A History of the Hellenistic World: 323 - 30 BC Paperback – Illustrated, February 15, 2008

Got for class, but good read nonetheless.

Book came in great condition

thanks

Errington sure knows his stuff and is able to tell you the story of this most complex history with ease.

It wasn't boring. Not slow paced or too vague.

history happened ONCE, so why the curveballs

A solid survey of Hellenistic history from the death of Alexander to the triumph of Rome. Driven by the somewhat fragmented data, this is primarily a political-dynastic history. This book can be divided into essentially 3 parts; the struggle of Alexander's successors to establish stable states, the mature Hellenistic state system dominated by Antigonid Macedonia, the Seleukid Empire, and Ptolemaic Egypt, and the establishment of Roman hegemony. Much of the book is a description of the complex diplomatic history, warfare, and dynastic politics of the successor states. Organized into regional sections with some overlap, this is a generally well done but not always compelling narrative. In terms of analysis, Errington stresses the persistence of traditional institutions, including important features of the Macedonian monarchy with its highly personalized style of kingship, the considerable continuity in the governance and politics of Greek poleis, and also continuity in other important polities such as Egypt and Babylonia. One of the most interesting sections of the book, for example, is Errington's description of how the Ptolemies adapted traditional Egyptian institutions. The political/dynastic narrative elements, however, tend to overwhelm the rest of the book. It would have been very useful to have more discussion about the role of Hellenistic states in the spread of Greek culture, the governance of Babylonia and Persia, why Rome was so successful, and some intellectual history such as information about Hellenistic math and physics. The quality of writing is good and the bibliography is useful.