A History of My Times: (Hellenica) (Classics)
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Xenophon's History recounts nearly fifty turbulent years of warfare in Greece between 411 and 362 BC. Continuing the story of the Peloponnesian War at the point where Thucydides finished his magisterial history, this is a fascinating chronicle of the conflicts that ultimately led to the decline of Greece, and the wars with both Thebes and the might of Persia. An Athenian by birth, Xenophon became a firm supporter of the Spartan cause, and fought against the Athenians in the battle of Coronea. Combining history and memoir, this is a brilliant account of the triumphs and failures of city-states, and a portrait of Greece at a time of crisis.
About the Author
Xenophon was an Athenian gentleman born in the early 420s BC. He was a fine officer and leader for Athens, but his support of Socrates led to his banishment. He lived under the protection of Sparta on an estate near Olympia, where he began to write his histories and memoirs.
Rex Warner was a Professor at the University of Connecticut. He taught in Egypt and England and was Director of the British Institute in Athens. He died in 1986.
George Cawkwell is a Fellow Emeritus of University College, Oxford. He has specialised in the history of Greece from the sixth to the fourth century BC.
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SOME days later Thymochares arrived from Athens with a few ships, and the Spartans and Athenians immediately fought another naval action in which the Spartans, under the command of Agesandridas, were victorious. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
SOME days later Thymochares arrived from Athens with a few ships, and the Spartans and Athenians immediately fought another naval action in which the Spartans, under the command of Agesandridas, were victorious. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is by all means a heavily underrated book.
Xenophon lays bare the essential characteristics of his (and our) time and its crucial kernel, independence.
Inside the Greek cities, independence meant democracy, which was the political regime in Athens. The latter's arch-rival, Sparta, had an oligarchic rule, a government controlled by a king and the aristocracy.
When Sparta defeated Athens, it put immediately a lackey oligarchic government (the Thirty) in place. The oligarchs could `do exactly what they liked with the state.' They went on a killing spree, murdering all democratic opponents, in casu, `more Athenians than all the Peloponnesians did in ten years of war.' They confiscated illegally the property of resident aliens and when people could vote, it was in full view.
Xenophon knows perfectly the importance of education: `For I know that in Persia everybody except one man is educated to be a slave rather than stand up for himself.'
Inside the Peloponnesus, independence meant freedom for every city: `the cities must be independent, which means not to set up your own government ... what you aim at is not that they should govern in accordance with the laws, but that they should be strong enough to hold down the city by force. This makes it look like as though what gives you pleasure is dictatorship and not constitutional government.'
The Greek cities fought against each other to become `like the king of Persia ... the richest man on earth ... he gets his revenue from a continent.' The reward for control was solid tribute, but also the goldmines of Mount Pangaeum.
This continuous infighting and the relentless changes of alliances were a catastrophe for the populations. The inhabitants of the conquered cities were enslaved and sold or slaughtered, the crops and towns burned, cattle and precious metals stolen. The city was completely annihilated.
The war ended with the peace of Antalcidas in 387 B.C. on very favorable terms for Sparta.
Xenophon's book could also serve as a manual for vicious (bribery, infiltration, spying, informants) or clever diplomacy: `guard against the emergence of any single strong Greek state by seeing that they were all kept weak by constantly fighting among themselves.'
It is also an encyclopedia for military tactics: where, when and how to fight and how to keep the morale of the troops high.
He is also a fine psychologist: `people call a man `good' merely because he has been good to them.'
To the contrary of his joke, `even the golden plane tree was not big enough to give shade to a grasshopper', Xenophon's book puts many authors in the shadow.
A must read for all historians and lovers of classical literature.
Xenophon lays bare the essential characteristics of his (and our) time and its crucial kernel, independence.
Inside the Greek cities, independence meant democracy, which was the political regime in Athens. The latter's arch-rival, Sparta, had an oligarchic rule, a government controlled by a king and the aristocracy.
When Sparta defeated Athens, it put immediately a lackey oligarchic government (the Thirty) in place. The oligarchs could `do exactly what they liked with the state.' They went on a killing spree, murdering all democratic opponents, in casu, `more Athenians than all the Peloponnesians did in ten years of war.' They confiscated illegally the property of resident aliens and when people could vote, it was in full view.
Xenophon knows perfectly the importance of education: `For I know that in Persia everybody except one man is educated to be a slave rather than stand up for himself.'
Inside the Peloponnesus, independence meant freedom for every city: `the cities must be independent, which means not to set up your own government ... what you aim at is not that they should govern in accordance with the laws, but that they should be strong enough to hold down the city by force. This makes it look like as though what gives you pleasure is dictatorship and not constitutional government.'
The Greek cities fought against each other to become `like the king of Persia ... the richest man on earth ... he gets his revenue from a continent.' The reward for control was solid tribute, but also the goldmines of Mount Pangaeum.
This continuous infighting and the relentless changes of alliances were a catastrophe for the populations. The inhabitants of the conquered cities were enslaved and sold or slaughtered, the crops and towns burned, cattle and precious metals stolen. The city was completely annihilated.
The war ended with the peace of Antalcidas in 387 B.C. on very favorable terms for Sparta.
Xenophon's book could also serve as a manual for vicious (bribery, infiltration, spying, informants) or clever diplomacy: `guard against the emergence of any single strong Greek state by seeing that they were all kept weak by constantly fighting among themselves.'
It is also an encyclopedia for military tactics: where, when and how to fight and how to keep the morale of the troops high.
He is also a fine psychologist: `people call a man `good' merely because he has been good to them.'
To the contrary of his joke, `even the golden plane tree was not big enough to give shade to a grasshopper', Xenophon's book puts many authors in the shadow.
A must read for all historians and lovers of classical literature.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Xenophon wrote this book to complete the story which Thucydides began with "The History of the Peloponnesian war". In the introduction to this volume, George Cawkill argues persuasively that Xenophon was not in the same class as Thucydides as a historian. However, he is certainly a good storyteller, and the events which he describe are absolutely gripping.
The Peloponnesian war began as the struggle between two of the greatest cities of the ancient Greek civilisation - Athens and Sparta. After both cities had been weakened by costly victories and even more costly defeats, they were both attacked by Sparta's former ally, Thebes. Eventually this series of wars, one of the most catastrophic of ancient times, devastated much of Greece. All the participants suffered greatly, weakening themselves sufficiently that they were to fall first to Alexander the Great, and after his death to Rome.
Thucydides' history of the first 21 years of this war was one of the very earliest and most brilliant pieces of true historical writing.
However, Thucydides' account ends suddenly in the middle of a sentence while describing the events of 411 BC. Many years later, Xenophon set out to finish the story, actually beginning with the words "Some days later ..."
Xenophon was born in Athens and was a student of Socrates in his youth. He then served as a soldier, first for Athens, then as a mercenary in one of the most extraordinary adventures in history. He was one of "The Ten Thousand" Greeks who joined an attempt by Prince Cyrus to overthrow his brother the Persian emperor. When Cyrus was killed in battle the Greek mercenaries who had supported him had to march many miles through enemy territory to safety. By the end of their trek Xenophon was in command of the remaining survivors. He wrote the story of this ill-fated expedition in a separate book called the Anabasis (Published by Penguin Classics under the title "The Persian Expedition" and sometimes referred to as "The Ten Thousand".)
Xenophon was exiled after the failure of Cyrus's rebellion and spent the latter part of his life in Sparta and Corinth. He had witnessed a serious of political upheavals in Athens, usually marked by the judicial murder of those on the losing side, and Xenophon also saw his mentor Socrates meet the same fate. This made him very cynical about democracy.
(Although the expression "judicial murder" is a modern concept I use it quite deliberately to make the point that Xenophon regarded these executions as unjust for many of same reasons that we would.)
He participated in many of the events of the latter stages of the Peloponnesian wars, and many of his statements are either from personal knowledge or from having spoken to eye-witnesses.
Xenophon's account of those wars is now regarded by historians as overly influenced by his own experiences and views, and not entirely reliable. Nevertheless, it is gripping and essential reading for anyone who wants to understand these pivotal historical events. If you've read Thucydides and want to know what happened next, you have to read Xenophon.
The translation by Rex Warner is clear and easy to follow.
Anyone who is under the impression that democracies cannot be tyrannical, or that free elections will produce a free and fair society without the rule of law, should familiarise themselves with the terrible events of the Peloponnesian war by reading both Thucydides and Xenophon.
The Peloponnesian war began as the struggle between two of the greatest cities of the ancient Greek civilisation - Athens and Sparta. After both cities had been weakened by costly victories and even more costly defeats, they were both attacked by Sparta's former ally, Thebes. Eventually this series of wars, one of the most catastrophic of ancient times, devastated much of Greece. All the participants suffered greatly, weakening themselves sufficiently that they were to fall first to Alexander the Great, and after his death to Rome.
Thucydides' history of the first 21 years of this war was one of the very earliest and most brilliant pieces of true historical writing.
However, Thucydides' account ends suddenly in the middle of a sentence while describing the events of 411 BC. Many years later, Xenophon set out to finish the story, actually beginning with the words "Some days later ..."
Xenophon was born in Athens and was a student of Socrates in his youth. He then served as a soldier, first for Athens, then as a mercenary in one of the most extraordinary adventures in history. He was one of "The Ten Thousand" Greeks who joined an attempt by Prince Cyrus to overthrow his brother the Persian emperor. When Cyrus was killed in battle the Greek mercenaries who had supported him had to march many miles through enemy territory to safety. By the end of their trek Xenophon was in command of the remaining survivors. He wrote the story of this ill-fated expedition in a separate book called the Anabasis (Published by Penguin Classics under the title "The Persian Expedition" and sometimes referred to as "The Ten Thousand".)
Xenophon was exiled after the failure of Cyrus's rebellion and spent the latter part of his life in Sparta and Corinth. He had witnessed a serious of political upheavals in Athens, usually marked by the judicial murder of those on the losing side, and Xenophon also saw his mentor Socrates meet the same fate. This made him very cynical about democracy.
(Although the expression "judicial murder" is a modern concept I use it quite deliberately to make the point that Xenophon regarded these executions as unjust for many of same reasons that we would.)
He participated in many of the events of the latter stages of the Peloponnesian wars, and many of his statements are either from personal knowledge or from having spoken to eye-witnesses.
Xenophon's account of those wars is now regarded by historians as overly influenced by his own experiences and views, and not entirely reliable. Nevertheless, it is gripping and essential reading for anyone who wants to understand these pivotal historical events. If you've read Thucydides and want to know what happened next, you have to read Xenophon.
The translation by Rex Warner is clear and easy to follow.
Anyone who is under the impression that democracies cannot be tyrannical, or that free elections will produce a free and fair society without the rule of law, should familiarise themselves with the terrible events of the Peloponnesian war by reading both Thucydides and Xenophon.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
The sequel to Thucydides
19 Aug 2003
Format:Paperback
For people who have read Thucydides, this is an exemplary companion to his PELOPONNESIAN WAR. There are likely to be many readers out there who were dismayed at the conclusion of this text as it is incomplete. Of course, this is not the great historian's fault; he died while writing his epic historical treatise.
Enter Xenophon. He picks up almost right where Thucydides leaves off and traces the murky Grecian politics over the next 40 years or so, after which time Thebes would assert herself as the foremost power in the Greek world.
Along the way, Xenophon painfully recounts the demise of his beloved Spartans. His distaste for the Thebans is readily evident, and one must weigh the veracity of some of his descriptions of battles against his inherent Laconian prejudice. Rex Warner, the translator, does an excellent job of point out specific places where modern scholars have called into question Xenophon's honesty as well as his aptitude as an historian.
Nevertheless, for all the Xenophon-bashing that the 20th century has accrued, I still firmly believe he is well worth reading. He is one of the very few primary sources that we have for the demise of Alcibiades, the disastrous 30 Tyrants of Athens, the campaigns of King Agesilaus, the decisive battle of Leuctra and so much more. Hence, the present text is a MUST for the modern classical historian.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
A Fine Translation of Xenophon's "Hellenica"
23 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
Rex Warner's translation of Xenophon's "Hellenica" is quite enjoyable. However, the problem lies with Xenophon's writing. Allegedly a continuation of Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War, it is really more of a memoir recounting Spartan triumphs and failures during the period of 400 to 365 BC. Indeed, it should be regarded mainly as Xenophon's apologia on behalf of his Spartan patron, the king Agesilaus. As such it is often plodding reading. It is certainly not as riveting as Xenophon's "Anabasis". Yet those interested in Greek history during this time may find it rewarding.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Great book with annoying notes
23 July 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Xenophon's History of My Times picks up roughly where Thucydides left off. After finishing the account of the long and exhausting Peloponnesian War, Xenophon continues with stories of intrigues, betrayals, campaigns and bravery up to the year 362 BC. The Corinthian War, Greek incursions in Asia Minor, and Xenophon's Spartan heroes are all depicted in this work.
It's not nearly as good as Thucydides, nor nearly as exhaustive. Thucydides devoted about 600 pages (in my edition) to the first twenty years of the Peloponnesian War; Xenophon covers almost fifty years in about 350 pages. And while Thucydides's historical method has earned him the title of "first modern historian" and set the standard for centuries afterward, Xenophon is selective in his detail, sometimes wrong, and often biased. But Xenophon is still a gifted writer and the story he tells is brisk and exciting, if not necessarily the whole picture.
The thing I disliked about reading this book, the Penguin Classics edition, was the notes by George Cawkwell. He sets out well enough in the introduction that Xenophon's history is flawed and among the least of his works, being far inferior to something like The Persian Expedition, but Cawkwell litters the text with footnote after footnote pointing out Xenophon's every mistake and omission. It was instructive, at first, to know how Xenophon's account differed with that of other historians, but by the time I was a third of the way through the notes had the exasperating effect of a know-it-all heckler during an admittedly flawed but entertaining speech.
That said, Xenophon's history is still worth reading, and this translation by Rex Warner is excellent--fast-paced and very readable. If you're looking for history that Thucydides did not live to write about, this is one good place to find it.
Recommended.
It's not nearly as good as Thucydides, nor nearly as exhaustive. Thucydides devoted about 600 pages (in my edition) to the first twenty years of the Peloponnesian War; Xenophon covers almost fifty years in about 350 pages. And while Thucydides's historical method has earned him the title of "first modern historian" and set the standard for centuries afterward, Xenophon is selective in his detail, sometimes wrong, and often biased. But Xenophon is still a gifted writer and the story he tells is brisk and exciting, if not necessarily the whole picture.
The thing I disliked about reading this book, the Penguin Classics edition, was the notes by George Cawkwell. He sets out well enough in the introduction that Xenophon's history is flawed and among the least of his works, being far inferior to something like The Persian Expedition, but Cawkwell litters the text with footnote after footnote pointing out Xenophon's every mistake and omission. It was instructive, at first, to know how Xenophon's account differed with that of other historians, but by the time I was a third of the way through the notes had the exasperating effect of a know-it-all heckler during an admittedly flawed but entertaining speech.
That said, Xenophon's history is still worth reading, and this translation by Rex Warner is excellent--fast-paced and very readable. If you're looking for history that Thucydides did not live to write about, this is one good place to find it.
Recommended.
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