A culture of freedom : ancient Greece and the origins of Europe

The book takes us on a tour through the rich spectrum of Greek life and culture, from their epic and lyric poetry, political thought and philosophy, to their social life, military traditions, sport, and religious festivals, and finally to the early stages of Greek democracy. Running as a connecting thread throughout is a people's attempt to create a society based upon the concept of freedom rather than naked power. Part I. The Question of Beginnings: A most unusual case I: the appropriation of antiquity by medieval and modern Europe The challenge of freedom A most unusual case II: the early conditions of the formation of medieval and early modern culture The constitution of Europe as a continent Greeks and Persians I: freedom and rule-- Atossa's dream Europe and Asia in antiquity Antiquity as European prehistory or early history -- Part II. The Rise of the World of Poleis: A post-mycenaean new beginning : origins of Greek particularity The dawn of an era : the eighth century BC The Greeks and the Orient Colonization Homer and Hesiod Gods and priests Crisis and consolidation: the seventh and sixth centuries BC Polis individualism and the pan-Hellenic context: the agonistic impulse The diversity of the poleis: Sparta and other cities The wars Polis structure: public sphere and institutions Crisis: aristocratic rivalries, social conflict, tyranny Lyric poetry, the symposium, and a reorientation towards virtue The beginnings of political thought: the 'middling class' The beginnings of philosophy and science Athens's path towards Isonomy and its rise to power The Aegean world around 500 BC: Greeks and Persians II Outlook -- Epilogue. Christian Meier is one of Europe's preeminent authorities on the classical world. A Culture of Freedom marks the apex of his lifelong research on ancient Greek culture. Beginning with a section on medieval and modern Europe's enormous inheritance of Greek institutions and ideas, the book moves on to chronicle the rise of Greek civilization from the Bronze Age to the Greco-Persian wars. Throughout, the author provides fresh insight into the'Greek miracle,'as he illuminates the well-known features of Greek culture--from epic and lyric poetry to warfare, athletics, philosophy, religion, and democracy. What made these achievements possible and so enduring? Meier argues that across the whole range of human experience--in politics and philosophy no less than in war, sport, and religion--there was one common denominator among the ancient Greeks: an attempt to find compromise, balance, and understanding in the face of problems others usually solved by means of power. A Culture of Freedom is an original and learned portrait of a civilization that still captivates and inspires. Historians And President Of The German Academy For Language And Literature In Darmstadt And In 2003 Received Thee Prestigious Jacob Grimm Prize For German Literature. Culture So Special? A Culture Of Freedom Attempts To Answer This Question - To Find The Key To The 'miracle' Of Ancient Greece. The Book Takes Us On A Tour Through The Rich Spectrum Of Greek Life And Culture, From Their Epic And Lyric Poetry, Political Thought And Philosophy, To Their Social Life, Military Traditions, Sport, And Religious Festivals, And Finally To The Early Stages Of Greek Democracy. Running As A Connecting Thread Throughout Is A People's Attempt To Create A Society Based Upon The Freedom Rather Than Power. It Is This Which, Meier Argues, Is The Distinctive Key To Greek Culture, Marking It Out From All That Had Gone Before, Including The Ancient Societies Of The Middle East From Which The Greeks Otherwise Borrowed So Much. The Ancient Greeks Managed To Build A Society Founded On The Concept Of Freedom - And By Doing So Helped Mould The Europe That We Live In Today. Christian Meier is one of Europe's preeminent authorities on the classical world. A Culture of Freedom marks the apex of his lifelong research on ancient Greek culture. Beginning with a section on medieval and modern Europe's enormous inheritance of Greek institutions and ideas, the book moves on to chronicle the rise of Greek civilization from the Bronze Age to the Greco-Persian wars. Throughout, the author provides fresh insight into the "Greek miracle," as he illuminates the well-known features of Greek culture--from epic and lyric poetry to warfare, athletics, philosophy, religio