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Summary: GREECE EXIST SINCE 1850 A.C.
Review: that lies that alexander is greek ? well he is macedonian and macedonia was never helenic ! after all ALEKSANDAR MAKEDONSKI (alexandar the macedonian - is how he was known)
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Summary: If you meet a Stoic, ask for his horoscope
Review: This book is indeed 'magisterial'. Over 945 pages long, thoroughly annotated, and heavy enough to use as a weapon. It covers the period of time referred to as 'Hellenic'; When the Greeks finally had it with the burden of freedom. After Alexander forced his troops to kneel to him in worship, murdered his closest asociates, and subsequently dropped dead himself. Alongside palace murders and dynastic wars, Green gives us a detailed account of a Greek-centered world after the suicide of Greek liberty, integrity and brilliance. Such are the pitfalls of conquering the world. A geographical expansion concurrent with a contraction of genius. Now, everybody and his cousin is Hellenized. It's the in thing to be since Alexander's generals have become kings in their own right. They may lack his courage and military genius but not his megalomania, tyranny or paranoia. And their princely offspring are generally inclined to be either half-witted or even more vicious. No matter how much history may have romanticized Themistocles, Pericles, Socrates, and the rest of the boys in the previous 'golden age,' the Hellenic period is such a fall from grace that the reader can hardly wait for a sane and efficiently corrupt Rome to wipe them out in the final chapters. Green's style may be too breezy and ironic for some readers who prefer their scholarly works dry. As an example, Green mentions that Cleopatra respected Caesar while Mark Antony "nearly drove her nuts." Above all, it's in the area of philosophy that Green show his most original or, to some, annoyingly cute writing. Philosophy, far from being a rarified persuit of academics, is the central spirit of the culture and times. And the times were tough. This is why Cynics, who would normally be considered parasites or simply nuts, flourished and why Skeptics often brought men toward rather than away from religion. After all, if nothing can be proven with certainty, why not go for the afterlife with gusto? For those of us who are inclined to think of Stoics as heroes or of Epicureans as noble, Green rounds out the portrait unflatteringly. Epicurus was, according to Green, a cult leader who was able to live placidly in his 'garden' thanks to the generous donations of rich dilettantes. Working for a living does not enter into his philosophy. A dogmatist who shunned debate and anathematized all 'heretics' in his polemics, he was probably suffering from bulemia. Hence, his constant emphasis on avoiding pain as the greatest of virtues. In this 'monastic life' his followers engaged in friendly conversation trying to convince themselves that all careers were uselesss and death was not such a big deal. Stoicism also takes a beating. We're told it was a pop philosophy, logically suspect in its premises, a consolation for a once free people who were now politically powerless. Stoics became vastly more influential than Epicureans, not because their message was more profound than, 'Gather your rosebuds while ye may,' but because it provided a cosmological support to astrology, an increasingly popular fad among the powerless as well as an incentive to the ambitious that they were fulfilling the destiny of the living universe as they strove for their goals by hook or by crook. Therefore, it could be all things to all people, producing such unlikely bedfellows as Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca. Bottom line? For anyone intersted in the Hellenic period, this is THE book.
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Summary: Wonderful overview of Hellenism
Review: This is a wonderful overview of Hellenism and the effects of Greek culture on the Mediterranean after Alexander the Great. It's enlivened by Dr. Green's witty prose and intelligent opinions. Anyone who enjoys reading about history and culture should have this book on their shelves.
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Summary: Superb, comprehensive overview of the Hellenistic Age
Review: This is one of the very finest works of history I have ever read. It is not only a ground-breaking piece of research and historical synthesis, but it is a terrific pleasure to read. Green is an eloquent and graceful writer, whose text is further enlivened by his dry English wit and acute moral judgments. Even more remarkably, Green appears to be equally at home in writing about political history, literature, science, mathematics, philosophy, and art history. The range and diversity of his research is astonishing, and the footnotes will suggest to you many interesting avenues for further reading on those topics that fascinate you the most. Finally, the hardcover edition is quite simply one of the most beautiful examples of the bookmaker's art to emerge from an American publisher in a long, long time. The text is lavishly illustrated with a profusion of maps, art works, and strikingly revealing coin portraits of dozens of Hellenistic rulers. It will take you a while to work your way through this book, but you'll enjoy every minute of it -- and you'll regret it when you get to the end. I can't wait to come back and read it again a few years down the road.
Rating:
Summary: Superb, comprehensive overview of the Hellenistic Age
Review: This is one of the very finest works of history I have ever read. It is not only a ground-breaking piece of research and historical synthesis, but it is a terrific pleasure to read. Green is an eloquent and graceful writer, whose text is further enlivened by his dry English wit and acute moral judgments. Even more remarkably, Green appears to be equally at home in writing about political history, literature, science, mathematics, philosophy, and art history. The range and diversity of his research is astonishing, and the footnotes will suggest to you many interesting avenues for further reading on those topics that fascinate you the most. Finally, the hardcover edition is quite simply one of the most beautiful examples of the bookmaker's art to emerge from an American publisher in a long, long time. The text is lavishly illustrated with a profusion of maps, art works, and strikingly revealing coin portraits of dozens of Hellenistic rulers. It will take you a while to work your way through this book, but you'll enjoy every minute of it -- and you'll regret it when you get to the end. I can't wait to come back and read it again a few years down the road.
Rating: 
Summary: Can you get anymore Irony into this Tome?
Review: Why did Peter Green write this book? Did he get a grant or need to fullfil some contractual obligation? I read this after reading Green's book on Alexander of Macedon (who most call Alexander the Great, but not Green). I thought, OK this guy did his research on Alexander and just really came up vomiting. I can buy that as Alexander's life is no picnic. But if Alexander was so pathetic a character, why is European history so enamoured with him. Because we are all idiots I guess. Anyway, I decided to give Mr. Green a second chance as his writing is good and his research excellent. So I delved into "Alexander To Actium" a dreary (by his own account) recitation of retchedness of about 300 years called the Hellenistic period. And I thought he hated Alexander, he was a prince compared to the vile, disgusting, and inept pretenders who came after him. Here's my advise. Read some Plutarch to find out about some of these people. And then if you have the stomach for it, you can try to read this writer's unfailingly harsh and bitter diatribe against those who would not live up to Mr. Green's expectations. Oh, he did kinda like Cleopatra. That's the only monarch who rates above rancid. Mr. Green has certainly taught me the error of trying to get a handle on the Hellenistic period. Fool though I was. It is unclean.
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