Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series)

Ancient Greece comes alive in this exploration of the daily lives of ordinary people-men and women, children and the elderly, slaves and foreigners, rich and poor. With new information drawn from the most current research, this volume presents a wealth of information on every aspect of ancient Greek life. Discover why it was more desirable to be a slave than a day laborer. Examine cooking methods and rules of ancient warfare. Uncover Greek mythology. Learn how Greeks foretold the future. Understand what life was like for women, and what prevailing attitudes were toward sexuality, marriage, and divorce. This volume brings ancient Greek life home to readers through a variety of anecdotes and primary source passages from contemporary authors, allowing comparison between the ancient world and modern life. A multitude of resources will engage students and interested readers, including a Making Connections feature which offers interactive and fun ideas for research assignments. The concluding chapter places the ancient world in the present, covering new interpretations like the movie 300 , the founding of modern Greece, and the ways in which classical culture still affects our own. With over 60 illustrations, a timeline of events, a glossary of terms, and an extensive print and nonprint bibliography, this volume offers a unique and descriptive look at one of the most influential eras in human history. Contents 8 Preface to the Second Edition 12 Author’s Note 14 Chronology 16 Introduction 24 1. Historical Outline 30 The Mycenaeans 30 The Dark Age 35 The Greek Renaissance 36 The Rise of the City-State 39 Colonization 40 Archaic Greece 42 Sparta 44 Classical Greece 48 The Age of Perikles 50 The Rise of Macedon 53 The Empire of Alexander the Great 54 The Hellenistic World 56 The Roman Conquest 57 2. Space and Time 60 Landscape and Climate 60 The City of Athens 62 Time and the seasons 70 3. Language, Alphabet, and Literacy 76 The Origins of the Greek Language and Linear B 76 Literacy 81 Papyri 82 Ostraka 83 Libraries 84 4. The People 88 Social Organization 88 Women 93 Men 108 Parents and Children 112 The Elderly 121 The Disabled 125 Slaves 128 Foreigners and Barbarians 135 The Spartan Alternative 141 5. Private Life 150 Housing 150 Household Religion 156 Dress 157 Food and Drink 164 Drinking Parties 169 Education 178 Health and Sickness 182 Sexual Mores 192 Death 197 Afterlife 209 Magic 216 6. The Public Sphere 220 Religion 220 Economy and Trade 239 Law and Order 247 Work 252 Travel and Transportation 256 Warfare 260 7. Pleasure and Leisure 280 Athletics and the Cult of Physical Fitness 281 Festivals 289 Theatrical Performances 293 Music 305 The Visual Arts 307 Mythology 315 8. The Impact of Ancient Greece on Modern Culture 328 The Continuing Classical Tradition 330 The Cradle of Democracy 334 Our So-Called Classical Roots: The Controversy over Black Athena 335 Glossary of Greek Terms 338 A 338 B 339 C 339 D 339 E 339 G 340 H 340 I 341 K 341 M 341 O 341 P 342 S 342 T 343 X 343 For Further Reading 344 Index 358 A 358 B 359 C 359 D 359 E 359 F 360 G 360 H 360 I 360 J 360 K 360 L 360 M 360 N 361 O 361 P 361 R 361 S 361 T 362 U 362 V 362 W 362 Z 362 From the Publisher: Ancient Greece comes alive in this exploration of the daily lives of ordinary people-men and women, children and the elderly, slaves and foreigners, rich and poor. With new information drawn from the most current research, this volume presents a wealth of information on every aspect of ancient Greek life. Discover why it was more desirable to be a slave than a day laborer. Examine cooking methods and rules of ancient warfare. Uncover Greek mythology. Learn how Greeks foretold the future. Understand what life was like for women, and what prevailing attitudes were toward sexuality, marriage, and divorce. This volume brings ancient Greek life home to readers through a variety of anecdotes and primary source passages from contemporary authors, allowing comparison between the ancient world and modern life. A multitude of resources will engage students and interested readers, including a "Making Connections" feature which offers interactive and fun ideas for research assignments. The concluding chapter places the ancient world in the present, covering new interpretations like the movie 300, the founding of modern Greece, and the ways in which classical culture still affects our own. With over 60 illustrations, a timeline of events, a glossary of terms, and an extensive print and nonprint bibliography, this volume offers a unique and descriptive look at one of the most influential eras in human history