A History of the Classical Greek World: 478 - 323 BC

This book gives an accessible account of classical Greek history, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 bc to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 bc. The author describes the years which witnessed the flourishing of democracy in Athens; the establishment of the Athenian empire; the Peloponnesian War, which involved the whole Greek world; the development of Macedonian power under Philip II; and the conquests of Alexander the Great. His account combines narrative with analysis, and deals with major social, economic and cultural developments as well as political and military events. Rhodes details the evidence on which his narrative is based, which includes inscriptions, coins and material remains, and outlines the considerations which have to be borne in mind in using this evidence.

“Rhodes provides an excellent introduction to the history of the Greek world in the fifth and fourth centuries BC. Of particular importance is the clarity of the narrative and the consistent citation of the primary source material.”
Hugh Elton, Trent University

“Readers of every variety, but especially those who take their ancient history seriously, owe a great debt to Peter Rhodes for a book which … is a joy to read and which, because of its meticulous scholarship, deserves to become the first book a historian of Classical Greece turns to when seeking information that is thoroughly grounded and clearly explained.”
Blaise Nagy, New England Classical Journal