Philip de Souza - Böcker

It is a testament to the enduring intrigue of the subject that even today the events of the Peloponnesian War are studied for what they can teach about diplomacy, strategy, and tactics. Philip de Souza's book reveals the darker side of Classical Greek civilization--from the horrific effects of overcrowding and the plague on the Athenian population to the vicious civil strife that often erupted in cities allied with Athens or Sparta. This volume offers vivid and at times disturbing insights into the impact of warfare on the people who are celebrated as the founders of Western civilization.

This book covers one of the defining periods of European history. The series of wars between the Greeks and the Persian Empire produced the famous battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, as well as an ill-fated attempt to overthrow the Persian king in 400 BC, which helped to inspire the conquests of Alexander the Great. To tell the story of these momentous events--of the lives of great men and women, the societies and cultures that produced them, and how and why they came into conflict--was the aim of Herodotus. Known as the Father of History, Herodotus' account of the wars is the first book to be called a history, and is the principal source for this concise and accessible volume.

This book is an innovative historical study of piracy in the Graeco-Roman world from the Archaic period to Late Antiquity. It explores the conditions which allowed piracy to flourish in the ancient Mediterranean, especially the close relationship between warfare and piracy, and examines the impact which pirates had upon ancient society. Particular attention is paid to the numerous states and rulers who claimed to be actively suppressing piracy for the good of all. In many cases these claims turn out to be highly exaggerated ones, intended to enhance the prestige of those on whose behalf they were made. Surprisingly, in view of the prominence of pirates in many works of classical literature, this book is the first to offer detailed analysis of the portrayal of piracy by ancient writers, including Homer, Cicero and the ancient novels, taking account of the political, social and literary contexts which shaped their accounts.

This is a major study of the ideas and practices involved in the making and breaking of peace treaties and truces from Classical Greece to the time of the Crusades. Leading specialists on war and peace in ancient and medieval history examine the creation of peace agreements, and explore the extent to which their terms could be manipulated to serve the interests of one side at the other's expense. The chapters discuss a wide range of uses to which treaties and other peace agreements were put by rulers and military commanders in pursuit of both individual and collective political aims. The book also considers the wider implications of these issues for our understanding of the nature of war and peace in the ancient and medieval periods. This broad-ranging account includes chapters on ancient Persia, the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Anglo-Saxon England and the Vikings.

This book is an innovative historical study of piracy in the Graeco-Roman world from the Archaic period to Late Antiquity. It explores the conditions which allowed piracy to flourish in the ancient Mediterranean, especially the close relationship between warfare and piracy, and examines the impact which pirates had upon ancient society. Particular attention is paid to the numerous states and rulers who claimed to be actively suppressing piracy for the good of all. In many cases these claims turn out to be highly exaggerated ones, intended to enhance the prestige of those on whose behalf they were made. Surprisingly, in view of the prominence of pirates in many works of classical literature, this book is the first to offer detailed analysis of the portrayal of piracy by ancient writers, including Homer, Cicero and the ancient novels, taking account of the political, social and literary contexts which shaped their accounts.

This is a major study of the ideas and practices involved in the making and breaking of peace treaties and truces from Classical Greece to the time of the Crusades. Leading specialists on war and peace in ancient and medieval history examine the creation of peace agreements, and explore the extent to which their terms could be manipulated to serve the interests of one side at the other's expense. The chapters discuss a wide range of uses to which treaties and other peace agreements were put by rulers and military commanders in pursuit of both individual and collective political aims. The book also considers the wider implications of these issues for our understanding of the nature of war and peace in the ancient and medieval periods. This broad-ranging account includes chapters on ancient Persia, the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Anglo-Saxon England and the Vikings.

An assessment of how important the sea was in the development of the ancient world.How important has the sea been in the development of human history? Very important indeed is the conclusion of this ground-breaking four volume work. The books bring together the world's leading maritime historians, who address the question of what difference the sea has made in relation to around 250 situations ranging from the earliest times to the present. They consider, across the entire world, subjects related to human migration, trade, economic development, warfare, the building of political units including states and empires, the dissemination of ideas, culture and religion, and much more, showing how the sea was crucial to all these aspects of human development.The Sea in History - The Ancient World ranges very widely in its coverage, beginning with pre-historical maritime activity and going on to cover not only the classical Greek and Roman Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds but also Africa, Asia and the Americas. Fascinating subjects covered include the migration of the Taíno people in the pre-historic Caribbean, the Athenian maritime empire at its height, the port of Alexandria in classical times, andships, sailors and kingdoms in ancient Southeast Asia.25 of the contributions are in English; 18 are in French.PHILIP DE SOUZA is Associate Professor of Classics at University College Dublin.PASCAL ARNAUD is Professor of the History of the Roman World at the University of Lyon II, Senior Fellow at Institut Universitaire de France and co-director of the ERC-funded Grant Portus-Limen. CHRISTIAN BUCHET is Professor ofMaritime History, Catholic University of Paris, Scientific Director of Océanides and a member of l'Académie de marine.

The Classical Greeks are renowned for their achievements in literature, art and philosophy, but the events of the Peloponnesian War reveal the darker side of Greek civilization. From the horrific effects of overcrowding and the plague on the population of Athens, to the vicious civil strife that often erupted in cities allied with Athens or Sparta, this volume offers vivid and at times disturbing insights into the impact of warfare on the people who are celebrated as the founders of Western civilization. It is a testament to the fascination of the subject that even today the events of the Peloponnesian war are studied for what they can teach about diplomacy, strategy and tactics.