Problems in the History of Ancient Greece: Sources and Interpretation

This collection of contested problems in the history of Ancient Greece aims to enhance and deepen the experience of any student. Each chapter within Problems in the History of Ancient Greece is a self-contained unit that presents a key problem of continuing interest among historians. In each case there is a selection of pertinent ancient sources in translation, with a number of modern viewpoints also presented. In this way, students may experience the nature of weighing and evaluating sources; the problem of posing mean­ingful and enlightening questions; the need to change hypotheses in the light of new evidence or new insights; and the necessity, in some cases, of suspending judgment. Contents: Introduction to the ancient sources -- The world of Homer -- Hoplite warfare in archaic Greek society -- The Spartan revolution -- Solon\u27s constitution -- Greek strategy in the Persian War -- What was the nature and importance of Greek slavery? -- The status of women in ancient Greece -- Periclean Athens : was it a democracy? -- The unpopularity of the Athenian empire -- The causes of the Peloponnesian War -- Was Socrates guilty? -- Demosthenes versus Philip of Macedon -- Alexander the Great