Book on Ancient Greek History
January 14, 2021 4:51 PM Subscribe
I have a high schooler who wants to find a good book on ancient Greek history in the years between Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. He has expressed interest in details on the Syrian Wars and Mithridatic Wars (although a book doesn't need to focused on those). Any suggestions?
Best answer: For an overview of the Greeks (from a particular point-of-view), you might consider Thomas Cahill's Sailing The Wine-Dark Sea: Why The Greeks Matter. It's a highly readable overview of the importance of the Greeks to Western Civilization. The reason I say "from a particular point of view" is that Cahill has what I think is a Catholic point of view; he doesn't proselytize or talk down other religious traditions, but reading him I am always somehow aware that he has a Christian worldview. (This also doesn't prevent him from looking in earthy amusement at some sexual practices as shown in Greek art.)
posted by lhauser at 6:28 PM on January 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by lhauser at 6:28 PM on January 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
I was hoping you would get some more answers. I don’t have any book recommendations, but the Ancient World podcast did a series on the Seleucids, with coverage of the Ptolemys and others as necessary. It’s 18 episodes; you want the ones that start at “T1”.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:40 PM on January 17, 2021
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:40 PM on January 17, 2021
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posted by crazy with stars at 5:06 PM on January 14, 2021 [2 favorites]