A History of Greece to 322 B.C.

By N.G.L. Hammond

Book Overview

This new edition of a well-known history of ancient Greece presents a modern interpretation of Greek ideas, culture, and history. Although the book's primary focus is on the political and military history of the Greek states, the prehistoric period and the intellectual, social, and economic
backgrounds are also covered. N.G.L. Hammond's work thoroughly documents its ancient sources, and directs readers to further studies in the field. Updated and revised, the third edition adds new material on the significance of the spread of tumulus-burial in Albania and the Mycenaean world, the
dating of early coinage, the decree of Themistocles, and on aspects of the rule of Alexander the Great. Wide-ranging in scope, yet rich in detail, this work adds a modern perspective to the study of a fascinating ancient culture.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198730950
• ISBN13: 9780198730958
• Release Date: August 1986
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 716 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Fat and fun

Though this is a 650+ page history book, Hammond does a great job of telling the tale of ancient Greece with excitement in addition to providing detailed information. If you need a one-book history of Greece from its beginnings to the death of Alexander the Great, this will probably suit your needs. There are some pictures and maps, but if you actually want to know what's going on, an atlas of ancient Greece might help. Interestingly, Hammond is especially thorough where battles are concerned and sometimes includes maps to illustrate the placement of ships or soldiers in a given battle. He is also adept at describing the intellectual and artistic achievement of the Greeks and fitting them into the narrative of events. The book is well organized and the table of contents show clearly what each segment of the book is about.

A Classic of Classical Greek historical writing

There are some books which merit a far wider recognition and respect than they will ever receive. Admittedly, the subject matter of Hammond's book is not only daunting, but downright unfashionable. To my mind, this only contributes more to its already tremendous value. As histories of Classical Greece go, Hammond's 'History of Greece' is a marvel of clear, authoritative writing, compelling scholarship, and overall mastery of a difficult and still intriguing topic.While one could perhaps make the case that the book is now some fifteen years old, and therefore somewhat in need of revision, the overwhelming detail and clarity of the work must mitigate that concern. Hammond has presented what may fairly be called a masterpiece of Classical Greek history. His coverage of subjects ranging from politics to the arts, from the Persian to the Peloponnesian wars, or from Alcibiades to Xenophon (although biographical details are, perhaps of necessity, somewhat lacking) all combine to form a coherent, thorough accounting of the rise of Greece.Enhanced by black & white photographs and an assortment of excellent maps, Hammond's 'History of Greece to 322 B.C.' should be considered an essential volume not only for the shelves of the Classical scholar, but for anyone who wishes a better understanding of one of the founding nations of the Western world.