A. R. Burn (1902–1991)

This is a relatively comprehensive overview of Greek history spanning between the Minoan years on Crete of 2000-1400 BC, through Classical Greece to the diminishment of Ancient Greek society and culture under Roman expansion. Separate chapters deal with the different eras of history, and include the major people, trends, and events of importance: the Heroic age, the Persian wars, the lyric playwrights, the pre-Socratic philisophers, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Athenian democracy, Alexander the Great, and lots of warring between independent Greek states throughout.
As a readable history of Greece this does well in including not only the military and social history, but also the cultural phenomena of philosophy, literature, politics, and drama - all of which the Greeks excelled in. At around 400 pages including a few maps, this is a good overview of a lot of different topics which deserve whole shelves of books in their own right, and how they fit together historically. For readability the quality is not bad, and so this would make a good introduction to Greek history in general.… (mehr)

I found this a fascinating but difficult book. Academic, knowledgeable, dense, detailed, sort of assuming you are already familiar with Herodotos and the history of the period. On the other hand, it gives you a feel of 'being there' at the major battles of Marathon, Thermopylai, Salamis and Plataia, and an explanation of the political intrigues of the time. It is a pretty amazing story all round. Most of the heroes had some kind of moral 'fall' after their moment of glory, and were eventually reviled as traitors. The fighting masses were apparently deeply religious and in fear of the gods, but their leaders were not above bribing the Oracles to get the right portents, and the priests were also apparently not above 'interpreting' the omens to meet the political needs of the moment. And in the midst of battle the old oligarchies were plotting counter-coups against the more democratic leaders. It all comes across as very 'modern'....… (mehr)