The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece

I agree with the reviewer who said that this book assumes you are already familiar with Greek history and even Greek geography. It is not an introductory book. Rather, it's a very good book to read after you have read a number of other books. It ties together scholarly opinion. There are still-existing controversies in Greek history, and it may be that this book takes a position in some instances that not everyone agrees with. But I don't see that as a major issue.To be able to read comfortably just about any book on Greek history you should be familiar with the geography. This is hard for us Americans, but it is a gradual learning process, and finally when they mention Argos or Thebes or Delphi or Thrace you will know more or less where these places are located. Of course, the maps in this book can be used to make other books more readable.An example of how this book is enjoyable in the context of other books previously-read, is the subject of Crete, Mycenae and Linear A and Linear B. The most interesting way to learn about this controversy is to read one or better yet both books about the interpretation of Linear B. The significance of the discovery that Linear B was a form of Greek is that it meant that at least by 1450 or 1400 BC Mycenae held sway over Crete instead of vice versa. What this Penguin book does is to emphasize that, according to the author, prior to 1450 BC, and for the previous say 600 years, there is no question that the Minoan civilization (Crete) held sway over Mycenae and much of the eastern mediterranean. I was not aware of that, and I'm not sure there is a consensus on that, but it is an example of how this book is much more meaningful if you have read a lot of Greek history prior to this book. This book is not an introductory course, it is a delicious dessert.

John Haywood's oversize paperback is another in the superb series of Penguin historical atlases. He covers the entire globe from China to India, Africa, Ancient America, and, especially, the ancient Near East. It ends where most begin, the advent of the Classical Greco-Roman period. Loads of text, well-written and balanced, and finely detailed maps with occasional drawings or photos of artifacts. Unique in the coverage it provides of African civilizations at an early stage. About 140 pages, published 2005.

I bought the Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece to assist me in reading the History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. I was getting confused about the geographic locations of the multitude of city-states and islands involved in the war between Athens and Sparta. The Penguin Historical Atlas cleared up my confusion with a number of excellent maps and commentary about the Peloponnesian War and other aspects of the history of Ancient Greece. Excellent book for anyone reading about Ancient Greece and wanting a handy supplement of maps and commentary.

I am an inveterate map reader. Whenever I travel there is a map in my pocket. But a recent trip to the Middle East and growing hobby collecting ancient coins had left me lost and confused as I tried to put in context the ruins visited and the coins I collected. With time, the names of cities and regions change so that one needs a separate map for each period. Morkot's superbly written historical atlas not only provides maps, but the rationale and context for their evolution and change. One of the best features in the structure of this book is the use of the overview, followed by a series of in-depth accounts, each from the perspective of the important "players" during a given historical period. This approach is immensely effective in reinforcing the information since the same information is repeated and new information added as each of the regions, their politics and battles, are succesively presented. From the Mycenae to the Parthians are thousands of years, thousands of miles, and thousands of political entities whose ebb and flow of power and reach of influence affect us even today. For the first time after years of puzzling over strange Grecian place names and leaders, I am now able to begin to understand the who what when and where for the 5 millenia preceding the birth of Christ. I wish this had been the first book I read in my study of ancient history. I can hardly wait to start on Penguin's sequel - Acient Rome.

Would have liked a lot more pictures. Content is dense but really creates a vision of the Ancient Greek world.

My only regret is that it stops at 500BC. I wish there were a second volume that would take me to 500AD. Other than that, the maps are carefully done and the accompanying narrative is quite succinct and sufficient.

Purchased for my son. He said it is very informative and he likes it very much.

Very informative. Read before going to Greece and took it along with me!

Arrived really promptly. In excellent condition and at a great price. A really informative book too. What's not to like? 🙂

Apesar de ser um bom material para estudo, esse livro tem mais texto do que deveria... e menos mapas...

Nicely illustrated and interesting.

Utile

I've had this book for several years, and referred to it regularly while undertaking a paper on Ancient Greece. The Penguin range of Historical Atlases are, certainly the ones that I own or have read, very good. They are value for money, offering good summations of major points in the topic they are about. In this instance, the book offers breakdowns of Ancient Greek history as:Crete, Mycenae and the Heroic AgeDark Age to Athenian AscendancyThe Persian RivalPerikles to PhilipAlexander and AfterI do not believe the book purports to be a definitive source; where they are invaluable is that they offer, in summaries of only a few pages long, key points and outlines of particular subtopics, together with timelines putting the topics in a broader historical context. The maps in particular also offer a wonderful visual aid. These Historical Atlases, and this one as well, offer a student a quick and ready reference to any particular place, time or topic. They are to be used best, in my opinion, as additional material to add to serious and scholarly reading for a more indepth learning. However, if you are reading a book on, for example, the Mycenean World, or the Greek settlements in Italy, or the Peloponnesian War, this book offers a valuable additional resource to consolidate and solidify your reading and learning experience.Key terms are defined, further reading suggestions are offered, and the book offers, as a whole, a resource that I have found myself referring to often. Totally and utterly recommended.