The Greeks in Asia / John Boardman.

By:

Boardman, John, 1927-

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: London : Thames and Hudson, 2015Description: 240 p. : ill., maps ; 27 cmISBN:

9780500252130
0500252130

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

909.095

Contents:

1. Greece and the east: beginnings -- 2. Greeks and Achaemenid Persia -- 3. Greeks and Alexander 'the Great' -- 4. The new Greek kingdoms in the east -- 5. Greeks and their arts in Central Asia -- 6. Greeks and their arts in India -- 7. Greeks, Romans, Parthians and Sasanians: before Islam -- Epilogue: myth, history and archaeology.

Summary: "This book, by Britain's most distinguished historian of ancient Greek art, recounts the influence of Greek communities and their culture across Central Asia, India and Western China, from the Bronze Age through to the rise of Islam. Boardman examines a wealth of art and artifacts as well as literary sources to reveal the remarkable influence of Greek culture upon peoples - Anatolians, Levantines, Persians, Asiatics, Indians, Chinese - whose settled civilizations were far older, with their own strong traditions in life, government and the arts. The Greeks were not empire builders. They did not seek to conquer or rule. However, they were highly literate and adept at trade; they spread a monetary economy through Eurasia; their religion was easily adapted to that of others; their art developed a form of narrative that was to be dominant for centuries to come; and their poets and philosophers were widely respected outside their homeland. As Boardman notes, 'They are an odd phenomenon in world history. Through their travels they came to leave a very distinctive imprint on the lives and arts of many distant peoples, and over centuries, some to the present day.' This pithy and accessibly written book is the culmination of decades of work on the influence of the Greeks outside their home territory."-- Publisher's description.

Holdings ( 1 )
Title notes ( 3 )

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Book - 7-day loan	CYA Library Main Collection	909.095 BOA (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available		00000009431

Total holds: 0

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

"This book, by Britain's most distinguished historian of ancient Greek art, recounts the influence of Greek communities and their culture across Central Asia, India and Western China, from the Bronze Age through to the rise of Islam. Boardman examines a wealth of art and artifacts as well as literary sources to reveal the remarkable influence of Greek culture upon peoples - Anatolians, Levantines, Persians, Asiatics, Indians, Chinese - whose settled civilizations were far older, with their own strong traditions in life, government and the arts.
The Greeks were not empire builders. They did not seek to conquer or rule. However, they were highly literate and adept at trade; they spread a monetary economy through Eurasia; their religion was easily adapted to that of others; their art developed a form of narrative that was to be dominant for centuries to come; and their poets and philosophers were widely respected outside their homeland. As Boardman notes, 'They are an odd phenomenon in world history. Through their travels they came to leave a very distinctive imprint on the lives and arts of many distant peoples, and over centuries, some to the present day.'
This pithy and accessibly written book is the culmination of decades of work on the influence of the Greeks outside their home territory."-- Publisher's description.