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The Hellenistic Age: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles) | 
| Author: Peter Green
Publisher: Modern Library
Category: Book
List Price: $14.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 142074
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 0812967402
Dewey Decimal Number: 938
EAN: 9780812967401
ASIN: 0812967402
Publication Date: May 13, 2008
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Condition: BRAND NEW
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Product Description
The Hellenistic Age chronicles the years 336 to 30 BCE, a period that witnessed the overlap of two of antiquity’s great civilizations, the Greek and the Roman. Peter Green’s remarkably far-ranging study covers the prevalent themes and events of those centuries: the Hellenization, by Alexander’s conquests, of an immense swath of the known world; the lengthy and chaotic partition of this empire by rival Macedonian bands; the decline of the city-state as the predominant political institution; and, finally, Rome’s moment of transition from republican to imperial rule. It is a story of war and power-politics, and of the developing fortunes of art, science, and statecraft, spun by an accomplished classicist with an uncanny knack for infusing life into the distant past, and applying fresh insights that make ancient history seem alarmingly relevant to our own times.
“Spectacular . . . [filled with] Mr. Green’s critical acumen.”
–The Wall Street Journal
“Green draws upon a lifetime of scholarship to brilliantly sum up the three-hundred-year Hellenistic age. . . . Happily, this book’s brevity–admirable in itself, and in its concision, elegance, and authority–isn’t achieved at the expense of subtlety and complexity.”
–The Atlantic Monthly
“An interesting and well-written overview . . . Students of world history are in Green’s debt.”
–The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Marvelous . . . splendid . . . a brilliant introduction to this crucial transitional period.”
–Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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| Customer Reviews:
 Packs an enormous amount into a few hundred pages January 30, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This excellent - and occasionally harrowing - overview of the Hellenistic age is very much worth reading. It's much less long than his earlier account (Alexander to Actium, published some 20 years earlier). For that reason, it is better for neophytes and beginners, especially those who want a very good overview of a crucial and interesting period in the history of an area stretching from Greece to Pakistan. But it is also a tasty morsel for experienced Hellenists, who certainly know Green's work from his other brilliant writings. As for the allegation that Green hasn't been to the places he discusses, that's absurd. Green might be a professor, but he's notorious for leaving the ivory tower and going and spending time in the places whose history he charts. I said earlier that the account is harrowing. It is because of the horror show of suffering, violence, war, uncertainty and instability that characterizes the entire age -- especially for ordinary people -- which still manages to be one of the more pleasant ever to hit that particular fraught troubled region. Why were things so bad? It is as though one petty despot, psycho, and/or satrap after another tries his hand at domination in each and every one of the little city states (especially when his master isn't paying attention) in the area. To sum up, give Green a chance. Read either this book or one of his many others, or perhaps a translation. He's a marvelous guide to the past.
 Concise Rendition of a Transitional Age August 6, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As the title suggests ("A Short History") this treatment of the period sacrifices depth for brevity. Not being familiar with the subject I enjoyed this well-written introduction. Not only is the book a good first overview, it has plenty of notes geared towards further study and a short guide to further reading indicating what the author considers current best texts--as well as the usual bibliography.
A solid effort by a great scholar July 31, 2007
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Hmmm... a former professor who cannot spell the word "engrossed." What did you profess, exactly? (see review above).
Peter Green is one of the world's most eminent scholars of ancient Hellas. His *Xerxes at Salamis* is a classic of historical writing and an engrossing read. While this book is not his best effort, he was hamstrung by the Modern Library's page requirements (not to mention assumptions about the readership of such a book).
 A Sad Example of an Over-the-Hill Academician June 28, 2007
10 out of 29 found this review helpful
Don't waste your time or money on this one, unless you really want to memorize 2000 Helenistic names or be put to sleep by an obviously self-engrosed former professor (just to set the record straight, I am a former professor myself). Note: before I wrote this, I loaned the book to an educated and urbane Middle East native, and asked him to give me his opinion. His most telling comment was, "I wonder if the author has ever been there, really talked to people, and tried to understand their perspective." My evaluation: the author is "talking at us" rather than trying to tell us a story so that we come away with an understanding. Too bad that Modern Library Chronicles had to publish this one.
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