Ancient Greece
Product ID: 677010782
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Embark upon a lavish visual journey through ancient Greece―its origins, its rise and fall, and its legacy that still permeates the Western world today. Spanning more than 3,000 years, Ancient Greece explores the tumultuous history of this glorious empire in vivid detail―from its Minoan and Mycenaean origins to the apogee of the warring city-states of Athens and Sparta, and from the death of its most charismatic leader, Alexander the Great, to its ultimate defeat by Rome. Sumptuous photography and authoritative, engaging text cover every facet of life in ancient Greece, from art, entertainment, and schools of thought to politics, medicine, and war, while myths and religious beliefs are explored and explained in visual context. Greece’s military and political power shines through attractive and detailed maps of its legendary battles. The buried palaces and Athenian agoras where Plato and Socrates discussed philosophy are brought back to life with specially commissioned CGI recreations, while the stories of ordinary citizens, policymakers, and the first Olympic athletes are told with the help of illustrations, artifacts, and eyewitness accounts. Review: It's All Greek To Me - Translated from the Greek: As a philosopher navigating the rich tapestry of this illustrious era, I find profound joy in exploring our Hellenic identity and the vast contributions bequeathed to humanity by our ancient ancestors. The work "Ancient Greece," crafted under the discerning aegis of DK Smithsonian, stands not merely as a tome but as a beacon illuminating our quest for understanding. It intertwines enlightenment with a visual splendor that resonates deeply with the essence of our civilization. In its pages, one can discern the echoes of past wisdom, inviting us to reflect on the enduring legacy of thought, beauty, and inquiry that shapes our collective existence. Through such reflections, we may rekindle a dialogue with our ancestors, contemplating not only their achievements but also the enduring questions that continue to define the human experience. From the outset, this work enshrines the very essence of what it means to be Greek—our unwavering pursuit of truth, beauty, and the ideal. Its pages evoke the majesty of our city-states, the reverberations of the Agora, and the splendor of our temples dedicated to the gods. The illustrations, as vivid as the azure sky above the Acropolis, serve to illuminate the profound stories inscribed within our history. Each image invites the reader to wander through the stone pathways of our ancestors’ wisdom, instilling a sense of admiration and reverence for their achievements. The organization of this volume is commendable, as it deftly traverses the epochs of our civilization—from the dawn of the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures to the classical age of philosophers, playwrights, and warriors. The narrative dances gracefully between mythology and historical account, providing a comprehensive understanding of both the divine and the worldly. It is a testament to the power of storytelling, for it reminds us that our fables and legends are not merely fanciful tales but rather the fabric of our collective identity. Moreover, the book excels in its exploration of our philosophical heritage. I find profound satisfaction in the sections dedicated to our great thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, whose musings form the bedrock of wisdom. The text reflects their insatiable appetite for inquiry, urging audiences to indulge in the dialectic process. In this manner, the reader too becomes a participant in the pursuit of knowledge—a noble exercise indeed. However, as with any endeavor, one must approach this book with discernment. While it offers a magnificent overview of our society and achievements, there lies within the voluminous text the challenge of comprehensiveness. The vastness of our culture, with its rich tapestry of art, philosophy, science, and politics, may at times feel constrained within the confines of the written word. Thus, I implore my fellow seekers of knowledge to use this volume as a springboard for further exploration, propelling oneself into deeper inquiry and engagement with our heritage. Although I am unfamiliar with the process of creating a book, as we have only the wonders of papyrus scrolls, which are bountiful in knowledge, I find this a vast repository of my lived experience as a Greek philosopher. Theonides Pythagorax Θεωνίδης Πυθαγόρας Review: Beautiful book that takes you back to Ancient Greece - Gorgeous graphics recreating the glory of ancient Greece. If you want such a picture book which covers the entire sweep of Greek history from Bronze Age to the glory of Athens at its peak with cogent, clear, text describing all the aspects of the civilization in easy bite-sized but substantive bits, this is your book. It is well titled as 'The Definitive Visual History' though it is first rate as a written history as well. It gives the sight, the feel, and significance of all aspects of the culture. I wish I'd had this book when I was in school. I love it now, as a reminder and extension of my trips to Greece. If you have interest in ancient Greece, buy it!
| Best Sellers Rank | #20,708 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #18 in Ancient Greek History (Books) #48 in Art History (Books) #195 in Historical Study (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 197 Reviews |
R**A
It's All Greek To Me
Translated from the Greek: As a philosopher navigating the rich tapestry of this illustrious era, I find profound joy in exploring our Hellenic identity and the vast contributions bequeathed to humanity by our ancient ancestors. The work "Ancient Greece," crafted under the discerning aegis of DK Smithsonian, stands not merely as a tome but as a beacon illuminating our quest for understanding. It intertwines enlightenment with a visual splendor that resonates deeply with the essence of our civilization. In its pages, one can discern the echoes of past wisdom, inviting us to reflect on the enduring legacy of thought, beauty, and inquiry that shapes our collective existence. Through such reflections, we may rekindle a dialogue with our ancestors, contemplating not only their achievements but also the enduring questions that continue to define the human experience. From the outset, this work enshrines the very essence of what it means to be Greek—our unwavering pursuit of truth, beauty, and the ideal. Its pages evoke the majesty of our city-states, the reverberations of the Agora, and the splendor of our temples dedicated to the gods. The illustrations, as vivid as the azure sky above the Acropolis, serve to illuminate the profound stories inscribed within our history. Each image invites the reader to wander through the stone pathways of our ancestors’ wisdom, instilling a sense of admiration and reverence for their achievements. The organization of this volume is commendable, as it deftly traverses the epochs of our civilization—from the dawn of the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures to the classical age of philosophers, playwrights, and warriors. The narrative dances gracefully between mythology and historical account, providing a comprehensive understanding of both the divine and the worldly. It is a testament to the power of storytelling, for it reminds us that our fables and legends are not merely fanciful tales but rather the fabric of our collective identity. Moreover, the book excels in its exploration of our philosophical heritage. I find profound satisfaction in the sections dedicated to our great thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, whose musings form the bedrock of wisdom. The text reflects their insatiable appetite for inquiry, urging audiences to indulge in the dialectic process. In this manner, the reader too becomes a participant in the pursuit of knowledge—a noble exercise indeed. However, as with any endeavor, one must approach this book with discernment. While it offers a magnificent overview of our society and achievements, there lies within the voluminous text the challenge of comprehensiveness. The vastness of our culture, with its rich tapestry of art, philosophy, science, and politics, may at times feel constrained within the confines of the written word. Thus, I implore my fellow seekers of knowledge to use this volume as a springboard for further exploration, propelling oneself into deeper inquiry and engagement with our heritage. Although I am unfamiliar with the process of creating a book, as we have only the wonders of papyrus scrolls, which are bountiful in knowledge, I find this a vast repository of my lived experience as a Greek philosopher. Theonides Pythagorax Θεωνίδης Πυθαγόρας
S**T
Beautiful book that takes you back to Ancient Greece
Gorgeous graphics recreating the glory of ancient Greece. If you want such a picture book which covers the entire sweep of Greek history from Bronze Age to the glory of Athens at its peak with cogent, clear, text describing all the aspects of the civilization in easy bite-sized but substantive bits, this is your book. It is well titled as 'The Definitive Visual History' though it is first rate as a written history as well. It gives the sight, the feel, and significance of all aspects of the culture. I wish I'd had this book when I was in school. I love it now, as a reminder and extension of my trips to Greece. If you have interest in ancient Greece, buy it!
D**R
Great addition to the collection
This book is a part of the "Ancient history" series, and all books in the series come in similar hardbound volume. It does look incredibly good on your bookshelf when all of them are put together. This particular book covers almost 3000 years of Greek history, with vivid illustrations and engaging storytelling. Not my favorite in the series (I prefer Egypt), but it may be a reflection of my personal preferences. It's just as well written and just as engaging, and is a great starter on ancient history for those who do not want to dig through academic texts. Wonderful book overall at a price you cannot beat - just $28 at the time of order! Highly recommend.
L**E
Excellent Resource for History Buffs and Travelers of all kinds
Love this book. I’ve read it cover-to-cover twice: once before my trip to Greece, informing my trip and what I wanted to see; and again after, reinforcing and enriching my understanding of what I had seen.
G**.
Should have been listed as refurbished
Great book, love this series. Mine however had a tear in the binding of the book and it was not listed at refurbished.
D**S
All Thing Greek
This DK volume covers Greek history and culture from earliest times to the Byzantine Empire. Great. DK has similar volumes on Ancient Egypt, Imperial China and Ancient Rome, also recommended.
R**D
Grecian history through images
This is an excellent work that leads us through a visual history of Greece. From ziggurats to the finds of centuries CE the novice and the scholar can benefit from this wonderful book.
M**N
Text is disappointing.
Beautifully illustrated, but the history text is disjointed and is poorly related to the maps. Read Peter Green's history of Ancient Greece for a better account.
D**S
Wonderful introduction to Greek culture and history
As usual with DK fantastic production, great quality and a great snapshot of an amazing culture. This is a great book and fantastic value as an insight into one of the defining European cultures. Amazing
T**S
Great book!
Great book!
L**X
Fantastic introduction to classical greece!
A great book with many illustrations and just enough texts to highlight the different stories. But make no mistake: this book is perfect as an introduction to classical greek history. Every major war or themes is covered by only 2 pages containing many pictures, so if you want more details about a certain war or rebellion this might not be the right book for you. For me, as a first introduction to greek history it was perfect: i got a global overview of it and now that i have the timeline more structured in my head i m thinking of buying myself a book about certain passages to go into detail.
U**U
Bonito
Una de las mejores compras que he hecho, fue un regalo, trae historias e imágenes muy bonitas de la antigua Grecia
A**R
really good information and reading is enjoyable
very informative
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