Get to grips with ancient Greek mythology and philosophy. Uncover the cornerstone of western civilisation. If ancient history is all Greek to you, then this is the lively and straight-talking guide you''ve been waiting for. From academics and athletes, wars and warriors, to Athens and epic empire building, Ancient Greeks For Dummies introduces you to the fascinating history and culture of ancient Greece. You''ll discover who the ancient Greeks were, where they came from, how they lived, and how their influence can still be felt around the world today. Discover : * How the ancient Greeks created civilisation as we know it * Greek gods and heroic mythology * What made Alexander so great * The lasting legacy of ancient Greek philosophy and science * Great Greek inventions * Explanations in plain English * ''Get in, get out'' information * Icons and other navigational aids * Tear-out cheat sheet * Top ten lists * A dash of humour and fun Get Smart! @ www.dummies.com * find listings of all our books * Choose from many different subject categories * Browse our free articles

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Stephen Batchelor is a lecturer in Ancient History and Classical Studies. He writes reviews for History Today and Current Archaeology.

Leseprobe

Introduction. Part I: Travelling Back in Time. Chapter 1: When, Where, What, Who? Meeting the Ancient Greeks. Chapter 2: Encountering Prehistoric Civilisations: The Minoans and Mycenaeans. Chapter 3: Shedding Light on Ancient Greece''s Dark Ages. Chapter 4: Governing by Kings, Tyrants, and (Eventually) Democrats. Chapter 5: Fighting and Warring: Greece Gets Heavy. Chapter 6: East versus West: The Persian Wars. Part II: Athens to Alexander: The Rise and Fall of Empires. Chapter 7: Athens and Empire Building. Chapter 8: Dealing with the Neighbours from Hell: The Peloponnesian War. Chapter 9: Losing Their Way: The End of Classical Greece. Chapter 10: Rising Quickly to the Top: Macedonia. Chapter 11: Crowning the Undefeated Champion of the World: Alexander the Great. Chapter 12: What Happened Next? Part III: Living a Greek Life. Chapter 13: Out in the Fields: Farming, Herding, and Travelling. Chapter 14: Home and Family. Chapter 15: Going About Daily Life in Ancient Greece. Chapter 16: Plays and Pugilism: Enjoying Ancient Greek Entertainment. Chapter 17: Depicting Men, Women, and Gods in Art. Chapter 18: Building Beautiful Greek Architecture. Part IV: Mythology, Religion, and Belief. Chapter 19: Going Back to the Beginning: Myths and Gods. Chapter 20: Blending Myth and History: Troy, Homer, and Heroes. Chapter 21: Practising Everyday Religion: ''A God Put It in My Heart to Say''. Chapter 22: Trying to Figure Everything Out: Greek Philosophy. Part V: The Part of Tens. Chapter 23: Ten Great Greek Inventions. Chapter 24: Ten Things to Read Next. Chapter 25: Ten Dodgy Ancient Greek Characters. Chapter 26: Ten Great Places to Visit. Index.