Ancient Greece: From Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times

by Thomas R. Martin

In this compact yet comprehensive history of ancient Greece, Thomas R. Martin brings alive Greek civilization from its Stone Age roots to the fourth century B.C. Focusing on the development of the Greek city-state and the society, culture, and architecture of Athens in its Golden Age, Martin integrates political, military, social, and cultural history in a book that will appeal to students and general readers alike. This edition has been updated with new suggested readings and illustrations.

"[A] highly accessible, and comprehensive history of Greece and its civilization from prehistory through the collapse of Alexander the Great's empire. ...A highly readable account of ancient Greece, particularly useful as an introductory or review text for the student of the general reader." --Kirkus Reviews

"Photographs and maps enhance this solid first lesson about the ancients." --Booklist

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Greece, Classics, Audiobook, Ancient

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Thomas Runge Martin is an American historian who is a specialist in the history of the Greco-Roman world. He currently holds the chair "Jeremiah O'Connor" in the Department of Classics at the College of the Holy Cross, where he teaches courses on the Athenian democracy, Hellenism and the Roman Empire.

His research field covers the history of ancient Greece and Rome and numismatics. He is author and co-author of several publications and articles, among which include Sovereignty and Coinage in Classical Greece (Priceton University Press, 1985), Ancient Greece: From Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times (Yale University Press, 1992), The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2 vol., 2001) and Herodotus and Sima Qian: The First Great Historians of Greece and China (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009), all reissued.

Dr. Martin lives in Sutton, Massachusetts with his wife, Ivy Sun. He has two children, Alex and Andrea.

Source: Amazon & The History Series at Salisbury House & Gardens

Reviews

[Iset · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s worth noting that whilst this book was originally published in 1996, this is the second edition, fully revised and updated in 2013.

This book came to my attention when I was reading through book samples looking for the perfect gift for my friend with no prior knowledge of the history of ancient Greece. Just from the sample, Ancient Greece by Thomas Martin seemed ideal. The book is structured in a straightforwards chronological sequence rather than by theme, which for the beginner helps to better explain how events build on each other and affect each other. The author explains clearly in the beginning what primary and secondary sources are and how they are useful, and then throughout the text draws upon contemporary primary sources to give the reader an insight into what the ancient Greeks thought about themselves and create a real connection to these ancient peoples. Best of all, the writing is clear, lucid, and intelligent. This was just what I was looking for; a book that explains clearly and is ideal for those with no previous knowledge, and yet isn’t patronising or confusing, and is clearly aimed at adults in its intelligence and scope. In fact I was so impressed that I decided to read to read the whole book for myself.

By the author’s own admission, this book is only a brief overview of the history of ancient Greece. But by the time I had finished it, I found myself thinking this book doesn’t deserve to be labelled merely a brief overview. It’s so much more than a brief overview. I’ve read brief overviews in my time and this is so much better. It actually takes the time to go into some depth, for example not just telling the reader the sequence of events that happened in the Peloponnesian War, but examining why they happened, and contrasting the decisions made with the actions of the Greeks during the earlier Persian Wars. Furthermore, the book takes the time to explore cultural phenomena such as sculpture, architecture, and theatre, not just for their own sake but also explaining how this tied in to current events and how this influenced the ancient Greek mind and outlook on their world and their own place in that world. Later, the book explores the flourishing of science, mathematics, literature and philosophy, even as politics became a more restrictive influence. Thomas Martin particularly explores and explains competing schools of philosophical debate, and how they form the foundation of modern western culture and society, and how the ancient Greeks are remarkable in both their inspirationality and their demonstrative fallibility. It is obvious to me that Martin is extremely passionate about his subject, and he spends great care to show the humanity of the ancient Greeks, and make this book as good as it is. It absolutely shines through in his writing. The early chapters on the Greek Stone Age and Bronze are fascinating, lucid, and vivid, but Martin’s enthusiasm oozes through the chapters on Classical and Hellenistic Greece. In addition, the book is brought to life even further with wonderful photos and maps at key points, which demonstrate the points the author is making, and Martin is eager to encourage readers to seek out other works which offer greater depth and insight and question his conclusions – there’s a handy bibliography in the back, divided into primary and secondary works. I would credit this book as the defining primer on ancient Greece.

If you, or a friend, have no previous knowledge about ancient Greece but you want to know more, or maybe you have no idea why historians think ancient Greece is the most important basis of modern western society and why that’s relevant to you – read this book. It’s clear, it’s intelligent, it’s vivid and transporting, even moving. I would recommend it to everyone.

"Developing the view that people must give reasons to explain what they believe to be true and persuade others of the validity of their conclusions, rather than simply make assertions that they expect others to believe without evidence, was the most important achievement of the early Ionian thinkers. This insistence on rationality, coupled with the belief that the world could be understood as something other than the plaything of a largely hidden and incomprehensible divine will, gave human beings who accepted this view the hope that they could improve their lives through their own efforts."

"Ancient Greeks prided themselves on their freedom of speech. For them, the crucial component of freedom of speech was being able to say things to people that you know they will not be happy to hear. This seems to me a concept worth remembering because it is liberating for those willing to do the demanding work of investigating sources, which is the effort that earns them the standing to express judgments worth listening to, because their conclusions will then come from thoughtful and humble reflection about evidence. Doing this work also entitles them to disagree as forthrightly as possible with the conclusions of others that seem mistaken. Many fascinating and enduring questions remain to ask and try to answer about the accomplishments and the failures of the ancient Greeks. That fact should encourage, not discourage, readers to begin to go deeper on their own, competing freely and energetically with Strabo, with me, and with every other author they read on ancient Greece, in reaching and expressing their own persuasive and significant conclusions about a history whose impact lives on in so many ways."

10 out of 10

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When (if) covid ends and normalcy returns, my husband and I decided that we want to visit Greece. We are preparing by reading and taking Great Courses about the ancients and searching for books about contemporary Greece. (Any recommendations?)

The Great Courses series on Ancient Greece suggested Martin's book as a course companion. I had read it before and enjoyed it more this time around. It is a well written, high readable survey of Greek history from Prehistoric to Hellenistic times. One of Martin's strengths is Social history. I found his analysis of sex, gender, and the role of women in Athenian society fascinating. His examination of Greek religion and the Spartan social structure and its frightening impact on everyday life is insightful. Overall, Martin's text is a fine introductory survey.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid overview but with no substantial thesis. Martin focuses on the plight of the common man, women, and slaves whose existence changed little from down through the ages. Martin documents it as "nasty, brutish, and short" no matter the period: prehistoric, classical, or hellenistic.

The prose is accessible though not not especially memorable. Discussions are informative with a few quotes from the primary sources but more would've been welcome. The arts are given a fair shake as well as the philosophers. The dramatic changes in society via Themisticles, Pericles, etc. are understated and it comes across a little lifeless. On the positive side, Martin is clear, generally concise, and great for giving the reader the big picture. It filled in a lot of gaps for me while leaving me disappointed that the glorious moments seemed a little "ho-hum."

My main criticism is that author's personality seems to hide beneath a veneer of objectivity when he could've revealed it by arguing various theses or points of view. This approach usually makes for more interesting reading than the objective approach. I would rather an author take a position and try to be fair to his opponents than be dull and uninteresting by trying to "appear" objective.

[Yoly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overview of Ancient Greece history. The book is very easy to follow chronologically, which I appreciated as a beginner in the subject. He packs a lot of information in less than 300 pages, which I thought was impressive.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Martin's Ancient Greece is basically an overview of Ancient Greece that starts with the prehistory of Greece (specifically Greece before the Greeks) and ends with the fall of the Successor kingdoms. This book is purely an overview, and does not go into much detail, which is fine. Alexander is not given as much attention as his father, Philip II. I assume because the author was trying to focus more on what was happening in Greece during Alexander's reign rather than the Middle East or Asia. I think that this is one of the strengths of the book. Usually after Philip II and Alexander come on the scene, Athens and Sparta seem to disappear, so it was refreshing to read about the goings on in mainland Greece while Alexander was away on campaign. Two other things that I enjoy about this book are Martin's dealings with the Greek dark ages, and his insistence to give every period in Greek history fair attention. Martin spends a similar amount of time on the archaic period as he does the classical and even Hellenistic periods. Overall, I would give this book 5/5 stars. It is a great introduction to Ancient Greek history.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a brief history, this book packs in a lot of information! Written in an easy-to-follow and accessible style (as in - not "stuffy"), it covers the Stone Age to the mid-600s BCE. We learn that Nia Vardalos father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was right when he said "ask me a word and I will tell you how it comes from Greek"...so many words which have their origin in the language are discovered here. With maps, photos and time-lines, the book covers the advent of peoples first settling in the region, through the various permutations of villages to city-states, wars, religions and philosophies. I read this book just out of one-time interest, but it would be a very handy text for those who want to learn more about Greece to keep on hand.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient Greek history is colourful, foreign, and still so very much like recent and contemporary history. Full review to come.

[Janna G. Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For its slender size of only 221 pages of actual history, this book is a tremendously comprehensive overview of ancient Greece. Beginning with the Stone Age, it covers all the major turning point of Greek history including the Mycenaean and subsequent Dark eras, the progression from oligarchy to tyranny to democracy in ancient Athens, the Persian wars, the Athenian Empire, the Peloponnesian War, and the Hellenistic Age. It also discussed how the early Greeks owed an intellectual debt to earlier still civilizations of the Near East such as Crete and Egypt (which he claims many 19th century historians were keen to downplay or outright deny), only to pay it forward centuries later when the conquests of Alexander the Great spread Greek influence as far east as modern day Afghanistan.

Martin's writing is highly readable and engaging, yet thorough. He also includes numerous photographs, maps, a summary of key dates within each historical era, and an exhaustive bibliography for subsequent reading.

[Francisca · Rating 3 out of 5]

less than three hundred pages? i can read this book in a week.

turns out, i could not.

although, to be fair, i did move across the globe to start a postgraduate degree (not involded with history, mind you) and it has been a crazy couple of weeks.

[Taylor Dodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is a brief history, it's still full of lots of great information. I enjoyed this one.

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent descriptive overview. Martin’s opinions reflect today’s prejudices.

[pi.kavka · Rating 5 out of 5]

sprawdź moją opinię i kilka ciekawostek z książki tutaj - https://rysava-czyta.blogspot.com/202... :)

Ode mnie bardzo duża polecajka dla wszystkich, którzy zawsze chcieli wiedzieć, dlaczego polityka starożytnej Grecji wyglądała tak, a nie inaczej oraz jak doszło do tego, że rozczłonkowani na mniejsze i większe (i ogromne) miasta-państwa Grecy tak bardzo wpłynęli na historię i rozwój więcej niż jednego kontynentu.

[Sreena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quote from the book: "The ancient Greeks laid the foundation for Western civilization, leaving an indelible mark on the realms of art, philosophy, politics, and more. Their enduring legacy continues to shape the world we live in today."

The book demonstrates a strong foundation in research and academia, with well-cited sources and a scholarly approach that adds credibility to the information presented. Which is something I really enjoyed about reading this book.

But on the downside, the absence of visual aids such as maps, illustrations, or photographs hampers the reader's ability to visualize the historical context effectively. I wish it had some images,or maps which could have helped me/readers to connect in a much more deeper way.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is on StoryGraph

[Michał Golec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moje pierwsze odczucie po przeczytaniu książki to jednak rozczarowanie. Styl jest w porządku, ale mało porywający. Irytację wywoływały "kwestie równości plci", wkładane w każdym rozdziale (czasami w każdym akapicie) - wojna peloponezka opisana, na tyle samo stron co rola kobiet w Grecji. Historia mam wrażenie, że momentami zbyt pobieżna.
Dużym atutem są wątki filozofii, kultury i przedewszytskim socjologi/psychologii.
Nie czuje satysfakcji, że wiele rzeczy się nauczyłem i zapamiętałem. Ocena 3/5 jest zdecydowanie najwyższa jaką mogłem dać.

[Elizabeth Sulzby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book unbearably dull--about a topic which I am avid about. The introduction about the transition from hunter-gather to agricultural and later versions of settled cooperative communities is OK for an introductory text. The book appears to have been conceived as an introductory text but without any "bringing to life" of the content. My rating is really 2.5.

[bahar vural · Rating 4 out of 5]

in my henry winter era

[Kamil Bryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Książka Thomasa R. Martina to bardzo ogólna synteza dziejów starożytnej Grecji we wspomnianym w tytule przedziale czasowym, podana w lekkostrawnej formie, choć niepozbawiona grudek, burzących aksamitną konsystencję kremu z historii Hellady.

Jest to idealna pozycja dla osób, które szukają czegoś na początek przygody ze starożytną Grecją. Autor omawia każdy z przyjętych przez historiografię okresów, skupiając się na ich najbardziej charakterystycznych cechach. Najwięcej miejsca poświęca okresowi klasycznemu, z silnym akcentem na Ateny. Autor nie ukrywa, że jest miłośnikiem tego miasta i jego ustroju, nie zapomina jednak zaznaczyć jego wad. Pozwala sobie również na ocenę stosunków społecznych starożytnej Grecji odnośnie pozycji kobiet oraz niewolników, wytykając przy tym sprzeczności w rozumowaniu ówczesnych filozofów i mężów stanu.

Choć ogólnie z lektury jestem zadowolony, jest kilka mankamentów, o których należy wspomnieć. Autor poświęca Atenom o wiele więcej miejsca niż innym polis. Rozumiem, że to Ateny wiodły prym na wielu płaszczyznach, czułem jednak w tym miejscu niedosyt. Liczyłem również na rozprawieniem się z mitem “trzystu”, co nie nastąpiło. Omówienie wypraw Aleksandra Wielkiego i okresu hellenistycznego także mogłoby moim zdaniem być nieco dłuższe - w tym przypadku miałem wręcz wrażenie, że autora albo gonił czas, albo musiał zmieścić się w ustalonym limicie stron. Na minus także język - nie mogę ocenić na ile to wina samego autora, czy też tłumacza/redaktora, ale ilość powtórzeń była miejscami absurdalna (jeden z kafelków obrazuje tę niedorzeczność).

Purystów zniechęci też pewnie brak przypisów, poza cytowanymi dziełami starożytnymi. Rozumiem, że książka ma raczej podręcznikowy charakter, autor wspomina jednak często konkurujące ze sobą teorie historyków bądź historyczek, nie podając jednocześnie kto za tymi teoriami stoi. Na końcu książki znajdziemy za to obszerny spis książek, które autor poleca jako kolejny przystanek w przygodzie z historią Hellady.

Polecam osobom szukającym ogólnego zarysu historii starożytnej Grecji, odradzam natomiast tym, którzy na ten temat wiedzą już dużo, gdyż raczej nie dowiedzą się niczego nowego.

[Gayla Bassham · Rating 4 out of 5]

So to give you some context, we decided (fingers crossed!) to vacation in Greece this fall after we drop our youngest off for his first year at college and I immediately compiled a twenty-book reading list because of course I did.

This was book number one! I chose it to get a quick overview of the history of ancient Greece, because I haven't really studied it since I took Search in 1990. If an overview is what you're looking for, this is the book for you. It gives a survey of the major highlights of ancient Greek history as well as a few biographical sketches and a few paragraphs on major philosophers and playwrights. It feels frustrating at times, because you get interested in something (the Peloponnesian War was much more interesting then I remembered it being, and Alcibiades was a hot mess, y'all) and then Martin briskly moves on after a page or two. But it does exactly what it says on the tin, and points the reader toward additional resources. (Although let's be real, am I going to read Plato's Republic and the works of Aristophanes before October? I am not.)

In case you're interested, the review of the next book on my reading list, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War.

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, chronological history of Ancient Greece, from its prehistory to Hellenistic times. I listened to it in audio and thoroughly enjoyed the book, and the narrator had a great voice. I especially like how in virtually each chapter the author includes information about the arts, philosophy (if relevant), religion, science, and more, along with the key historical events. If you already know a lot about Greek history this might not work for you, but I was looking for a general, more introductory work, and this suited the bill.

[Basileus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent short book covering the entire history of ancient Greece in less than 300 pages. A very good introduction for people unfamiliar with the subject.

[Athena of Velaris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good (if sometimes dull) introduction to the Ancient Greek world!

[Justyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

rewelacyjne kompendium, dobre przypomnienie wiedzy z czasów studiów
zabrakło mi polskiego komentarza/ opracowania naukowego, bo niektóre nazwy własne są kalką angielską (czasem niezrozumiałą) a figurują po polsku w zupełnie innej formie

[Brendan Steinhauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read about ancient Greece. The author, Thomas Martin, covers everything from the people inhabiting Greece centuries before the classical age to the rise and fall of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic age. The book is fascinating, well written, and concise. It provides a good overview of Greek history, with an introduction to some of the most important events, thinkers, and battles in the vast time period covered.

Anyone interested in diving deeper into the topic should of course read the ancient historians, playwrights, philosophers, and writers who provided the best primary sources we have to illuminate the culture of the ancient Greeks. But the author does a great job placing these thinkers into their proper context, and weaves a narrative that is hard to put down.

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, comprehensive and accessible introductory text to Ancient Greece.  Martin provides a brief, integrated overview of all things Ancient Greek from Prehistoric to Hellenistic Times - social, cultural, economic, military, political etc.    He also provides a plethora of useful maps, timelines, and B/W illustrations/photographs.  This is the most useful book on Ancient Greece that I own.  The writing is clear, straightforward, and covers all the main events /concepts and their relevance.  This book is an absolute pleasure to read.

NOTE: The audiobook leaves much to be desired. The narrator just doesn't work for me. So I ditched it and re-read the physical book.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a long overview of the history of Greece from its inception to about the time of the Roman Empire's absorption of it. As a history book, it will be dry to most people. However, it has a lot of interesting information to one who enjoys history, from trends in philosophy, science and entertainment to individual leaders' lives and the outcomes of various battles.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good quick overview of the basics of Greek history. Basically, the major happenings. I thought the writing was very accessible and not too dense for a beginner or a person with a casual interest.

[Eivind · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good and well organized overview of Greek history from prehistory through the Hellenistic Age.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, well written overview.

[Callum's Column · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas R. Martin presents a sequential account of Ancient Greece that combines traditional political historiography with cultural history. This methodology concomitantly illuminates the lives of ruling and non-ruling peoples (women, laborers, and slaves). The author significantly examines Athens and, to a lesser extent, Sparta during the Classical Age of Greece. The conquests of Alexander the Great of Macedon are also given particular attention. The emphasis on these three civilizations stems from their enduring influence in the Western World.

This focus, however, marginalises hundreds of other Greek city-states and their contributions to politics, philosophy, and art. Furthermore, the book pays scant attention to the conflicts of the Hellenistic period, especially those involving Rome. This omission is particularly disappointing given that Rome eventually conquered the region and was greatly influenced by Greek thought. In sum, Martin offers a brief overview of Ancient Greece that disproportionately highlights Athens but provides valuable insights into the daily lives and evolution of Greek civilization until its eventual subjugation by Rome.