!! get it and refer back to it over and over !

Superb!
This innovative and deliciously illustrated guide to the arts of Greece and Rome is composed in a light-hearted, humorous vein and provides as much entertainment as artistic edification. Furthermore, its unique exploration of Greek art through the prism of Roman culture offers a refreshing new perspective on the development of the wildly influential high classicism of the empire. In short, a delightful and beautiful book. ... Read more

Product Description
Includes suggestions for how to set your study of ancient civilizations in a Biblical context, as well as background information, vocabulary and discussion questions. Also suggestions for supplementary assignments reading children’s versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey, and selections from Plato. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Greeks Alive!
Brought ancient Greece and the Greek culture come alive for our three kids (12,11, 7). Tremendously useful list of extra readings and resources for each lesson.We were able to locate the majority of extra books in our local library. Good discussion questions. Helps Christian families see Greek mythology from Biblical perspectives. You can find some (much needed) scheduling helps by looking on the Greenleaf Press website, where Rob Shearer outlines his own lesson calendar. Truly excellent resource. ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

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Focusing on one of the most dramatic and controversial periods in modern Greek history and in the history of the Cold War, James Edward Miller provides the first study to employ a wide range of international archives—American, Greek, English, and French—together with foreign language publications to shed light on the role the United States played in Greece between the termination of its civil war in 1949 and Turkey's 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

Miller demonstrates how U.S. officials sought, over a period of twenty-five years, to cultivate Greece as a strategic Cold War ally in order to check the spread of Soviet influence. The United States supported Greece's government through large-scale military aid, major investment of capital, and intermittent efforts to reform the political system. Miller examines the ways in which American and Greek officials cooperated in—and struggled over—the political future and the modernization of the country. Throughout, he evaluates the actions of the key figures involved, from George Papandreou and his son Andreas, to King Constantine, and from John Foster Dulles and Dwight D. Eisenhower to Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.

Miller's engaging study offers a nuanced and well-balanced assessment of events that still influence Mediterranean politics today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

US-Greek relations during troubled times
Anyone willing to take up the toxic subject of US-Greek relations deserves admiration.This is especially so if the intent is to write not conspiratorial history, but to canvass the archives and try to reconstruct, as best as possible, how events transpired.In that task, James Edward Miller has succeeded, producing a fair book with ample documentation and support.

The book focuses on US-Greek relations after the Greek civil war in 1950 and until the fall of the military junta in 1974.Mr. Miller makes plain that he sees the history of US-Greek relations through the prism of Peter Sellers' "The Mouse that Roared," a "tale of the ways in which small states successfully manipulate great powers."His narrative tells of clashes, rivalries, and efforts by various actors - the monarchy or politicians - to solicit the support of the United States to their side.Often, those doing the soliciting were the same ones demonizing the United States for foreign "interference" in Greece's domestic affairs.

Mr. Miller has little patience for the "official" Greek view on US-Greek relations.He sees a Greek side that blames America for its own mistakes; that treats America as omnipotent; and that wishes for just enough "interference" to serve its ends.Miller writes thus: "The Greek political establishment and Greek public opinion were united on one issue, blaming their errors on the United States.For the next two decades [in the 1980s and 1990s], the United States served as a national piñata, trooped out left and right, on every possible occasion, to assuage feelings of humiliation and to avoid a national debate over the real causes of both the rise of the Colonels and the Cyprus disaster."

Mr. Miller makes these points but is no apologist for American policy.When that policy made no sense, he says so, and he is especially critical of how the Nixon Administration dealt with Greece.Usefully, he deconstructs American policy into its various components, distinguishing between the American embassy in Athens, the State Department, the CIA and, in later years, Henry Kissinger.Far from monolithic, American policy contained both trenchant and short-sighted analysis; idealism and realpolitik; and a tendency to react to facts on the ground as much as to create them.

In the end, it is that attention to detail and the fidelity to the archival record that gives the book its force.This is no flawless book, of course.There are times when it is short on details or where there is a discussion of a historical controversy not followed by resolution.And this is a text that could have benefited from more Turkish sources on the chapters on Cyprus.But of the many books and articles written on US-Greek relations, this book stands out.

Excellent book on recent Greek history
This book is the best book I have read about modern Greek history. He has an excellent analysis of all the key players and makes very pertinent observations about Greek politics. James Edward Miller dares to make some sharp criticisms of some icons of Greek politics. A must read for students of this subject. ... Read more

Product Description
The archaeology of classical Greece developed in the shadow of Greek historical scholarship.Many modern developments in archaeology have been neglected, and classical archaeology has become something of a backwater. The contributors to this book review the history of the field and aim to demonstrate that modern archaeological approaches can contribute to a richer understanding of Greek society. They insist that this complex, literate and highly unusual society poses important questions for archaeologists of other regions. ... Read more

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In the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, nearly two million citizens in Turkey and Greece were expelled from homelands. The Lausanne treaty resulted in the deportation of Orthodox Christians from Turkey to Greece and of Muslims from Greece to Turkey. The transfer was hailed as a solution to the problem of minorities who could not coexist. Both governments saw the exchange as a chance to create societies of a single culture. The opinions and feelings of those uprooted from their native soil were never solicited.

In an evocative book, Bruce Clark draws on new archival research in Turkey and Greece as well as interviews with surviving participants to examine this unprecedented exercise in ethnic engineering. He examines how the exchange was negotiated and how people on both sides came to terms with new lands and identities.

Politically, the population exchange achieved its planners' goals, but the enormous human suffering left shattered legacies. It colored relations between Turkey and Greece, and has been invoked as a solution by advocates of ethnic separation from the Balkans to South Asia to the Middle East. This thoughtful book is a timely reminder of the effects of grand policy on ordinary people and of the difficulties for modern nations in contested regions where people still identify strongly with their ethnic or religious community.

Customer Reviews (11)

Having lived in Greece for many years, I was pleased to have an impartial resource.
Highly recommended. The bibliography is superb.

As presented in this book, the history of the consequences, mostly unintended, of the Treaty of Lausanne help to explain a great deal of life in modern day Greece. Why do so many Greek songs, both modern and 'laika,' speak of leaving and yearning for a homeland? Why does every region of Greece call itself the 'real Greece'? Why do so many people in northern Greece speak a little Turkish and Russian...and curse so fluently? Where did the expression "O thanatos sou einai n zwn mou... (""Your death is my life..." apologies for the attempt at transcription) arise in the national soul? Can there really such a thing as an ethnic identity, in Greece and Turkey, as well as elsewhere?

One could read this book in search of answers to the many questions that arise on a daily basis about this infuriatingly beloved adopted homeland of mine, but I found as much food for thought in the applications of the well-intentioned actions of so many government and international political agencies today, right now, and a well-researched lesson in unintended consequences. Perhaps we can apply these concepts to the decisions we are making today in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Ethic cleansing - made in Switzerland
This is the story of the forced population exchanges following ten years of warfare between Greece and Turkey. It is a well balanced account, though a little dry. The introduction in particular makes heavy reading, but it picks up as it goes along.
Perhaps the objective tone is necessary, given the human tragedies recalled. Greece, after its success in throwing off the Ottoman yoke in 1912, opportunistically joined the western allies to benefit from the final dismemberment of the Sick Man of Europe. This "little" war continued after the armistice, as Greece invaded Anatolia.
The invasion was a disaster, and the Greeks, once close to Kemal's new capital in Ankara, were driven back to the sea. If you want a colourful account of that débacle, read Giles Milton's "Paradise Lost" Paradise Lostabout the destruction of Smyrna, once the richest port in the Levant.
Peace was arbitrated by the US, France, Italy and Britain, notably at the Lausanne conference in 1924. None of the arbiters were disinterested, and finally Woodrow Wilson's vision of culturally unified nations prevailed.
There was a high price to pay. The Ottoman empire had never been culturally unified, and each territory had a patchwork of ethnic minorities. The Black Sea coast of Turkey was largely Greek, in Salonika the largest minority was Jewish, Crete was about half Turkish, and so on. The price? Forced migration (mostly started even before the peace conference, at least on the Turkish side) of around 2 million Greeks and half a million Turks. The figures are still hotly disputed, and the suffering maximised or minimised according to your allegiance.
Clark tells this story with aplomb, but also recovers fascinating slices of social history from the deportees and their descendants. Even today, nostalgia for the "old country" fills many a Greco-Turkish breast.
The allies congratulated themselves on achieving this difficult peace. And indeed, Greece and Turkey have not seriously gone to war since. They have also, thanks to the usual massaging of the foundation myth, created two countries with a fully fledged sense of nationhood.
However, if these were the good consequences, there were others. Some regions of Turkey had lost almost their entire commercial class. This undoubtedly contributed to the agricultural and economic stagnation of Turkey. (I would have liked a deeper analysis of the economic consequences of the peace.) Meanwhile, Greece had to welcome 2 million Greeks (many of whom spoke nothing but Turkish) while in a state of economic prostration. The effects have been long lasting: Smyrna today is Izmir, less a flourishing port than the eastern suburb of the Costa Brava.
The creation of nations by ethnicity also had long term effects, mostly if not wholly bad. Cyprus was protected from the peace because it was a British colony. It is no longer a colony, but it is rancourously divided. The ethnic cleansing of the recent Balkan wars can also be plausibly laid at the door of the Wilson Doctrine.
Today it is doubtful if Greece fulfills the minimum legal requirements for EU membership, as many hurdles are put in the way of non-Orthodox worship, land tenure, etc. Turkey has continued a policy of ethnic and religious purity (few Greeks remain in Istanbul, despite guarantees from Lausanne) and, suggests Clark, shows no sign of adopting today's ideals of religious and ethnic tolerance, and the separation of church and state.
This is a fine book with important lessons for today. One of the delights of reading is to have my prejudices refuted. I never thought I'd have a good word to say for the Ottomans, but when you consider the effects of the destruction of their polis, maybe they weren't so bad after all.

Interesting if a little slow
As previous reviewers have rightly said this could only be written by a foreigner (Non Turk or Greek) The author also has the benefit of neither being over simplistic or arrogant. The chapters read neatly into both sides of the religious divide and their own personal experiences with the population exchange which saw Muslim living in Greece deported to Turkey and Greeks living in Anatolia to Greece.

The book covers the various experiences of the two communities in the aftermath of the Turkish war of independence such as the Greeks of present day Ayvalik who wrongly thought their good relations with their Turkish neighbours and non participation in the war would prevent their exchange or the Greeks of Cappadocia who likewise thought their peaceful coexistence would spare them to the Greeks near the Black Sea who actively supported the Russians and had formed irregular gangs to fight the Turks. The Muslims of Salonika who had once been a successful community, well established and diverse, the rural Muslims of Northern Greece who neither had the means nor the willingness to leave their homeland (Where many of them were Greek converts to Islam) and the Muslims of the Greek Isles who so many years later lament the leaving of their ancestral homes.

This book does answer a fair few questions. Only a few years back there was a Turkish model who married a Greek (At one point claiming she had converted to Christianity claiming she was descended from Greeks who had converted to Islam. Then there are the stories I have heard myself of Greeks who converted to Islam rather than leave their native Turkey during the population exchange.

The book also covers the the treaty itself in great detail and its main players.

This is a fascinating book the only reason I give it 4 stars is that it does seem to drag on towards the conclusion of the book.

powerful but a little boring
This was a very powerful book for me as a foreigner living in Turkey.It's easy to take one side or another in thinking about the past.I can either embrace the typical Turkish line that makes the Turkish revolution look like 100% bravery and honor.Or I can secretly accept the demonization of Turks that I often hear from foreign authors and press whenever they talk about Turkey's behavior toward Armenians or Greeks.This book puts me right where I want to be; namely in a place where I can understand the context of what happened and hear the heartbreaking stories of families on both sides of this terrible period.The book also does a good job of showing this book's relevance for today.

While reading it, I was shocked to learn how many peoples' lives around me were shaped by the events described here.This really isn't ancient history.And these stories must not die.I'm glad that some of them got written down here.

A Sad Solution to unresolvable religious conflicts
The sadness of this book is personal. I had a mother who was evicted from her part of the world in Western Greece into Anatolia, and I know she was twice a stranger in her new homeland. Her birthplace erased from the maps, she wanted to go see it again. Never did.

I don't like to read depressing books about insolvable problems in the Middle East, but this one is very timely. The only solution in Iraq will be just such a separation of the factions into several independent areas. So the more things change, the more religious hatreds cause pain and lossto true believers.

... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the theories of ancient Greek philosopher-scientists such as Ptolemy, Pythagoras, Hippocrates, and Aristotle, and describes scientific discoveries and their applications in ancient Greece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for understanding relationship between subjects
I used this to teach ancient history to 6th graders.This book helped my students understand how science developed throughout history, as well as how subjects are related.It is far better that children understand sooner, rather than later, that all subjects are related, i.e., mathematics, science, religion, politics, literature, history....This book is also useful for sparking an interest in history in a child who is interested in science but thinks Ancient Greece or history is boring.Children always learn more when the subject matter is interesting to them.

I find it helpful in our homeschooling
We do a thematic literature approach to homeschooling and I love it when I can find books that bring in science to our studies. We find this series especially helpful. It doesn't go into deep detail, only a general overview, but is a good starting point when studying Ancient Greece. I also like to include "Archimedes and the Door of Science," "Aristotle and Scientific Thought," and "Classical Kids" which includes a lot of Greek science projects. ... Read more

Product Description
Hunting and its imagery continued to play a significant role in archaic and classical Greece long after it had ceased being a necessity for survival in everyday life. Drawing on vase paintings, sculpture, inscriptions, and other literary evidence, Judith Barringer reexamines the theme of the hunt and shows how the tradition it depicts helped maintain the dominance of the ruling social groups.

Along with athletics and battle, hunting was a defining activity of the masculine aristocracy and was crucial to the efforts of the Athenian elite to control the social agenda, even as their political power declined.The Hunt in Ancient Greece examines descriptions of hunting in initiation rituals as well as the ideals of masculinity and adulthood such rites of passage promoted. Barringer argues that depictions of the hunt in literature and art also served as striking metaphors for the intricacies of courtship, shedding light on sexuality and gender roles. Through an exploration of various representations of the hunt, Barringer provides extraordinary insight into Athenian society. ... Read more

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History of Western Thought contains in-depth discussion of the philosophical movements along with discussions on the natural sciences, the establishment of the Humanities, Socialism and Fascism, Psycholanalysis and the rise of the social sciences. ... Read more

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This will be the third in the Roman Conquests series (following Italy and Spain) and one of those with the most obvious appeal.While Rome was struggling for her very survival against the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War, Philip V of Macedon attempted to take advantage of their apparent vulnerability by allying with Hannibal and declaring war. For the time being the Romans negated this threat by shrewd use of allies to keep Philip occupied in Greece and Illyria. Once Carthage was defeated, however, the Romans were free to turn their full attention to settling the score. The stage was set for the clash of two of the most successful military systems of the ancient world, the Roman legions versus the Macedonian phalanx. Though sorely tested, the legions emerged victorious from the epic battles of Cynoscephelae and Pydna, and the home of Alexander the Great fell under the power of Rome, along with the rest of Greece, the cradle of Western Civilization, which had aprofound effect on Roman culture and society.

Customer Reviews (1)

A unusal subject
The PUNIC WARS are well known. There are many books about the battles and soldiers. However there is not much information about the other Roman conquests. The time period is very late in the second Punic War and after. This is the series of wars that finally put Rome on to wield domination. Philip 5 had sided with Carthage, but had done little to help.Once Hannibal was defeated, Rome went after him. This meant that Rome also became involved with the rest of Greece. A series of wars occurred which made both Macedonia and Greece, Provence of Rome.
The Phalanx of Alexander was defeated by Roman legions.
This is a complicated story. Greece has Many city states and confederation. The Romans tried to make allies, but instead made enemy's. The cast of charters is great and I had to reread the book twice to understand all the changes in allies.
the book had some good maps, but not enough. I still did not know who was who in the Greek alliances.
As there are so few books on this tropic, if you are interested in this period of Roman history you should read it. ... Read more

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Through verse, young readers can explore the fascinating civilizations of the past. The rich worlds of Ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and Africa come to life in engaging and lively rhymes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Modern Rhymes About Ancient Times Ancient Greece
Terrific Book. Rhymes and Illustrations are Fantastic.It is a wonderful way to learn about Ancient Greece. Children will love it.!!!!!!!! ... Read more

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Expanded and updated for this English-language translation, this book offers the first history of women in ancient Greece and Rome to be written from a legal perspective. Cantarella demonstrates how literary, anecdotal. and judicial sources can and cannot be used to discover that Greek and Roman men thought about women. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very interesting but boring.
Pandora's Daughters is a very interesting but boring book.As only a freshman in college I did not fully understand a lot of the terms the book used which made it seem unappealing.I learned quite a bit about women in Greco-Roman society when I read this book.If a person wanted to know about anything women did back then this is the book to read.It offers information ranging from family life to homosexuality among females and males.The most talked about issue in this book was the equality of women.I found out that there was never a time when women where equal to men except for a few brief periods in history.Even though a female wrote the book, she was not too biased, but liked to through her opinon in on alot of the material. The time period in which this book mainly deals with, is from about 500 b.c. to 600 a.d.The book ends around the reign of Justinian.The book is split into two parts.One part deals with the Greek world while the other deals with the Roman world.When reading the Greek part of the book I found a lot of mythology tied into society.It seems that a lot of the information we base on Greek society either comes from the works of Homer, vases, or from mythology.What I learned from this book is that the Greeks based their everyday lives from what they believed about their Gods just like what many religions do today with their God or Gods.I was stunned about some of the things Greek and Roman people did back then.If one was to read the book then they could read about some of the interesting things that happened.Even though I said the book was boring, it is well worth reading.I recommend it.

interesting but biased collection
This collection of articles by some of the leading scholars on women in antiquity discusses a wide range of topics and covers a good deal of time.However, I got the impression that each scholar shares similar biases, thatwomen were viewed negatively by their society. While this may or may not betrue, it would have been nice to have this view proved and not merelyassumed. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than a millennium, the ancient Olympics captured the imaginations of the Greeks, until a Christianized Rome terminated the competitions in the fourth century AD. But the Olympic ideal did not die and this book is a succinct history of the ancient Olympics and their modern resurgence.



Classics professor David Young, who has researched the subject for over 25 years, reveals how the ancient Olympics evolved from modest beginnings into a grand festival, attracting hundreds of highly trained athletes, tens of thousands of spectators, and the finest artists and poets. ... Read more

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This book is the only up-to-date general introduction to ancient Greek sport now available in English.Its subjects include the origins and history of the Olympic games, athletic nudity, professionalism, and the place of women in Greek sport.Accessible to nonspecialists, its overall perspective and discussions of many particular problems will also interest experts in Greek history and sport studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Unfortunately, only useful for students
I was not impressed at all with this book. This is not really a book; its merely a collection of essays written for a university course on Greek Athletics. I do not consider the writer a good author, and would recommend readers to find interesting educational books on this same subject, elsewhere. ... Read more