Philip of Macedon by Hammond, Nicholas (1998) Paperback

by N.G.L. Hammond

Philip of Macedon was one of the extraordinary figures of antiquity. Inheriting a kingdom near collapse, he left to his son Alexander the strongest state in Eastern Europe. He developed new military technology and made Macedonia the greatest power in the Western world. He created a united, multiracial kingdom based on liberal principles, and added to it the resources of a Balkan empire. Most important, he inspired the city-states of the Greek peninsula to form a unified community, ensuring peace among its members, the rule of law in internal politics, and collective security in the face of agressors. No statesman in Europe had ever achieved so much.In Philip of Macedon N. G. L. Hammond presents a narrative history of Hellenistic Macedonia from the state's rise out of obscurity under Philip to the accession of Alexander. Focusing on the character and career of Philip, Hammond discusses developments in military technology and strategy, the social composition and geography of northern Greece, and the region's political developments. He also examines the world of the city-states, the nature of their democracies, their propensity for interstate warfare, and their development of capitalism, scientific methods, and philosophical ideas.With close analysis of the literary and material evidence—including interpretations of recent archaeological discoveries—Hammond offers a unique portrait of Philip as a Macedonian. The book also reveals the culture and artistry of the Macedonian people who made Philip's success possible, with illustrations of the frescoes and artifacts found in the Royal Tombs at Vergina in 1977.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Ancient

Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Σταμάτης Καρασαββίδης · Rating 5 out of 5]

I say that for many books and it stands true all times. This is one of the greatest and important books I've ever read about Philipp's era Macedonia and for the culture of Macedonia as a whole. I really can't wait till i read all 12 tomes of his entire history of ancient Macedonia because this book really hyped me up. I specifically loved how Hammond describes many facts from the very beginning of how Macedonia was NOT a Greek kingdom, as Greeks love to claim for themselves.
The only thing i found which wasn't as perfect as the rest of it was the part in the beginning where Hammond relies on the myth of Hercules and the mythical descendance of the Argeiads from Hercules himself as a historical fact. Apart from that, everything is perfect.

After reading this book I can easily say that Philipp II of Macedon is one of the greatest people that have ever existed in the entire history of human kind. Macedonia was really a wonder under him. One of the most progressive and advanced states in the entire world. Philipp should inspire every Macedonia today to unite and liberate our homeland!

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was slow to get started, and somewhat overstuffed with facts at times, but once it did get on the right track it was a superb read. I learned a lot from this book, about Philip, but also about the Greek and Macedonian civilization and the way of life.

[Benj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was NOT the book I wanted to read. When I looked through the options, I was hoping for a modern biography, not a scholarly dissertation. This book wa first published in 1998, so I had high hopes, which were immediately dashed by the first sentence in the preface, which talks about the author lecturing on this subject in 1934!

Hammond constantly refers back to near-contemporary chroniclers, many of whom were Roman, and keeps dropping phrases from their work into his text. The possibility that a reader who is interested in this subject might not be able to read Latin obviously never crossed his mind.

Having said all that, the story is very interesting, and is told reasonably clearly. I didn't know anything about Philip before I read this; now I feel quite well informed.

The physical edition of the book is a total disgrace. It looks almost like a self-published book, with wayward fonts and illegible maps, obviously photocopied. Definitely not worth the purchase price.