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Review
'[A]ccessible and punchy ... a wide readership cannot fail to be entertained as well as instructed about a world that is both familiar and alien, modern as well as ancient.' Professor Paul Cartledge, A.G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, University of Cambridge --Advance review on book jacket
'It's admirable of Michael Scott to shine a light on the forgotten 4th century, and he's engaging about the culture that bloomed as Athens faded.' Harry Mount
--Daily Mail, 16th October, 2009
'It's admirable of Michael Scott to shine a light on the forgotten 4th century, and he's engaging about the culture that bloomed as Athens faded.' Harry Mount
--Daily Mail, 16th October, 2009
Product Description
Athens, 404 BC. The Democratic city-state has been ravaged by a long and bloody war with neighbouring Sparta. The search for scapegoats begins and Athens, liberty's beacon in the ancient world, turns its sword on its own way of life. Civil war and much bloodshed ensue. Defining moments of Greek history, culture, politics, religion and identity are debated ferociously in Athenian board rooms, back streets and battlefields. By 323 BC, less than 100 years later, Athens and the rest of Greece, not to mention a large part of the known world, has come under the control of an absolute monarch, a master of self-publicity and a model for despots for millennia to come: 'megas alexandros', Alexander the Great. Michael Scott, Finley Fellow in Ancient History at Darwin College, Cambridge, explores the dramatic and little-known story of how the ancient world was turned on its head from Democratic Athens to King Alexander the Great in this superb example of popular history writing. "From Democrats to Kings" also gives us a fresh take on the similar challenges we face today in the 21st century - a world in which many democracies - old and new - fight for survival, in which war-time and peace-time have become indistinguishable and in which the severity of the economic crisis is only matched by a crisis in our own sense of self.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Dr Michael Scott has identified that if there are two major events in Greek history then the Peloponnesian War and the rise of Macedon are top candidates. Like opposing poles they have attracted a lot of particles (books in this case), but between these twin lighthouses is a darker land. Into this period this book shines its light. It is a short period, covered by the life of one notable Athenian - Isocrates - but including everything from extreme democracy to saviour kings.
In an effort to jolly up the story and prevent it becoming the exclusive domain of dreadful Classics-snoots Dr Scott attempts, not always effectively, to link the events then with more modern episodes including (inevitably) the Bush years. Additionally, he adopts a strategy that will infuriate old hands but be blessed by readers new to the period. Academician Druon identified in "Les Rois Maudits" that nearly every male was a Charles, a Louis or a Philippe. Spotting the same type of problem Dr Scott keeps reminding us who are characters are with a short hand (so Xenophon starts out repeatedly as a rich young Athenian, before becoming linked to the Ten thousand). This reminds me of The Iliad where Nestor is usually accompanied by the description "King of sandy Pylos" or "The Gerenian Charioteer" in an effort to lift his name above that of the spear-carriers or spare sons of minor kings.
This style can be annoying but it is an excellent story full of notable characters. It was also very useful to view the period in its own right, rather than the space between two "stations".
In an effort to jolly up the story and prevent it becoming the exclusive domain of dreadful Classics-snoots Dr Scott attempts, not always effectively, to link the events then with more modern episodes including (inevitably) the Bush years. Additionally, he adopts a strategy that will infuriate old hands but be blessed by readers new to the period. Academician Druon identified in "Les Rois Maudits" that nearly every male was a Charles, a Louis or a Philippe. Spotting the same type of problem Dr Scott keeps reminding us who are characters are with a short hand (so Xenophon starts out repeatedly as a rich young Athenian, before becoming linked to the Ten thousand). This reminds me of The Iliad where Nestor is usually accompanied by the description "King of sandy Pylos" or "The Gerenian Charioteer" in an effort to lift his name above that of the spear-carriers or spare sons of minor kings.
This style can be annoying but it is an excellent story full of notable characters. It was also very useful to view the period in its own right, rather than the space between two "stations".
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a Classics undergraduate, I found this book both fun and useful. The period it covers is so little-treated elsewhere, probably partly because it's complicated, but the informal and engaging style of this book made it really possible to understand and appreciate the political turbulence of the era, whereas purely scholarly work can be simply confusing. As a student, not enough detail for writing essays from, but the perfect overview. Would probs be enjoyed by non-Classicists too because of the accessible treatment of the subject.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Michael Scott has succeeded in producing a real pocket battleship of popular history. At only around 250 pages long he has produced a work that is infinitely readable and a work that opens up a thoroughly under discussed period of history to a wider audience. The work covers the period from the Thirty Tyrants at Athens through to the conquests of Alexander and the rise of Kingship. The achievement is impressive, the period he covers often struggles for a centralised narrative, but Scott weaves his history with superb aplomb to ensure that not only do those Greek power houses such as Sparta and Athens get their say but also the experience of Western Greeks, Cyrene and Central Greeks.
That said the work is provocative (enjoyably so), Scott's engaging writing style takes a couple of chapters to get used to and it can appear slightly irreverent, I would warn those with a fondness of Sparta to be prepared for this, as the heroes of Thermopylae are given a rough ride in Scott's narrative. Athens too doesn't escape abuse (however the books timing bypassing the Peloponnesian war - allows him to avoid discussions of the demagogues) though as his starting point for democracy it receives more respect than perhaps it deserves (little discussion of how it mistreated allies e.g. cleruchies). However what really draws my respect is the well handled portrayal of Thebes, a city often shunned for not being either Sparta (agoge) or Athens (padeia) - however he rightly identifies its great contribution to the world - democratic federalism and on how it stood up to Sparta rather than Athens in the fourth century. I have also been impressed with his balanced discussion of kingship.
This book is a fantastic read for anyone wishing for a good survey for the period (given its brevity especially useful for anyone cramming for a finals exam) and very accessible. The only limitation is the lack of footnotes, especially when some of the evidence is less mainstream, which will frustrate academics. However I would thoroughly recommended this book to anyone with an interest in the period.
That said the work is provocative (enjoyably so), Scott's engaging writing style takes a couple of chapters to get used to and it can appear slightly irreverent, I would warn those with a fondness of Sparta to be prepared for this, as the heroes of Thermopylae are given a rough ride in Scott's narrative. Athens too doesn't escape abuse (however the books timing bypassing the Peloponnesian war - allows him to avoid discussions of the demagogues) though as his starting point for democracy it receives more respect than perhaps it deserves (little discussion of how it mistreated allies e.g. cleruchies). However what really draws my respect is the well handled portrayal of Thebes, a city often shunned for not being either Sparta (agoge) or Athens (padeia) - however he rightly identifies its great contribution to the world - democratic federalism and on how it stood up to Sparta rather than Athens in the fourth century. I have also been impressed with his balanced discussion of kingship.
This book is a fantastic read for anyone wishing for a good survey for the period (given its brevity especially useful for anyone cramming for a finals exam) and very accessible. The only limitation is the lack of footnotes, especially when some of the evidence is less mainstream, which will frustrate academics. However I would thoroughly recommended this book to anyone with an interest in the period.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
History for Dummies or selling the goods whatever it takes?
I was prepared to love this book, jusy because of its topic which, as another reviewer aptly called "the Bit in between". Read more
Published 4 months ago by JPS
Dumbing down is the name of the game today
The critical reviews here of this book nearly made me turn away, but I then found that the 'Look inside' facility offered an astonishingly large number of pages of the text for... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Charles Lewis
An excellent popular history book
Dr Scott is a scholar, but this book has not been written for his peers. It is totally aimed at the general public, and for this very reason it has some academic flaws. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ruben
The Dancefloor of Ares
This is a good book, its lucid and readable, alternating between personal careers of the politicians and generals and kings, and the inter-state politics and battles that came out... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Gerald T. Walford
false parallels with today
The author seems determined to show that this period has lessons for today. To do so he throws in loads of terms and phrases that are buzz words connected to today's events. Read more
Published 21 months ago by D. J. Barnsdale
Poorly written
The subject matter of the book is a great one as the 4th century BC is neglected in most generalist treatments of antiquity and for this reason alone I really wanted to like this... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Leo
A good historical read for summer.
The 4th Century has long been difficult period of Greek history to penetrate. Full of fascinating characters and the extreems of democracy and monarchy it has generated Hollywood... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Valmont
Witty and Insightful
Witty and Insightful
From Democrats to Kings, as the catchy title suggests, deals with 4th century Greece, in which changing circumstances lead to the fall of Athenian... Read more
From Democrats to Kings, as the catchy title suggests, deals with 4th century Greece, in which changing circumstances lead to the fall of Athenian... Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2009 by Kallirroe
Nosy Eyes
This is a history of Mainland Greece from the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC until the death of Alexander in 323BC. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2009 by Roderick Blyth
A single lifetime - history written with style.
The 4th Century has long been difficult period of Greek history to penetrate. Full of fascinating characters and the extreems of democracy and monarchy it has generated Hollywood... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2009 by Valmont
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