THE GREEKS: Their Legacy

by Janet Van Duyn ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 11, 1972

Though The Greeks never transcends its utilitarian school-oriented genre, it adds up to a balanced and occasionally even interesting survey. Beginning as usual with the ""Minoan legacy"" (introduced through the work of Sir Arthur Evans), then Schliemann's discovery of Troy, Van Duyn runs through the standard topics: the early Greeks (their alphabet, gods, and migrations), ""the rise of the polls,"" the arts, Olympian games, the drama, science (Hippocratic Oath included) and philosophy. Then come the Peloponnesian War (with Pericles' funeral speech reproduced), the decline of Athens, finally Alexander pushing on ""to the rim of the world."" An appended chronological chart puts it all together and photographs of sites and art works appear throughout. Similarly in level and appearance to Green's geographically arranged Ancient Greece (1970), this has the edge in readability.

Pub Date: Oct. 11, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1972

Categories: NONFICTION