The classical civilizations of Greece and Rome once dominated the world, and they continue to fascinate and inspire us. Classical art and architecture, drama and epic, philosophy and politics--these are the foundations of Western civilization. In The Classical World, eminent classicist Robin Lane Fox brilliantly chronicles this vast sweep of history from Homer to the reign of Hadrian. From the Peloponnesian War through the creation of Athenian democracy, from the turbulent empire of Alexander the Great to the creation of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Christianity, Fox serves as our witty and trenchant guide. He introduces us to extraordinary heroes and horrific villains, great thinkers and blood-thirsty tyrants. Throughout this vivid tour of two of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known, we remain in the hands of a great master.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Textbook style writing:
This is comprehensive and detailed, good perhaps as source for reference. It resembles a textbook more than a well integrated history. It hops from topic to topic, losing organizational coherence. And like many textbooks that one yawned through in school, it is a matter-of-fact presentation of information, with the prose lacking vitality.
It will be interesting to see if his most recent release has the same stylistic deficiencies.
A valuable overview of the Classical World:
Following a chronological sequence, the book is an epic of war and peace as the Mediterranean civilisations from Archaic Greece onwards expand and trade, found colonies, and fight for dominance. He gives full weight to the importance of war, describing for example the complete destruction of Carthage and the enslavement of it's people after the second Punic War. As he says, he has had to make hard choices and say little in areas on which he knows the most, so some chapters are cramped for space (e.g.... more info
Engaging survey of Ancient Greek and Roman history:
Robin Lane Fox has written an engaging and very readable survey of Ancient Greek and Roman history. The book is well written and well organized and strikes a good balance between length and detail. While a one volume history encompassing such a large topic will inevitably skip alot of important details, I think this book is a great start for the casual reader to gain a solid historical overview before moving into more specific areas of interest.
An essential classical primer:
A fascinating, entertaining and inspring journey through the Classical World. I'm already planning a trip to the Aegean and the Mediterranean, with this volume as a metaphorical "tour guide". Probably the best single volume introduction to the world of Classical Greece and Rome.
Highly recommended
