The Shortest History of Greece: The Odyssey of a Nation from Myth to Modernity (Shortest History)

by James Heneage

Overview

Discover the cultural and political riches of Greece across 3,000 years, from classical might to modern rebirth. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

Philosophy, art, democracy, language, even computers—the glories of Greek civilization have shaped our world even more profoundly than we realize. Pericles and the Parthenon may be familiar, but what of Epaminondas, the Theban general who saved the Greek world from Spartan tyranny? Alexander the Great’s fame has rolled down the centuries, but the golden Hellenistic Age that followed is largely forgotten. “Byzantine” conjures decadence and deadly intrigue, yet the thousand-year empire that ruled from Constantinople and saved Europe twice from invasion was, in fact, Greek.

Greece’s modern chapter, too, tells of triumph and calamity—from liberation and expansion to schism, homegrown dictatorship, Nazi occupation, and civil war. Today’s nation is battered by austerity, encroaching climate change, and a refugee crisis—yet unwavering in its ancient values.

James Heneage captures the full Grecian drama in this riveting, short history, revealing Greece as the wellspring of Western civilization—and a model that may yet save modern democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615199495
Publisher:	The Experiment
Publication date:	03/21/2023
Series:	Shortest History
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	560,673
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

James Heneage author of four bestselling historical novels set in Byzantium. He founded the Ottakar’s chain of bookshops (now owned by Waterstones), chaired the Cheltenham Literary Festival, and set up his own festival dedicated to history with author James Holland: the Chalke Valley History Festival, now in its ninth year. He lives in Wiltshire, England.

Table of Contents

Foreword
 
Part One: Ruling Half the World (Beginnings–1453)
Part Two: The Longest Sleep (1453–1830)
Part Three: The Rise and Fall of the Great Idea (1830–1949)
Part Four: Democracy Debased (1949–present)
 
Afterword
Selected Further Reading
 

Editorial Reviews

A Daily Mail History Book of the Year

“From alpha to omega, and from Socrates to Syriza, here is all of Greek history, expertly told.”—Tom Holland, author of Dominion

“Highly entertaining . . . a colorful marvel of compression.”—Sydney Morning Herald

“Beautifully written, full of apposite analogies and taking a long historical perspective. . . . Excellent.”—Paul Cartledge, author of Democracy: A Life

“A complete history from the Homeric Age to the present. . . . Heneage draws parallels between current events and events in Greek history, while skillfully explaining what has come before.”—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

04/01/2023

Gr 9 Up—This series continues to offer complete histories of specific topics in just a few hundred pages. One title covers Greece from the Homeric Age to the present, and the other explores the conflict between Israel and Palestine. This is advanced reading material due to its subject matter and condensed format. The Israel/Palestine title begins with a chronology of pivotal dates, and both titles include images such as diagrams, maps, artwork, and photos to support the text. The authors are content specialists who draw parallels between current events and events in Greek history, while skillfully explaining what has come before. VERDICT A useful reference set, or a possible classroom purchase for Honors or AP courses.

School Library Journal