"The world of ancient Greece and Rome enthrals us as perhaps no other civilization can. The starting-point for everything we understand about philosophy, science, literature and art, it makes an extraordinary story in its own right. The more so in this completely fresh assessment by experts who have not only mastered the original sources but also drawn on the fascinating new approaches to Classical life and civilization that have been developed in recent decades." "Instead of the usual chronological approach, Nigel Spivey and Michael Squire have organized their subject thematically, analyzing the ideas and values that lie beneath the history. The story is illuminated by illustrations that go far beyond the familiar masterpieces, and range widely through time, genres, and geographical areas. Extra features include illustrated 'dictionaries' of Classical lives and mythology, a glossary, timeline, and map."--Jacket.