Summary
The classical Greek civilization is the cornerstone of Western civilization today. The Greeks invented and developed everything from logic and democracy to rhetoric, drama, and philosophy. Featuring full-color photographs and maps, summaries of key people and key sites, primary source documents, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and up-to-date further resources, Empire of Ancient Greece, Fourth Edition chronicles the remarkable legacy of the Greeks, as well as the diversity of their societies—from the thriving democracy of Athens to the militarism of Sparta to the oligarchy of Thrace. This eBook explores the conditions that made it possible for the ancient Greeks to develop a culture that set the foundation for our intellectual lives today, and explains why Greek power eventually declined. Everyday life in ancient Greece, from the wealthy citizens who grappled in the Olympic arena to the farmers who found 50 different ways to use olive oil, is also examined. Connections in our own world to the ancient Greeks are numerous, including the Olympics, much of our classical literature, the scientific method, architecture, and many English words.
About the Author(s)
Jean Kinney Williams is a freelance writer who lives in Ohio. She has written many nonfiction books on a variety of history and social studies topics, including Mormon Faith in America for Facts On File.
History consultant John W. I. Lee is associate professor of history at the University of California at Santa Barbara, specializing in the study of ancient Greece, Greek archaeology, and ancient warfare.