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| best books on spartans: The Spartans Paul Cartledge, 2004-08-10 The Spartans were a society of warrior-heroes who were the living exemplars of such core values as duty, discipline, self-sacrifice, and extreme toughness. This book, written by one of the world’s leading experts on Sparta, traces the rise and fall of Spartan society and explores the tremendous influence the Spartans had on their world and even on ours. Paul Cartledge brings to life figures like legendary founding father Lycurgus and King Leonidas, who embodied the heroism so closely identified with this unique culture, and he shows how Spartan women enjoyed an unusually dominant and powerful role in this hyper-masculine society. Based firmly on original sources, The Spartans is the definitive book about one of the most fascinating cultures of ancient Greece. |
| best books on spartans: Spartan Warrior 735–331 BC Duncan B Campbell, 2012-07-20 Immortalized through their exploits at the battle of Thermopylae under the legendary Leonidas, as well as countless other victories throughout the classical period, the Spartans were some of the best-trained, -organized and most-feared warriors of the ancient world. The small state of Sparta, known to the Ancient Greeks as Lakedaimon, developed a unique warrior society that used serfs and non-citizens to do all of the manual work, leaving the free-born men of Sparta free to concentrate all of their energies on warfare. Forbidden from engaging in any form of manual labour, these Spartan warriors were trained from an early age in a brutal regime that gave them the necessary discipline and tolerance to withstand the pressures of phalanx warfare and endure all manner of hardships on campaign. This book covers all aspects of the Spartan warrior's life, from the earliest days of his training through his life in peace and war, culminating in the battlefield experiences of these feared combatants. |
| best books on spartans: Gates of Fire Steven Pressfield, 2000 Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here, obedient to their laws, we lie. Nearly 2,500 years ago, in 480BC, at a bleak pass in a far-flung corner of eastern Greece, three hundred Spartan warriors faced the army of Xerxe |
| best books on spartans: Spartan Women Sarah B. Pomeroy, 2002-07-11 This is the first book-length examination of Spartan women, covering over a thousand years in the history of women from both the elite and lower classes. Classicist Sarah B. Pomeroy comprehensively analyzes ancient texts and archaeological evidence to construct the world of these elusive though much noticed females. Sparta has always posed a challenge to ancient historians because information about the society is relatively scarce. Most existing scholarship on Sparta concerns the military history of the city and its heavily male-dominated social structure--almost as if there were no women in Sparta. Yet perhaps the most famous of mythic Greek women, Menelaus' wife Helen, the cause of the Trojan War, was herself a Spartan. Written by one of the leading authorities on women in antiquity, Spartan Women reconstructs the lives and the world of Sparta's women, including how their status changed over time and how they held on to their surprising autonomy. Proceeding through the archaic, classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, Spartan Women includes discussions of education, family life, reproduction, religion, and athletics. |
| best books on spartans: Spartans Nigel M. Kennell, 2009-09-08 Spartans: A New History chronicles the complete history of ancient Sparta from its origins to the end of antiquity. Helps bridge the gap between the common conceptions of Sparta and what specialists believe and dispute about Spartan history Applies new techniques, perspectives, and archaeological evidence to the question of what it was to be a Spartan Takes into account new specialist scholarship and research published in Greek, which is not readily available elsewhere Places Spartan society into its wider Greek context |
| best books on spartans: The Spartans Paul Cartledge, 2003 Paul Cartledge argues that the Spartans are our ancestors, every bit as much as the Athenians. But while Athens promoted democracy, individualism, culture and society, their great rivals Sparta embodied militarism, totalitarianism, segregation and brutal repression. |
| best books on spartans: The Spartans Andrew J. Bayliss, 2022-05-12 Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The myths surrounding Sparta are as old as the city itself. Even in antiquity, Sparta was a unique society, and considered an enigma. The Spartans who fought for freedom against the Persians called themselves 'equals' or peers, but their equality was reliant on the ruthless exploitation of the indigenous population known as helots. The Spartans' often bizarre rules and practices have the capacity to horrify as much they do to fascinate us today. Athenian writers were intrigued and appalled in equal measure by a society where weak or disabled babies were said to have been examined carefully by state officials before being dumped off the edge of a cliff. Even today their lurid stories have shaped our image of Sparta; a society in which cowards were forced to shave off half their beards, to dress differently from their peers, and who were ultimately shunned to the extent that suicide seemed preferable. The legend of Sparta was even perpetuated by later Spartans, who ran a thriving tourist industry that exaggerated the famed brutality of their ancestors. This Very Short Introduction separates myth from reality to reveal the best--and the worst--of the Spartans. Andrew Bayliss explores key aspects of Spartan society, including their civic structure, their day-to-day lifestyle, and traditions such as the krypteia, a brutal rite of passage where teenagers were sent into the countryside and ordered to eliminate the biggest and most dangerous helots. Alongside this, Bayliss also sheds light on the many admirable qualities of ancient Sparta, such as their state-run education system, or the fact that this society was almost unparalleled in the pre-modern world for the rights given to Spartan women. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
| best books on spartans: A History of Sparta William George Forrest, William George Grieve Forrest, 1995 No Marketing Blurb |
| best books on spartans: Go Tell the Spartans Jerry Pournelle, S. M. Stirling, 1991 The CoDominion is dying on Sparta. John Christian Falkenberg and his legion have come to train the Spartians. Their enemy is the Grand Senator Bronson's techno-ninja. |
| best books on spartans: Persian Fire Tom Holland, 2011-04-21 Tom Holland's bestselling account of the world's very first clash of civilisations between the Persians and the Greeks in 480BC 'Magisterial... told with great authority and a novelistic colour and verve' Books of the Year, Independent 'Holland has a rare eye for detail, drama and the telling anecdote' Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph 'An unequivocal argument for the relevance of ancient history' Observer 'Holland brings this tumultuous, epoch-making period dazzlingly to life' William Napier, Independent on Sunday In the fifth century BC, a global superpower was determined to bring truth and order to what it regarded as two terrorist states. The superpower was Persia, incomparably rich in ambition, gold and men. The terrorist states were Athens and Sparta, eccentric cities in a poor and mountainous backwater: Greece. The story of how their citizens took on the most powerful man on the planet is as heart-stopping as any episode in history. |
| best books on spartans: Spartan Up! Joe De Sena, Jeff O'Connell, 2014 An introduction to Spartan Races (races meant to challenge, to push, to intimidate, to test) from one of the founding few and creators, Joe De Sena. |
| best books on spartans: On Sparta Plutarch, 2005-05-26 Plutarch's vivid and engaging portraits of the Spartans and their customs are a major source of our knowledge about the rise and fall of this remarkable Greek city-state between the sixth and third centuries BC. Through his Lives of Sparta's leaders and his recording of memorable Spartan Sayings he depicts a people who lived frugally and mastered their emotions in all aspects of life, who also disposed of unhealthy babies in a deep chasm, introduced a gruelling regime of military training for boys, and treated their serfs brutally. Rich in anecdote and detail, Plutarch's writing brings to life the personalities and achievements of Sparta with unparalleled flair and humanity. |
| best books on spartans: The End of Sparta Victor Davis Hanson, 2011-10-18 In this sweeping and deeply imagined historical novel, acclaimed classicist Victor Davis Hanson re-creates the battles of one of the greatest generals of ancient Greece, Epaminondas. At the Battle of Leuktra, his Thebans crushed the fearsome army of Sparta that had enslaved its neighbors for two centuries. We follow these epic historical events through the eyes of Mêlon, a farmer who has left his fields to serve with Epaminondas-swept up, against his better judgment, in the fever to spread democracy even as he yearns to return to his pastoral hillside. With a scholar's depth of knowledge and a novelist's vivid imagination, Hanson re-creates the ancient world down to its intimate details-from the weight of a spear in a soldier's hand to the peculiar camaraderie of a slave and master who go into battle side by side. The End of Sparta is a stirring drama and a rich, absorbing reading experience. Praise for Victor Davis Hanson: I have never read another book that explains so well the truth that 'war lies in the dark hearts of us all' but that history offers hope.-William Shawcross on The Father of Us All Few writers cover both current events and history-and none with the brilliance and erudition of Victor Davis Hanson.-Max Boot on The Father of Us All Enthralling.-Christopher Hitchens on The Western Way of War |
| best books on spartans: The Spartans Nick Sekunda, Nicholas Sekunda, 1999-10 This book is available in North America ONLY. If you live elsewhere in the world and would like to read this book, please see Elite 66: The Spartans. This book is identical in content and price only the cover differs. Although Sparta's early history is not clear, by the end of the 8th century most of the other cities of Lakedaimon had been reduced to subject status. The Lakedaimonians were the only full time army in ancient Greece and were thus truly an elite force. The institutions of the state and the system of education were organised with a view to creating superbly trained soldiers. Nick Sekunda examines this unique military machine in this book describing the organisational systems of the Spartan army through the Hellenistic period, how they were trained, the battles they fought, and the society that produced them. |
| best books on spartans: Property and Wealth in Classical Sparta Stephen Hodkinson, 2009-12-31 The standard image of Sparta is of an egalitarian, military society which disdained material possessions. Yet property and wealth played a critical role in her history. Classical Sparta's success rested upon a compromise between rich and poor citizens. Economic differences were masked by a uniform lifestyle and a communal sharing of resources. Over time, however, increasing inequalities led to a plutocratic society and to the decline of Spartan power. Using an innovative combination of historical, archaeological and sociological methods, Stephen Hodkinson challenges traditional views of Sparta's isolation from general Greek culture. This volume is the first major monograph-length discussion of a subject on which the author is recognised as the leading international authority. |
| best books on spartans: A War Like No Other Victor Davis Hanson, 2011-11-30 One of our most provocative military historians, Victor Davis Hanson has given us painstakingly researched and pathbreaking accounts of wars ranging from classical antiquity to the twenty-first century. Now he juxtaposes an ancient conflict with our most urgent modern concerns to create his most engrossing work to date, A War Like No Other. Over the course of a generation, the Hellenic city-states of Athens and Sparta fought a bloody conflict that resulted in the collapse of Athens and the end of its golden age. Thucydides wrote the standard history of the Peloponnesian War, which has given readers throughout the ages a vivid and authoritative narrative. But Hanson offers readers something new: a complete chronological account that reflects the political background of the time, the strategic thinking of the combatants, the misery of battle in multifaceted theaters, and important insight into how these events echo in the present. Hanson compellingly portrays the ways Athens and Sparta fought on land and sea, in city and countryside, and details their employment of the full scope of conventional and nonconventional tactics, from sieges to targeted assassinations, torture, and terrorism. He also assesses the crucial roles played by warriors such as Pericles and Lysander, artists, among them Aristophanes, and thinkers including Sophocles and Plato. Hanson’s perceptive analysis of events and personalities raises many thought-provoking questions: Were Athens and Sparta like America and Russia, two superpowers battling to the death? Is the Peloponnesian War echoed in the endless, frustrating conflicts of Vietnam, Northern Ireland, and the current Middle East? Or was it more like America’s own Civil War, a brutal rift that rent the fabric of a glorious society, or even this century’s “red state—blue state” schism between liberals and conservatives, a cultural war that manifestly controls military policies? Hanson daringly brings the facts to life and unearths the often surprising ways in which the past informs the present. Brilliantly researched, dynamically written, A War Like No Other is like no other history of this important war. |
| best books on spartans: Leonidas of Sparta Helena P. Schrader, 2010 The smaller of twins, born long after two elder brothers, Leonidas was considered an afterthought from birth -- even by his mother. Lucky not to be killed for being undersized, he was not raised as a prince like his eldest brother, Cleomenes, who was heir to the throne, but instead had to endure the harsh upbringing of ordinary Spartan youth. Barefoot, always a little hungry, and subject to harsh discipline, Leonidas had to prove himself worthy of Spartan citizenship. Struggling to survive without disgrace, he never expected that one day he would be king or chosen to command the combined Greek forces fighting a Persian invasion. But these were formative years that would one day make him the most famous Spartan of them all: the hero of Thermopylae. This is the first book in a trilogy of biographical novels about Leonidas of Sparta. This first book describes his childhood in the infamous Spartan agoge. The second will focus on his years as an ordinary citizen, and the third will describe his reign and death. About the Author Helena P. Schrader holds a PhD in history from the University of Hamburg, which she earned with her groundbreaking biography of General Friedrich Olbricht, the mastermind behind the Valkyrie plot against Hitler. She has published four nonfiction works on modern history and has been published in academic journals including Sparta: Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History. Helena has done extensive research on ancient and archaic Sparta. She has combined her research with common sense and a deep understanding of human nature to create a refreshingly unorthodox portrayal of Spartan society in this biographical trilogy of Leonidas, as well as in her three previously published novels, The Olympic Charioteer, Are They Singing in Sparta? and Spartan Slave, Spartan Queen. Visit her website at www.helena-schrader.com or learn more about Sparta from her website Sparta Reconsidered at www.elysiumgates.com/ helena. |
| best books on spartans: The Bronze Lie Myke Cole, 2023-02-07 The Spartan hoplite enjoys unquestioned currency as history's greatest fighting man. The last stand at Thermopylae made the Spartans legends in their own time, famous for their toughness, stoicism and martial prowess, and for their refusal to surrender in the face of impossible odds, even when it meant certain death. Was this reputation earned? Or was it simply the success of a propaganda machine that had begun working long before the battle at the Hot Gates. Covering Sparta's full classical history from the foundation of the city-state through to its final overthrow by Rome in the 1st century BC, The Bronze Lie examines the myth of Spartan warrior supremacy and paints a very different picture of Spartan warfare - one punctuated by frequent and heavy losses. It looks at the major battles, with a special focus on previously under-publicized Spartan reverses that have been left largely unexamined. It reveals why Spartan society became dedicated to militarism, and examines the men who lived under its brutal rule. The result is a refreshingly honest and accurate account of Spartan warfare that challenges long-held myths about this ancient Greek society and culture, myths that still inspire warrior creeds today. --Inside jacket. |
| best books on spartans: Mothers of Sparta Dawn Davies, 2018-01-30 “Davies' collection of essays soars.... It's a memoir that locates the profound within the ordinary.” —Entertainment Weekly If you’re looking for a typical parenting book, this is not it. This is not a treatise on how to be a mother. This is a book about a young girl who moves to a new town every couple of years; a misfit teenager who finds solace in a local music scene; an adrift twenty-something who drops out of college to pursue her dream of making cheesecake on a stick a successful business franchise (ah, the ideals of youth). Alone in a new city, she summons her inner strength as she holds the hand of a dying stranger. Davies is a woman who finds humor in difficult pregnancies and post-partum depression (after reading “Pie” you might never eat Thanksgiving dessert the same way). She is a divorcee who unexpectedly finds second love. She is a happily married suburban wife who nevertheless makes a mental list of all the men she would have slept with. And she is a parent who finds herself tested in ways she could never imagine. In stories that cut to the quick, Davies explores passion, loss, illness, pain, and joy, told from her singular, gimlet-eyed, hilarious perspective. Mothers of Sparta is not a blow-by-blow of Davies’ life but rather an examination of the exquisite and often painful moments of a life, the moments we look back on and say, That one, that one mattered. Straddling the fence between humor and, well...not humor, Davies has written a book about what it’s like to try to carve a place for oneself in the world, no matter how unyielding the rock can be. |
| best books on spartans: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta Paul Anthony Rahe, 2015-11-24 DIV” “Powerfully illustrates . . . that this regime determined the character and limits of Sparta’s domestic and foreign policy.” (Susan D. Collins, IThe Review of Politics) More than 2500 years ago a confederation of small Greek city-states defeated the invading armies of Persia, the most powerful empire in the world. In this meticulously researched study, historian Paul Rahe argues that Sparta was responsible for the initial establishment of the Hellenic defensive coalition and was the most essential player in its ultimate victory. Drawing from an impressive range of ancient sources, including Herodotus and Plutarch, the author veers from the traditional Atheno-centric view of the Greco-Persian Wars to examine from a Spartan perspective the strategy that halted the Persian juggernaut. Rahe provides a fascinating, detailed picture of life in Sparta circa 480 B.C., revealing how the Spartans’ form of government and the regimen to which they subjected themselves instilled within them the pride, confidence, discipline, and discernment necessary to forge an alliance that would stand firm against a great empire, driven by religious fervor, that held sway over two-fifths of the human race. “[Rahe] has an excellent eye for military logistics . . . crisp and persuasive.” —The Wall Street Journal “Intensely well-researched and well-balanced.” —Steve Donoghue, The National “Masterful.” —Joseph Bottum, Books and Culture “A serious scholarly endeavor.” —Eric W. Robinson, American Historical Review “This brilliant revisionist study . . . reminds us how Sparta . . . saved Western freedom from the Persian aggression—and did so because of its innate courage, political stability, and underappreciated genius.” —Victor Davis Hanson, author of The Other Greeks “Full of keen understandings that help explain Spartan policy, diplomacy, and strategy.” —Donald Kagan, author of The Peloponnesian War /DIV |
| best books on spartans: Sparta Thomas Beckett, 2016-06-15 This is Sparta! Are you ready to enter the fascinating world of Ancient Greece? Do you want to understand the unique warrior culture of the famous Spartans? Would you like to live like a Spartan? If so, you must read Sparta: The Ultimate Greek Warriors: Everything You Need To Know About the Spartan Civilization! Inside this amazing book, you'll discover the military culture of this iconic city-state. By exploring the culture, society, politics, and conflicts of the Spartans, you can gain a new understanding of this noble tribe. You can even apply these lessons to your modern life! Read this inspirational book today and feel the power of Sparta! This engaging book describes many aspects of Spartan life: - Spartan Military Training and Weapons - Sparta's Kings, Helots, and Social Classes - The Roles of Spartan Men, Women, and Children - The Spartan Army and its Famous Battles - Spartan Clothing, Culture, and Daily Life - Spartan Culture, Architecture, and Death Rites It even describes how the Spartan military state finally came to an end! Don't wait another minute to engage with the enduring legacy of the Spartan people. Start reading Sparta: The Ultimate Greek Warriors: Everything You Need To Know About the Spartan Civilization right away by scrolling up and clicking the BUY button. You'll be so glad you took the time to read this timeless tale of struggle and victory! |
| best books on spartans: Spartan Valerio Massimo Manfredi, 2007-07-31 Full of passion, courage and magic, Spartan is an enthralling novel of the ancient world. |
| best books on spartans: A Spartan's Sorrow Hannah Lynn, 2024-04-02 From an award winning author comes a story of feminist revenge perfect for readers of Madeleine Miller and Natalie Haynes All murders must be avenged. While the rest of Greece mourns for the war that has taken their husbands away, Clytemnestra fears the day it will bring Agamemnon back. When he husband willingly sacrifices their eldest daughter to appease the gods, Clytemnestra vows to do whatever it takes to protect her remaining children. But history turns strong women into monsters, and in saving her family she risks losing them altogether and becoming the most hated woman in Greece... |
| best books on spartans: Spartans Patrick Auerbach, 2016-03-29 480 B. C. Proud Xerxes, Emperor of Persia and King of Kings, invades Greece with a million soldiers. He commands thousands of ships and is supported by dozens of allies, among them the charming Queen Artemisia. At Thermopylae, a rocky mountain pass in northern Greece, the feared and admired Spartan soldiers stood three hundred strong. Theirs was a suicide mission, to hold the pass against the invading millions of the mighty Persian army. Day after bloody day they withstood the terrible onslaught, buying time for the Greeks to rally their forces. Born into a cult of spiritual courage, physical endurance, and unmatched battle skill, the Spartans would be remembered for the greatest military stand in history. One that would not end until the rocks were awash with blood, leaving only one gravely injured Spartan squire to tell the tale. Read how The Spartans became the strongest warriors in history. Scroll to the top of the page and click Add To Cart to read more about this extraordinary forgotten chapter of history |
| best books on spartans: The Spartans Paul Cartledge, 2003-05-26 “Remarkable . . . [The author’s] crystalline prose, his vivacious storytelling and his lucid historical insights combine here to provide a first-rate history.” —Publishers Weekly Sparta has often been described as the original Utopia—a remarkably evolved society whose warrior heroes were forbidden any other trade, profession, or business. As a people, the Spartans were the living exemplars of such core values as duty, discipline, the nobility of arms in a cause worth dying for, sacrificing the individual for the greater good of the community (illustrated by their role in the battle of Thermopylae), and the triumph over seemingly insuperable obstacles—qualities often believed today to signify the ultimate heroism. In this book, distinguished scholar and historian Paul Cartledge, long considered the leading international authority on ancient Sparta, traces the evolution of Spartan society—the culture and the people as well as the tremendous influence they had on their world and even ours. He details the lives of such illustrious and myth-making figures as Lycurgus, King Leonidas, Helen of Troy (and Sparta), and Lysander, and explains how the Spartans, while placing a high value on masculine ideals, nevertheless allowed women an unusually dominant and powerful role—unlike Athenian culture, with which the Spartans are so often compared. In resurrecting this culture and society, Cartledge delves into ancient texts and archeological sources and includes illustrations depicting original Spartan artifacts and drawings, as well as examples of representational paintings from the Renaissance onward—including J.L. David’s famously brooding Leonidas. “A pleasure for anyone interested in the ancient world.” —Kirkus Reviews “[An] engaging narrative . . . In his panorama of the real Sparta, Cartledge cloaks his erudition with an ease and enthusiasm that will excite readers from page one.” —Booklist “Our greatest living expert on Sparta.” —Tom Holland, prize-winning author of Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic |
| best books on spartans: Thucydides and Herodotus Edith Foster, Donald Lateiner, 2012-05-03 Thucydides and Herodotus is an edited collection which looks at two of the most important ancient Greek historians living in the 5th Century BCE. It examines the relevant relationship between them which is considered, especially nowadays, by historians and philologists to be more significant than previously realized. |
| best books on spartans: Thebes Paul Cartledge, 2020-09-22 The riveting, definitive account of the ancient Greek city of Thebes, by the acclaimed author of The Spartans—now in paperback Among the extensive writing available about the history of ancient Greece, there is precious little about the city-state of Thebes. At one point the most powerful city in ancient Greece, Thebes has been long overshadowed by its better-known rivals, Athens and Sparta. In Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece, acclaimed classicist and historian Paul Cartledge brings the city vividly to life and argues that it is central to our understanding of the ancient Greeks’ achievements—whether politically or culturally—and thus to the wider politico-cultural traditions of western Europe, the Americas, and indeed the world. From its role as an ancient political power, to its destruction at the hands of Alexander the Great as punishment for a failed revolt, to its eventual restoration by Alexander’s successor, Cartledge deftly chronicles the rise and fall of the ancient city. He recounts the history with deep clarity and mastery for the subject and makes clear both the di?erences and the interconnections between the Thebes of myth and the Thebes of history. Written in clear prose and illustrated with images in two color inserts, Thebes is a gripping read for students of ancient history and those looking to experience the real city behind the myths of Cadmus, Hercules, and Oedipus. |
| best books on spartans: Spartan Gold Clive Cussler, Grant Blackwood, 2011-12-21 Clive Cussler introduces Sam and Remi Fargo in Spartan Gold. An ancient treasure stolen by Xerxes the Great . . . Discovered by Napoleon Bonaparte . . . The clues to its hidden location lost until now . . . Adventurers and treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo are on a wild-goose chase. Up to their waists in the Great Pocomoke Swamp in Maryland, they're hunting for lost gold. What they find instead is a small Second World War German U-boat. Inside the submarine they find a body - and a puzzling, incredibly rare bottle of wine. This bottle was one of twelve taken from Napoleon's 'lost cellar'. But it is also a clue to a fabulous, ancient treasure. One that Hadeon Bondaruk - a half-Russian, half-Persian millionaire - will do anything to get his hands on. For he claims descent from treasure's one-time owner. It will be his, no matter who stands in his way . . . Clive Cussler, author of the celebrated Dirk Pitt novels Arctic Drift and Crescent Dawn, presents his newest series, following the adventures of treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo - beginning with Spartan Gold. Praise for Clive Cussler: 'The guy I read' Tom Clancy |
| best books on spartans: Sparta Stephen Hodkinson, 2009-12-31 Both in antiquity and in modern scholarship, classical Sparta has typically been viewed as an exceptional society, different in many respects from other Greek city-states. This view has recently come under challenge from revisionist historians, led by Stephen Hodkinson. This is the first book devoted explicitly to this lively historical controversy. Historians from Britain, Europe and the USA present different sides of the argument, using a variety of comparative approaches. The focus includes kingship and hegemonic structures, education and commensality, religious institutions and practice, helotage and ethnography. The volume concludes with a wide-ranging debate between Hodkinson and Mogens Herman Hansen (Director of the Copenhagen Polis Centre), on the overall question of whether Sparta was a normal or an exceptional polis. |
| best books on spartans: The Spartans Mick Kremling, 2016-08-19 Discover the Fascinating Way of Life of History's Most Elite Soldiers, The Spartans. The Spartans. The famous warrior society of ancient Greece. Renowned for their ferocity in battle, rigid self-discipline, and their legendary wit and terseness. These rugged, crimson clad soldiers knew a lifestyle that few of us today could imagine or endure. Both Spartan men and woman, from the day they were born, to their often early deaths, constantly trained their bodies and minds to be as hard and immovable as stone. |
| best books on spartans: Tides of War Steven Pressfield, 2001 Alcibiades Mercurial Soldier And Charismatic Commander Without Peer On Land And Sea, A Man Whom Fortune Always Favoured. Raised As A Ward Of Pericles, Later A Protégé Of Socrates, And Compared To Achilles By The Adoring Athenian Masses, He Was To Become The Key Figure In The Peloponnesian War The Tumultuous 27-Year Civil War Between Athens And Sparta That Would Devastate Greece In The Last Quarter Of The 5Th Century Bc. At The Outset, For All His Spartan Upbringing, Alcibiades Remained Loyal To Athens. But His Popularity And His Arrogance Fuelled The Bitter Resentment Of Rivals Who Secured His Death Warrant On A Charge Of Treason. Encouraged To Flee For His Life (And Showing Masterful Pragmatism For Which He Joined The Enemy, The Spartans, And Went On To Lead Their Legendary Scarlet-Cloaked Ranks From One Military Triumph To The Next. What Became Clear To The Opposing States Was That Whoever Had Alcibiades At The Head Of Their Army Would Control Greece. It Was Aristophanes Once Wrote That Athenians Love, Hate And Cannot Do Without Him And To The End, Their Glory And Downfall Were Shared. Recounted By One Polemides, A Seasoned Soldier Accused Of Assassinating The Great Leader, Tides Of War Is An Epic, Thrilling Retelling Of Ancient, Near-Forgotten History. From Devastating Battles On Land And Sea To The Vicious Political Infighting And Back-Stabbing In The City Of Athena Herself, Steven Pressfield Again Succeeds In Bringing Historical Precision And Human Scale To Those Dark, Dangerous Times, And Paints An Extraordinary Portrait Of This Remarkable Man Whose Fortunes Were To Mirror The Ebb And Flow Of The Tides Of War& |
| best books on spartans: Defiance Patrick Spencer, Mason McNay, 2018-08-11 The first installment in the Spartans' epic story |
| best books on spartans: Last of the Amazons Steven Pressfield, 2003-07-01 BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Steven Pressfield's The Profession. The author of the international bestsellers Gates of Fire and Tides of War delivers his most gripping and imaginative novel of the ancient world–a stunning epic of love and war that breathes life into the grand myth of the ferocious female warrior culture of the Amazons. Steven Pressfield has gained a passionate worldwide following for his magnificent novels of ancient Greece, Gates of Fire and Tides of War. In Last of the Amazons, Pressfield has surpassed himself, re-creating a vanished world in a brilliant novel that will delight his loyal readers and bring legions more to his singular and powerful restoration of the past. In the time before Homer, the legendary Theseus, King of Athens (an actual historical figure), set sail on a journey that brought him into the land of tal Kyrte, the “free people,” a nation of proud female warriors whom the Greeks called “Amazons.” The Amazons, bound to each other as lovers as well as fighters, distrusted the Greeks, with their boastful talk of “civilization.” So when the great war queen Antiope fell in love with Theseus and fled with the Greeks, the mighty Amazon nation rose up in rage. Last of the Amazons is not merely a masterful tale of war and revenge. Pressfield has created a cast of extraordinarily vivid characters, from the unforgettable Selene, whose surrender to the Greeks does nothing to tame her; to her lover, Damon, an Athenian warrior who grows to cherish the wild Amazon ways; to the narrator, Bones, a young girl from a noble family who was nursed by Selene from birth and secretly taught the Amazon way; to the great Theseus, the tragic king; and to Antiope, the noble queen who betrayed tal Kyrte for the love of Theseus. With astounding immediacy and extraordinary attention to military detail, Pressfield transports readers into the heat and terror of war. Equally impressive is his creation of the Amazon nation, its people, its rituals and myths, its greatness and savagery. Last of the Amazons is thrilling on every page, an epic tale of the clash between wildness and civilization, patriotism and love, man and woman. |
| best books on spartans: The Road to Sparta Dean Karnazes, 2016-10-26 In The Road to Sparta famed ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes explores the story of the world's first marathon, all while reliving the historic 153-mile run from Athens to Sparta in one of the most difficult ultra races in the world - the Spartathlon. In 490 BCE Pheidippides ran for 36 hours straight from Athens to Sparta to seek help in defending Athens from a Persian invasion. Pheidippides was hailed a hero, as he saved the development of Western civilization. The run stands enduringly as one of greatest physical accomplishments in history. Karnazes honours Pheidippides and his Greek heritage by completing the treacherous course without the aid of modern endurance nutrition and only eating and drinking what would have been available in 490 BCE. Through vivid description and telling insights, The Road to Sparta offers readers a rare glimpse into the mind-set and motivation of an extreme athlete during his most difficult and personal challenge to date. |
| best books on spartans: Ancient Greece T. D. Van Basten, 2016-06-06 The King of Sparta Leonidas is one of the most well known and remembered of all Sparta's mighty military leaders. The leader of the famous Battle of 300, it was his bravery and cunning that would ultimately propel the Greeks to victory over the invading Persians. He would go down in history as a legendary leader and brave, valiant warrior for his strength in the face of opposition and his selfless willingness to lay down his life for his country. His rise to kingship was rather unorthodox, but he would go down as one of the most legendary. He showed a keen understanding of how to make the best of the tools one has at their disposal, and to use one's strategy, even in the face of insurmountable odds. He understood that much more than his own fate, that was at stake in the battles he would face. This courage was not only what led to his legendary status, it ultimately gave the Greeks the courage they needed to fend off foreign invaders and remain a sovereign collection of city-states. The brave, self-sacrificing efforts of Leonidas and his men would go down in history and lore. Throughout history, he has been propped up as the ultimate warrior, who fought with skill and cunning, and was willing to give up his life for the greater good of the country. He was able to inspire the same feelings of kinship and bravery in his fellow soldiers, which was a key part of their success as warriors. Since he was raised in the brotherhood of warriors, he was able to speak the language of the warrior, making him a huge benefit as king and leader during a tumultuous time in Spartan history... |
| best books on spartans: The Battle of Thermopylae Captivating History, 2019-04-27 If you want to discover the captivating history of the Battle of Thermopylae, then keep reading... The Battle of Thermopylae is one of the most famous battles in human history. It featured two of the ancient world's most prominent cultures, the Achaemenid-led Persian Empire and the fragmented yet culturally advanced Greeks. It also included some of history's most famous leaders, such as the Persian king Xerxes and the Spartan king and military general Leonidas. This glorification is apt only because the battle was indeed an important moment in the much larger conflict known as the Greco-Persian Wars. However, the Greeks lost this battle. In fact, it was a slaughter. Had it not been for some good fortune as well as an advantage in terms of equipment and fighting techniques, the Battle of Thermopylae could have gone down in history as the beginning of the end for one of the world's great civilizations. That these soldiers were more willing to die than to surrender to the evil Persians is part of the reason why this battle has become so famous. It serves as a symbol of what people will do to protect their freedom and their homeland. Sure, much of our memory of the Battle of Thermopylae is glorified untruth, but no one can deny that the Greeks and the Persians, in late August or early September of 480 BCE, fought one of the most important battles in one of the most important wars of the ancient era. In The Battle of Thermopylae: A Captivating Guide to One of the Greatest Battles in Ancient History Between the Spartans and Persians, you will discover topics such as Leading up to The Battle of Thermopylae The Main Characters of the Battle of Thermopylae Greece and Persia Prepare for Battle The Battle of Thermopylae: Seven Days to Last the Test of Time Meanwhile, at Artemisium After the Battle of Thermopylae The Greek and Persian Armies And much, much more! So if you want to learn more about the Battle of Thermopylae, scroll up and click the add to cart button! |
| best books on spartans: The Falcon of Sparta Conn Iggulden, 2019-07-09 The bestselling author of the Emperor, Conqueror and The Wars of the Roses returns to the Ancient World with a gripping adventure based on an epic true story. 'HIS FINEST NOVEL TO DATE . . . THE BATTLE SCENES ARE THRILLING' SUNDAY EXPRESS ___________ In the Ancient World, one army was feared above all others. 401 BC. The Persian king Artaxerxes rules an empire stretching from the Aegean to northern India. As many as fifty million people are his subjects. His rule is absolute. But the sons of Sparta are eager to play the game of thrones . . . Battles can be won - or lost - with a single blow. Princes fall. And when the dust of civil war settles, the Spartans are left stranded in the heart of an enemy's empire, without support, without food and without water. Far from home, surrounded by foes, it falls to the young soldier Xenophon to lead the survivors against Artaxerxes' legendary Persian warriors. The Falcon of Sparta masterfully depicts the ferocity and heroism that was the Ancient World. It is a tale of warring ambition, betrayal and bravery and an extraordinary journey out of exile against the odds. 'The pace is nail-biting' THE TIMES |
| best books on spartans: Song of Wrath J. E. Lendon, 2010-11-02 Offers a thrilling account of the first stage of the Peloponnesian War, also known as the Ten Years' War, between the city-states of Athens and Sparta, detailing the pitched battles by land and sea, sieges, sacks, raids and deeds of cruelty—along with courageous acts of mercy, charity and resistance. |
| best books on spartans: Eagle in the Snow Wallace Breem, 2004 The future of Rome is tested as Maximus, the newly appointed General of the West must lead his legion in defending their territory, while opposing forces grow in numbers and plan their invasion on the fated empire. |
| best books on spartans: At the Hot Gates Donald Samson, 2019-02-21 It is the year 480 BC and the greatest army ever gathered in the ancient world is on the march to conquer all of Greece. An irresistible force, they destroy whatever dares to stand in their path. One man steps forward to stop them, followed by 300 companions. His chances are next to nil, yet he goes without hesitation. This man is a king. His name is Leonidas. And his companions are Spartans. They go to stop the Persian advance and meet their destiny at the narrows known as the Hot Gates. This is the account of the battle of Thermopylae. A small contingent of 300 Spartan warriors will hold off the thrust of the Persian invasion for three days of intense battle. We witness these events through the eyes of the twelve-year old Spartan boy, Agis, who has followed his father into battle and is eventually invited by Leonidas to take his rightful place in the battle at the Hot Gates. |
difference - "What was best" vs "what was the best"? - Englis…
Oct 18, 2018 · On the linked page, best is used as an adverb, modifying the verb knew. In that context, the …
adverbs - About "best" , "the best" , and "most" - English L…
Oct 20, 2016 · I like you best. I like chocolate best, better than anything else. can be used when what one is …
articles - "it is best" vs. "it is the best" - English Language ...
Jan 2, 2016 · This is the best car in the garage. We use articles like the and a before nouns, like car. The word …
expressions - "it's best" - how should it be used? - English La…
Dec 8, 2020 · 3 "It's best (if) he (not) buy it tomorrow." is not a subjunctive form, and some options do not work well. …
word choice - "his best-seller book" or "his best-selling boo…
Jun 12, 2016 · @J.R. If something is a New York Times Best Seller, the whole five word string is the adjective in …
difference - "What was best" vs "what was the best"? - English …
Oct 18, 2018 · On the linked page, best is used as an adverb, modifying the verb knew. In that context, the phrase the best can also be used as if it were an adverb. The meaning is …
adverbs - About "best" , "the best" , and "most" - English …
Oct 20, 2016 · I like you best. I like chocolate best, better than anything else. can be used when what one is choosing from is not specified. I like you the best. Between chocolate, vanilla, and …
articles - "it is best" vs. "it is the best" - English Language ...
Jan 2, 2016 · This is the best car in the garage. We use articles like the and a before nouns, like car. The word "best" is an adjective, and adjectives do not take articles by themselves. …
expressions - "it's best" - how should it be used? - English …
Dec 8, 2020 · 3 "It's best (if) he (not) buy it tomorrow." is not a subjunctive form, and some options do not work well. 3A It's best he buy it tomorrow. the verb tense is wrong with 3A. Better would …
word choice - "his best-seller book" or "his best-selling book ...
Jun 12, 2016 · @J.R. If something is a New York Times Best Seller, the whole five word string is the adjective in use to modify book, although why book is specified is beyond me; perhaps to …
Word choice - Way of / to / for - Way of / to / for - English …
Jun 16, 2020 · The best way to use "the best way" is to follow it with an infinitive. However, this is not the only way to use the phrase; "the best way" can also be followed by of with a gerund: …
plural forms - It's/I'm acting in your best interest/interests ...
Dec 17, 2014 · have someone's (best) interests at heart (=want to help them): He claims he has only my best interests at heart. be in someone's/something's (best) interest(s) (=bring an …
"Best regards" vs. "Best Regards" - English Language Learners …
Dec 28, 2013 · The rule for formal letters is that only the first word should be capitalized (i.e. "Best regards"). Emails are less formal, so some of the rules are relaxed. That's why you're seeing …
Would be or will be - English Language Learners Stack Exchange
Oct 1, 2019 · It indicates items that (with the best understanding) are going to happen. Would is a conditional verb form. It states that something happens based on something else. Sometimes …
What is the correct usage of "deems fit" phrase?
Nov 15, 2016 · This plan of creating an electoral college to select the president was expected to secure the choice by the best citizens of each state, in a tranquil and deliberate way, of the …
