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Archaic Greece
The Age of New Reckonings

Brian M. Lavelle (Author)

9781405198592, Wiley

Hardback, published 26 April 2019

304 pages
24.1 x 18.8 x 1.8 cm, 0.658 kg

An introductory guide to the Archaic period in ancient Greece—the people, their society, and their culture.  Excerpts from literary and other texts give voice to the interests, concerns, and emotions of the Archaic Greeks themselves.

This book provides a brief but comprehensive introduction to the society and culture of the Archaic period in the Greek world from c. 750 to c. 480 BCE. It focuses on the persistent and often-conflicting themes, topics, and controversies of the Archaic Age (e.g., elite and non-elite, religion and science, tradition and humanism). It seeks to lead the reader to a broader and deeper understanding of the period by placing themes and topics in a mutually supportive contextual network that will underscore their significance.

Archaic Greece: The Age of New Reckonings begins with a chapter on how sources for the period are evaluated and deployed, and goes on to offer a concise yet thorough historical overview of the Archaic period. Subsequent chapters cover polis and politics; war and violence; religion; science; philosophy; art; literature; festivals and games; social forces, values, and behaviors; and gender and sex.

The book:

  • Offers a novel approach to a very significant period that foregrounds literary evidence and the words voiced by Archaic Greeks, combining scholarship with readability;
  • Conceptualizes Archaic Greek culture and society by focusing substantially on topics that supplement the history of the period;
  • Combines diverse elements of society and culture, including religion, art, literature, games and festivals, gender, sexuality, and politics in order to develop a unique picture of Greece during the Archaic period;
  • Includes a summarizing essay that draws chapters together, emphasizing the implications of their topics and themes.

Archaic Greece: The Age of New Reckonings should appeal to college-level instructors as a book to assign to students enrolled in courses involving Archaic Greece and to others interested in this intriguing and pivotal period in ancient Greece.

Figures and Source-Acknowledgments xiii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Abbreviations and Citations xxi
Maps xxiii

1 Sources for the Archaic Period 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Archaeology and the Material Remains 1
1.3 Literary Sources 8
1.4 Managing the Muses 11

2 A Brief Overview of the Archaic Period 15
2.1 Introduction 15
2.2 The Environment and Greek Life 16
2.3 The Early Archaic Period 18
2.4 The Seventh Century BCE: Expansion and Change 19
2.5 The Sixth Century BCE: Conflict and Creation 21
2.6 The Early Fifth Century BCE: The Defeat of Persia 24
2.7 Sparta and Lakonia 25
2.8 Athens and Attika 26

3 Polis and Politics in Archaic Greece 31
3.1 Introduction 31
3.2 Origins and Nature of the Early Polis 31
3.3 Transformations of Leadership and Governance in the Archaic Polis 34
3.4 Demokratia 42
3.5 The Evolution of Politics and Government in Archaic Greece: A Summary 45
3.6 Politics and the Archaic Greek Farmer 46

4 War and Violence in Archaic Greece 51
4.1 Introduction 51
4.2 Land Warfare in the Early Archaic Period 53
4.3 Land Warfare in the Later Archaic Period 61
4.4 Epilogue: The Causes of War 64
4.5 Summary 64
4.6 Conflict at Sea 66

5 Archaic Greek Myth and Religion 73
5.1 Introduction 73
5.2 The Gods of Hesiod and Homer 76
5.3 Sanctuaries and Seers 82
5.4 Gods and Poleis 86
5.5 The Archaic Greeks and Their Gods: A Summary 87
5.6 The Olympians 89

6 Early Greek Science 93
6.1 Darkness and Lumination 93
6.2 A Farmer's Handbook: Hesiod's Works and Days 94
6.3 The Near East, Miletos, and Science 95
6.4 "Wonders" 102
6.5 Medicine 106
6.6 "Civilians," Science, and Technology 107

7 Archaic Greek Philosophy 111
7.1 Introduction 111
7.2 Hesiod and Zeus 112
7.3 Ionian Philosophy 114
7.4 Skeptics, Critics, and Epistemology 116
7.5 Mathematics and the Mystical 120
7.6 Summary 123

8 The Art of the Archaic Greeks 127
8.1 Introduction 127
8.2 Archaic Pottery-Painting 128
8.3 Archaic Greek Sculpture 137
8.4 Summary 149

9 Archaic Greek Literature 151
9.1 Introduction 151
9.2 Homer 151
9.3 Hesiod 157
9.4 Early Greek Lyric and Elegaic Poets 157
9.5 Later Lyric and Elegaic Poets 163
9.6 Summary 174

10 Festivals and Games of the Archaic Greeks 179
10.1 Introduction 179
10.2 The Olympic Festival and Games 181
10.3 Other Games and Festivals 191
10.4 Local and Regional Festivals 194
10.5 Festivals and Culture 197
10.6 Summary 199

11 Cultural Identity, Social Forces, Values, and Behaviors 203
11.1 Introduction 203
11.2 Honor, Fame, and Good Repute 205
11.3 Excess and Moderation 212
11.4 Competition 214
11.5 Old Allegiances and New Realities 217
11.6 Summary 218

12 Gender and Sexuality in Archaic Greece 221
12.1 Introduction 221
12.2 Archaic Greek Females 221
12.3 Archaic Greek Males 236
12.4 Sex, Gender, and Archaic Greek Society 239
12.5 Summary 243

13 Epilogue: The Common and the Extraordinary 247

Notes 253
Glossary of Greek Terms 255
Index: Literary Citations 259
Index 265

Subject Areas: History [HB]
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