A History of the Classical Greek World

Thoroughly updated and revised, the second edition of this successful and widely praised textbook offers an account of the ‘classical’ period of Greek history, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 BC to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

• Two important new chapters have been added, covering life and culture in the classical Greek world
• Features new pedagogical tools, including textboxes, and a comprehensive chronological table of the West, mainland Greece, and the Aegean
• Enlarged and additional maps and illustrative material
• Covers the history of an important period, including: the flourishing of democracy in Athens; the Peloponnesian war, and the conquests of Alexander the Great
• Focuses on the evidence for the period, and how the evidence is to be interpreted

List of Illustrations vii

List of Figures ix

List of Maps x

Preface xi

Note on References xiii

Chronological Table xv

1 Introduction 1

2 The Formation of the Delian League 14

3 The Peloponnese in the Early Fifth Century 24

4 Athens After the Persian Wars 34

5 The Athenian Empire in the Mid Fifth Century 47

6 Periclean Athens 59

7 The Greeks in the West: The Rise of Syracuse 77

8 The Peloponnesian War: Origins 87

9 The Peloponnesian War: Resources and Strategies 96

10 The Peloponnesian War: 431–421 107

11 The Athens of Cleon 122

12 The Peloponnesian War: 421–413 131

13 The Peloponnesian War: 413–404 149

14 Athens in the Late Fifth Century 163

15 The Athenian Empire: Retrospect 183

16 Life in the Classical Greek World 200

17 Culture in the Classical Greek World 209

18 Introduction to the Fourth Century: The Common Peace 224

19 Sparta’s Imperialism and Collapse 239

Appendix: Persia and its Rebels 256

20 The Second Athenian League 261

21 Thebes and Northern Greece 279

22 Athens After the Peloponnesian War 293

23 The Western Greeks from Dionysius I to Timoleon 311

24 Philip II of Macedon 332

Appendix: Persia and the Greeks in the Reign of Artaxerxes III 361

25 Demosthenic Athens 367

Appendix: Sparta 384

26 Alexander the Great: Sources and Outline 388

27 Alexander the Great: Topics 401

28 Epilogue 427

Glossary 431

Bibliography 435

Index 445

P. J. Rhodes is Honorary Professor of Ancient History at the University of Durham. He is the author of many books on Greek history, including The Athenian Boule (1972), A Commentary on the Aristotelian Athenaion Politeia (1981), Aristotle: The Athenian Constitution (1984), The Decrees of the Greek States (with D. M. Lewis, 1997) and Greek Historical Inscriptions, 404–323 BC (with R. Osborne, 2003). Most recently, he has edited The Old Oligarch (with J. L. Marr, 2008), and has written the Introduction and Notes for Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War (translated by M. Hammond, 2009).

BLACKWELL HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

A History of the Classical Greek World

478-323 BC

Second Edition

"A leading authority on Athens, Rhodes has written a superb narrative of Classical Greece for upper-level undergraduates: lucid, concise, and balanced. Welcome additions to the second edition are chapters on life and culture, and brief selections from contemporary sources."
Kenneth G. Holum, University of Maryland

"Rhodes provides an excellent introduction to the history of the Greek world in the fifth and fourth centuries BC. Of particular importance is the clarity of the narrative and the consistent citation of the primary source material."
Hugh Elton, Trent University

"P. J. Rhodes' second edition of A History of the Classical World 478-323 BC is superior to its nearest competitors for the university and non-specialist audience, and noticeably improved from the first edition, e.g., smoother transitions into new topics; the addition of two new chapters on culture and society; the reader-friendly use of shaded boxed inserts of primary sources; more illustrations, maps, figures, and a new glossary. This book will set the standard for introductions to the history of Classical Greece."
Glenn R. Bugh, Virginia Tech

Thoroughly updated and revised, the second edition of this successful and widely praised book offers an account of the 'classical' period of Greek history, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 BC to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Written in a straightforward and accessible style, the book details the evidence on which the narrative is based, including inscriptions, coins and material remains, and outlines the considerations which have to be borne in mind in using this evidence.

The new edition offers enhanced value to students with its increased breadth of scholarship, including the addition of two new chapters covering life and culture in the classical Greek world. New pedagogical tools to assist students in mastering the material include: textboxes, a comprehensive chronological table of classical Greek history, and a glossary. The bibliography has been completely updated, and background sections have been added to three chapters. “A leading authority on Athens, Rhodes has written a superb narrative of Classical Greece for upper-level undergraduates: lucid, concise, and balanced. Welcome additions to the second edition are chapters on life and culture, and brief selections from contemporary sources.”
Kenneth G. Holum, University of Maryland

“Rhodes provides an excellent introduction to the history of the Greek world in the fifth and fourth centuries BC. Of particular importance is the clarity of the narrative and the consistent citation of the primary source material.”
Hugh Elton, Trent University

“P.J. Rhodes’ second edition of A History of the Classical World 478-323 BC is superior to its nearest competitors for the university and non-specialist audience, and noticeably improved from the first edition, e.g., smoother transitions into new topics; the addition of two new chapters on culture and society; the reader-friendly use of shaded boxed inserts of primary sources; more illustrations, maps, figures, and a new glossary. This book will set the standard for introductions to the history of Classical Greece.”
Glenn R. Bugh, Virginia Tech