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Gazius
06-11-2008, 10:31
I'm looking for a good overview from Alexanders Father down to the end of the Diadochi, but looking at the biography, I don't see anything immediately that leaps out at me. Was thinking about getting a used copy of A History of the Greek World 323-146 BC M. Cary, since the "later chapters on economics" strikes me as very relevant to my interests. I'm really interested in, besides just the military history, the economies of the old world. Is this one in particular good, or could anyone else recommend me one to find? Obviously something like a cambridge volume 7, etc. would be nice, but my chance at finding that is pretty slim for a price I'd be willing to pay.

Timoleon
06-11-2008, 11:50
Consider "The Hellenistic Age: A Short History" by great scholar, Peter Green. It is something like a short (and inexpencive) version of his own near-1000-page-masterpiece "Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age".

Gazius
06-11-2008, 14:10
The latter, used, is well within my range. I'm thinking of a max of around $50. I'd prefer as much detail as I can get, time for summer reading since I'll be doing my damn'est to avoid any sort of work over my summer break from college.

Actually, looking at a review on amazon, I notice "Almost half of the chapters are devoted to philosophy, literature, art. And this is would be too much for me already. Yet, every poet or philosopher is scientifically demolished (this is the only scientific thing in this book), ofter with very personal and badly argued opinions and views." I'm looking primarily for the practical aspects of society, inventions, tactics, battles, their military history, and the economics of the time if possible. Not really interested in the artistic productions. Maybe a few lines on how the philosophy influenced thinking, but that's about it for me.

Timoleon
06-12-2008, 08:16
In that case, you may find interesting "The Greek World After Alexander: 323-30 BC", by Graham Shipley. I haven't read it, but by its description I found in Amazon.com, it seems sort of "society-oriented". I guess you won't find many details about battles, tactics and armament, but anyway, you need a more specialised book about these stuff, such as "Greece and Rome at War", by P.Connolly.

Gazius
06-14-2008, 08:32
Anyone else have any suggestions?

Jolt
06-14-2008, 22:08
I'm looking for a good overview from Alexanders Father down to the end of the Diadochi, but looking at the biography, I don't see anything immediately that leaps out at me. Was thinking about getting a used copy of A History of the Greek World 323-146 BC M. Cary, since the "later chapters on economics" strikes me as very relevant to my interests. I'm really interested in, besides just the military history, the economies of the old world. Is this one in particular good, or could anyone else recommend me one to find? Obviously something like a cambridge volume 7, etc. would be nice, but my chance at finding that is pretty slim for a price I'd be willing to pay.

N.G.L Hammond's books: Phillip of Macedon, The Genius of Alexander, The Macedonian State: Origins, Institutions, and History, Alexander the Great: King, Commander, and Statesman