A Companion to the Classical Greek World

A Companion to the Classical Greek World provides scholarly yet accessible new interpretations of Greek history of the Classical period, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 BCE to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. It ranges over a wide array of topics, including the environment, economy, society, government, warfare, and religion. It also includes a concise narrative overview of the period, and a thorough treatment of the sources, both written and material.

The volume guides readers towards a broad understanding of the history of the Classical period. It is vital reading for any student of Greek history.

List of Illustrations.

Notes on Contributors.

Preface.

Abbreviations and a Note on Spelling.

Maps.

1. The Classical Age as a Historical Epoch (Uwe Walter).

2. The Literary Sources (P. J. Rhodes).

3. The Non–Literary Written Sources (P. J. Rhodes).

4. The Contribution of the Non–Written Sources (Björn Forsén).

5. Athens, Sparta and the Wider World (Roger Brock).

6. Aegean Greece (Kai Brodersen).

7. The Central and Northern Balkan Peninsula (Zofia Halina Archibald).

8. The Greek Cities of the Black Sea (Stanley M. Burstein).

9. Western Greece (Magna Graecia) (Peter Funke).

10. Beyond Magna Graecia: Greeks and Non–Greeks in France, Spain and Italy (Kathryn Lomas).

11. The Eastern Mediterranean and Beyond: The Relations between the Worlds of the "Greek" and "Non–Greek" Civilizations (Robert Rollinger).

12. The Natural Environment (J. Donald Hughes).

13. Environments and Landscapes of Greek Culture (Lin Foxhall).

14. The Economic Realities (G. J. Oliver).

15. Religious Practice and Belief (Emily Kearns).

16. Citizens, Foreigners and Slaves in Greek Society (Nick Fisher).

17. Women and Ethnicity in Classical Greece. Changing the Paradigms (Sarah B. Pomeroy).

18. Greek Government (Lynette G. Mitchell).

19. Democracy (Kurt A. Raaflaub).

20. Law and Rhetoric: Community Justice in Athenian Courts (Robert W. Wallace).

21. The Organization of Knowledge (Susan Prince).

22. From Classical to Hellenistic Art (Steven Lattimore).

23. Warfare in the Classical Age (John W. I. Lee).

24. The Greek World, 478–432 (Thomas Harrison).

25. The Peloponnesian War and its Aftermath (432–371) (Karl–Wilhelm Welwei).

26. The Greek World, 371–336 (Bruce Laforse).

27. The Conquests of Alexander the Great (336–323) (Waldemar Heckel).

Konrad H. Kinzl is Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at Trent University, Canada. He is editor of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean (1977), Die ältere Tyrannis (1979), Problems and Method in Greek History (1988) and Demokratia (1995), as well as author of Miltiades Forschungen (1968) and articles on archaic and classical Greek history and the sources..

"This collection of material is especially valuable for the holistic approach it takes in assessing the world of the fifth and fourth centuries. The focus is not narrow or purely literary and artistic. Thus, chapters on the Aegean world, the natural habitat, and the geological basis of the Greek environment place Greek society, farming, and settlement in a context far more deeply rooted than any purely literary study." ( Pheonix, 2009)

"This is a volume of high quality Here above all one can be confident that readers in general, and students in particular, will recognize guides through the period which are sound, up–to–date and user–friendly " ( The Classical Review, Vol 58 No. 1 2008)

"Kinzl s Companion on the Greek world in the classical period is a work of unrivalled geographical and conceptual scope. The papers are up to date, with excellent bibliographies, and will be of use to students and professionals The volume demonstrates that Greek history consists of much more than political institutions and great power conflicts; it integrates literary and material evidence; it amounts to one of the most successful attempt (sic) at creating a non–Athenocentric history of classical Greece.  Moreover, the arrangement of the volume suggests an editorial decision to think of Greek history not just in terms of the chronological narrative but also in terms of spatial and thematic accounts " (Greece and Rome, Vol 55 No. 2 2008)

"Logically arranged and thoroughly indexed. This whole series is building into an indispensable scholarly reference source on the ancient world; this latest volume adds considerable substance to that reputation." (Reference Reviews)

"Carefully researched pieces, written at level [of] peer–reviewed journals highly recommended most comprehensive and best single–volume work on the Classical period of Greek history on the market." (European Legacy Journal)

"This book deserves a place on the shelf of anyone interested, at any almost level, in classical Greek history." (University of Toronto Quarterly)