The Greeks in Asia /
Boardman, John, 1927-
The Greeks in Asia / John Boardman. - London : Thames and Hudson, 2015 - 240 p. : ill., maps ; 27 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
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.
"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.
9780500252130 0500252130
Civilization, Oriental--Greek influences
Art, Asian--Greek influences--Pictorial works
Greeks--History--Asia
Asia--Civilization--Greek influences
Greece--Civilization--History
909.095
The Greeks in Asia / John Boardman. - London : Thames and Hudson, 2015 - 240 p. : ill., maps ; 27 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
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.
"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.
9780500252130 0500252130
Civilization, Oriental--Greek influences
Art, Asian--Greek influences--Pictorial works
Greeks--History--Asia
Asia--Civilization--Greek influences
Greece--Civilization--History
909.095