Ancient Greece: A Political, Social and Cultural History

Intended for the general reader, this work introduces the history and civilization of ancient Greece in all its complexity and variety, from its first beginnings in the Bronze Age (c. 3000 BC) through the Hellenistic Era (c. 150 BC). Integrating political, military, social and cultural aspects, the book shows how the early Greeks borrowed from their neighbours but eventually developed a distinctive culture all their own marked by astonishing creative versatility and resilience. The complex and surprising evolution of Greek civilization is traced to its eventual dissolution as it merged with a variety of other cultures. Using the physical evidence of archaeology, the written testimony of literary texts and inscriptions, and anthropological models based on comparative studies, this book provides a detailed account of the Greek world while remaining accessible to readers who know little or nothing about Greece.