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xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
This was required reading for my Ancient Greece and Rome class, and I found it to be full of information that I did not previously know. It was very helpful during the class for getting coursework completed.
hyunjincheo's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
Too ambitious in scope. Disorganized and inconsistent pacing. Based off author demographic, unsurprising cavalier attitude toward colonialism, oligarchy, and imperialization. Attempts shallow social commentary on religious persecution, racism, misogyny, homophobia. Loves to mention his PhD
bokpetra's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 stars
Wish it was more focused on some events, but since it really tries to cover ALL of Greek and roman history, I guess it is hard.
Wish it was more focused on some events, but since it really tries to cover ALL of Greek and roman history, I guess it is hard.
drbird's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.0
First half on Greece is strong; Rome half is not as strong.
booknotes_athina's review against another edition
4.0
I received it as an ARC from Netgalley
Πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο που μας περιγράφει με σύντομο τρόπο την ιστορία της αρχαίας Ελλάδας αλλά και της Ρώμης (όπως μας λέει και ο τίτλος του). Ξεκινάει από τα πρώτα δείγματα πολιτισμού στην Ελλάδα και φτάνει μέχρι κάποια χρόνια μετά τον Μέγα Αλέξανδρο. Στο κομμάτι της Ρώμης ξεκινάει και εδώ από τα πρώτα δείγματα πολιτισμού και φτάνει μέχρι και την κατάρρευση της Ρωμαϊκής Αυτοκρατορίας.
Με λίγα λόγια περιγράφονται οι αλληλοσυνδεόμενοι αυτοί πολιτισμοί σε μια περίοδο πάνω από έξι χιλιετιών, ξεκινώντας από την Εποχή του Χαλκού και φτάνοντας μέχρι τον 7ο αι. μ.Χ.
Μου άρεσε που διάβαζα γι' αυτούς τους δύο πολιτισμούς, την σύνδεση και την ιστορία τους. Πολλά από αυτά που περιγράφει το βιβλίο μου είναι κατά κάποιο τρόπο γνωστά αλλά μου άρεσε που μάθαινα περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες. Φυσικά υπήρχαν και πράγματα τα οποία δεν γνώριζα.
Το βιβλίο έιναι πολύ προσιτό, εύκολο στο διάβασμα και γεμάτο πληροφορίες.
Ελπίζω να μεταφραστεί σύντομα και στα ελληνικά.
Πρόκειται για ένα βιβλίο που μας περιγράφει με σύντομο τρόπο την ιστορία της αρχαίας Ελλάδας αλλά και της Ρώμης (όπως μας λέει και ο τίτλος του). Ξεκινάει από τα πρώτα δείγματα πολιτισμού στην Ελλάδα και φτάνει μέχρι κάποια χρόνια μετά τον Μέγα Αλέξανδρο. Στο κομμάτι της Ρώμης ξεκινάει και εδώ από τα πρώτα δείγματα πολιτισμού και φτάνει μέχρι και την κατάρρευση της Ρωμαϊκής Αυτοκρατορίας.
Με λίγα λόγια περιγράφονται οι αλληλοσυνδεόμενοι αυτοί πολιτισμοί σε μια περίοδο πάνω από έξι χιλιετιών, ξεκινώντας από την Εποχή του Χαλκού και φτάνοντας μέχρι τον 7ο αι. μ.Χ.
Μου άρεσε που διάβαζα γι' αυτούς τους δύο πολιτισμούς, την σύνδεση και την ιστορία τους. Πολλά από αυτά που περιγράφει το βιβλίο μου είναι κατά κάποιο τρόπο γνωστά αλλά μου άρεσε που μάθαινα περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες. Φυσικά υπήρχαν και πράγματα τα οποία δεν γνώριζα.
Το βιβλίο έιναι πολύ προσιτό, εύκολο στο διάβασμα και γεμάτο πληροφορίες.
Ελπίζω να μεταφραστεί σύντομα και στα ελληνικά.
nikkisbooknook's review against another edition
4.0
Good coverage of the basics of the histography of Rome and Greece. Clearly written and concise. Good tool for those interested in the period or who those who just need to read up on certain aspects of the area.
anto's review against another edition
4.0
4,5*
Enganchado de principio a fin por la manera de narrar del autor. Muchos datos son de sobra conocidos, incluso para no aficionados a la historia, pero Spawforth enlaza anécdotas con datos comprobados de forma brillante.
Enganchado de principio a fin por la manera de narrar del autor. Muchos datos son de sobra conocidos, incluso para no aficionados a la historia, pero Spawforth enlaza anécdotas con datos comprobados de forma brillante.
deearr's review against another edition
5.0
With a title as general as this, you can imagine that there is going to be a boatload of history offered in this book. Just choosing either Greece or Rome could fill volumes, so it is easy to appreciate the task author Tony Spawforth set for himself.
I chose to read this book because my knowledge in this area of history was limited to a few of the main stories – The Trojan Horse, King Leonidas and the 300, etc. – and I wished to fill in all the blanks. Mr. Spawforth’s book was more than sufficient to fulfill this goal. The history moved back and forth between Greece and Rome, first telling of Greece until a certain point in history before switching to what Rome was doing during that same time period. At times the focus switched to another country and the effect that country had on Greece or Rome.
The pace was quick, slow enough for me to grasp the essentials but fast enough to keep the book moving at a steady pace. The author did not overfill the book with every tedious detail. He gave me enough facts to understand without inflicting sensory overload. I also appreciated that Mr. Spawforth did not insist on pushing his own historic agenda. If historians were not in agreement about a moment in history, the author explained both sides without interjecting his personal feelings. Thus, I felt I received a fair and balanced account.
Mr. Spawforth told the story in a conversational style, as if we were sitting around and he was relating this incredible tale of what had gone before. Rather than place footnotes at the bottom of each page, much of the supporting background was mentioned in the text. This enabled me to learn while receiving verification at the same time. This method certainly made the retelling livelier, warding off the feeling of reading some stuffy college textbook.
Those who are not interested in history may find this a difficult book to read. Although there are tales of action and intrigue, there are also descriptions of the art, engineering, education, methods of government, and all those things that can cause history to be a fascinating subject, which is more than enough for those of us who seek knowledge and enlightenment about the people and countries that came before. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
I chose to read this book because my knowledge in this area of history was limited to a few of the main stories – The Trojan Horse, King Leonidas and the 300, etc. – and I wished to fill in all the blanks. Mr. Spawforth’s book was more than sufficient to fulfill this goal. The history moved back and forth between Greece and Rome, first telling of Greece until a certain point in history before switching to what Rome was doing during that same time period. At times the focus switched to another country and the effect that country had on Greece or Rome.
The pace was quick, slow enough for me to grasp the essentials but fast enough to keep the book moving at a steady pace. The author did not overfill the book with every tedious detail. He gave me enough facts to understand without inflicting sensory overload. I also appreciated that Mr. Spawforth did not insist on pushing his own historic agenda. If historians were not in agreement about a moment in history, the author explained both sides without interjecting his personal feelings. Thus, I felt I received a fair and balanced account.
Mr. Spawforth told the story in a conversational style, as if we were sitting around and he was relating this incredible tale of what had gone before. Rather than place footnotes at the bottom of each page, much of the supporting background was mentioned in the text. This enabled me to learn while receiving verification at the same time. This method certainly made the retelling livelier, warding off the feeling of reading some stuffy college textbook.
Those who are not interested in history may find this a difficult book to read. Although there are tales of action and intrigue, there are also descriptions of the art, engineering, education, methods of government, and all those things that can cause history to be a fascinating subject, which is more than enough for those of us who seek knowledge and enlightenment about the people and countries that came before. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Yale University Press for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.