Nardo,
Don. Classical
Civilization: Greece. Morgan Reynolds 112 $28.95 978-1-59935-173-5 ms/hs Series:
World History VG-BNS
This book provides an overview of ancient Greece and its continuing influence on contemporary society. Modern-day Greece is a small
country with modest input into contemporary world affairs. However, the ancient Greeks set in motion
ideas and practices that greatly influenced Western civilization as a whole.
Readers will find the concise,
straightforward prose easy to understand as they learn about Greek warfare,
tactics, and heroes. Nardo clearly
describes how the ancient Greeks created the foundations of modern political, artistic, and social
culture. The Greeks’ contribution to the
development of scientific disciplines such as biology, botany, and astronomy
are also discussed, as well as Greek architecture. The chapter
on the Olympics dispels the myth that the original games were limited to
amateur athletes who received no financial gain through participation.
Photographs and illustrations are
judiciously included, highlighting related text. The sidebars contain useful facts and offer
more insight into the topics under discussion.
A useful timeline, extensive source
list and bibliography are included, plus a list of related websites that will be helpful to student
researchers. There is also a glossary
and index.
Nardo’s text provides a solid overview of the many ways the Greeks helped to
shape western
civilization, and continue to influence contemporary life. --Hilary
Welliver
