William R. Biers wrote The Archaeology of Greece to introduce students, teachers, and lay readers to the delights of exploring the world of ancient Greece. The great popularity of the first edition testifies to his success. In this revised edition, he has emended and updated the text selectively, provided a glossary, and augmented the illustrations.

A major new history of classical Greece—how it rose, how it fell, and what we can learn from it Lord Byron described Greece as great, fallen, and immortal, a characterization more apt than he knew. Through most of its long history, Greece was poor. But in the classical era, Greece was densely populated and highly urbanized. Many surprisingly healthy Greeks lived in remarkably big houses and worked for high wages at specialized occupations. Middle-class spending drove sustained economic growth and classical wealth produced a stunning cultural efflorescence lasting hundreds of years. Why did Greece reach such heights in the classical period—and why only then? And how, after "the Greek miracle" had endured for centuries, did the Macedonians defeat the Greeks, seemingly bringing an end to their glory? Drawing on a massive body of newly available data and employing novel approaches to evidence, Josiah Ober offers a major new history of classical Greece and an unprecedented account of its rise and fall. Ober argues that Greece's rise was no miracle but rather the result of political breakthroughs and economic development. The extraordinary emergence of citizen-centered city-states transformed Greece into a society that defeated the mighty Persian Empire. Yet Philip and Alexander of Macedon were able to beat the Greeks in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE, a victory made possible by the Macedonians' appropriation of Greek innovations. After Alexander's death, battle-hardened warlords fought ruthlessly over the remnants of his empire. But Greek cities remained populous and wealthy, their economy and culture surviving to be passed on to the Romans—and to us. A compelling narrative filled with uncanny modern parallels, this is a book for anyone interested in how great civilizations are born and die. This book is based on evidence available on a new interactive website. To learn more, please visit: http://polis.stanford.edu/.

Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient China, what colors could only be worn by royalty, what kind of names parents picked, and what children in the Han Dynasty children did for fun.

In this elementary textbook, Philip S. Peek draws on his twenty-five years of teaching experience to present the ancient Greek language in an imaginative and accessible way that promotes creativity, deep learning, and diversity. The course is built on three pillars: memory, analysis, and logic. Readers memorize the top 250 most frequently occurring ancient Greek words, the essential word endings, the eight parts of speech, and the grammatical concepts they will most frequently encounter when reading authentic ancient texts. Analysis and logic exercises enable the translation and parsing of genuine ancient Greek sentences, with compelling reading selections in English and in Greek offering starting points for contemplation, debate, and reflection. A series of embedded Learning Tips help teachers and students to think in practical and imaginative ways about how they learn. This combination of memory-based learning and concept- and skill-based learning gradually builds the confidence of the reader, teaching them how to learn by guiding them from a familiarity with the basics to proficiency in reading this beautiful language. Ancient Greek I: A 21st-Century Approach is written for high-school and university students, but is an instructive and rewarding text for anyone who wishes to learn ancient Greek.

"This book distils centuries of history into a concise yet rich introduction to the entire Greek world." "Starting with its rediscovery in modern times, the author traces the development of ancient Greece from its earliest Bronze Age origins to the Roman conquest, encompassing the influence of neighboring civilizations. She explores topics such as writing and art, government and philosophy, warfare and hunting, trade and colonization, gods and heroes, entertainments and domestic life. Drawing on the world-famous collections of the British Museum, she shows how the ancient Greeks were able to play such a major role in the subsequent development of Western culture."--BOOK JACKET.

"Wonderful…a thoughtful discussion of what made [the Greeks] so important, in their own time and in ours." —Natalie Haynes, Independent The ancient Greeks invented democracy, theater, rational science, and philosophy. They built the Parthenon and the Library of Alexandria. Yet this accomplished people never formed a single unified social or political identity. In Introducing the Ancient Greeks, acclaimed classics scholar Edith Hall offers a bold synthesis of the full 2,000 years of Hellenic history to show how the ancient Greeks were the right people, at the right time, to take up the baton of human progress. Hall portrays a uniquely rebellious, inquisitive, individualistic people whose ideas and creations continue to enthrall thinkers centuries after the Greek world was conquered by Rome. These are the Greeks as you’ve never seen them before.

This book provides a concise, illustrated introduction to the history of modern Greece, with a new final chapter about Greek history and politics to the present day. 56 illustrations. 10 maps.

"First edition 1996. Updated in 2000 with new suggested readings and illustrations"--Title page verso.

Greece is a sovereign state located in eastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The country is surrounded by the Aegean Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the west, and has a population of about 10.8 million people. Greece is recognized the world over as one of the cradles of Western civilization, with its ancient history playing a huge role in shaping the modern world. It was in ancient Greece, over 2,500 years ago, that democracy, art, philosophy, literature, and architecture flourished. The country’s ancient past remains evident in its monuments and architecture, which draw millions of tourists each year. Greece has a diverse economy that is growing steadily, thanks to excellent infrastructure and tourism. The country's major industries include tourism, shipping, and agriculture, and it has made progress in developing its renewable energy resources, particularly wind turbines and solar power. Greece also has a high standard of living and a well-educated population, including a thriving university system. The country's cuisine is characterized by a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, with seafood and lamb dishes being particularly popular. Overall, Greece is a unique and fascinating country that is well worth exploring.

A Political, Social, and Cultural History is a comprehensive and balanced history, covering the political, military, social, cultural, and economic history of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Era.