Greece Against Rome: The Fall of the Hellenistic Kingdoms 250-31 BC

by Philip Matyszak

Overview

The acclaimed ancient world historian examines the centuries-long decline of Greek powers in the face of the growing Roman threat.

Towards the middle of the third century BC, the Hellenistic kingdoms were near their peak. In terms of population, economy and military power, each was vastly superior to Rome, not to mention in fields such as medicine, architecture, science, philosophy and literature. But over the next two and a half centuries, Rome would eventually conquer these kingdoms while adopting so much of Hellenistic culture that the resultant hybrid is known as ‘Graeco-Roman’.

In Greece Against Rome, Philip Matyszak relates this epic tale from the Hellenistic perspective. At first, the Romans appear to be little more than another small state in the barbarian west as the Hellenistic powers are consumed by war amongst themselves. It is a time of assassinations, double crosses, dynastic incest, and warfare. By the time they turn their attention to Rome, it is already too late .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473874824
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	10/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

PHILIP ‘MATY’ MATYSZAK holds a doctorate in Ancient History from St John’s College, Oxford University, and has been studying, teaching and writing on the subject for over twenty years. He specializes in the history of Classical Greece and of the Late Republic and Early Imperial periods of Rome. Maty has personal military experience both as a conscript in Rhodesia and with the Territorial Army in Britain. These days he splits his time between writing in his home in Canada’s Monashee Mountains and providing e-learning courses for Cambridge University’s Institute of Continuing Education.

Table of Contents

List of Plates vi

Maps viii

Introduction: Three Rivals Unalike xii

Chapter 1 The Limits of Hellenism 1

Chapter 2 Rome and the Greek World in 250BC 10

Chapter 3 Peak Hellenism 24

Chapter 4 A World at War 39

Chapter 5 Kings at Work 217-199BC 60

Chapter 6 Philip V Against Rome 75

Chapter 7 Rome and Antiochus III 92

Chapter 8 The Romans Go East 103

Chapter 9 The Fall of Greece 117

Chapter 10 Concurrent Wars 130

Chapter 11 The Decline of the Seleucids and the Fail of Greece 147

Chapter 12 Things Fall Apart 161

Chapter 13 Sleeping with the Enemy - Cleopatra VII and the Fall of Egypt 176

Epilogue 192

Select Further Reading 195

Index 196