Athens After Empire: A History from Alexander the Great to the Emperor Hadrian

by Ian Worthington FSA FRHistS

A major new history of Athens' remarkably long and influential life after the collapse of its empire.

To many the history of post-Classical Athens is one of decline. True, Athens hardly commanded the number of allies it had when hegemon of its fifth-century Delian League or even its fourth-century Naval Confederacy, and its navy was but a shadow of its former self. But Athens recovered from its perilous position in the closing quarter of the fourth century and became once again a player in Greek affairs, even during the Roman occupation. Athenian democracy survived and evolved, even through its dealings with Hellenistic Kings, its military clashes with Macedonia, and its alliance with Rome. Famous Romans, including Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, saw Athens as much more than an isolated center for philosophy. Athens After Empire offers a new narrative history of post-Classical Athens, extending the period down to the aftermath of Hadrian's reign.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Greece, Nonfiction

402 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2020

Reviews

[Ernest Spoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this book is a nice introduction to what I always considered a hole in my readings of ancient Mediterranean history, the Hellenistic Era, from the death of Alexander the Great to the Roman conquest of Greece in the Third and Second Centuries BCE.

I had no idea that Athens remained something of a military power throughout the age of Alexander's Successors. Quite often the city found itself on the losing side, but its citizens were always able to pick themselves up and reinvent their polis. Athens even had the temerity to stand up to the Roman war machine during the First Mithridatic War! Fortunately for Athens, and Professor Worthington, and we readers, Rome never meted out a punishment for its naughtiness like it did to Corinth in 148 BCE. Though Sulla, whom I consider one of the true bastards of Roman history, came close.

Until I read this, even though I knew the emperor Hadrian was a philhellene, I always assumed Athens was something like a sleepy university town with great tourist attractions during the Roman period. Hooboy, was I wrong! Especially under Hadrian the city experienced a renaissance, interestingly enough, in political influence, therefore we can assume artistically and intellectually also. Alas, so much is lost. Thank you, Christians and Muslims.

[Spyros Stavroulakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Έχω 2 ενστάσεις για το εν λόγω βιβλίο, γι' αυτό και χάνει ένα αστεράκι στη βαθμολογία μου. Έχοντας διαβάσει πρόσφατα 2 βιβλία σχετικά με την ελληνιστική εποχή, ευρύτερου γεωγραφικού ενδιαφέροντος όμως, βρίσκω ότι δεν υπάρχει λόγος να υπάρχει συγκεκριμένο πόνημα για την Αθήνα. Νομίζω ότι στο τέλος δεν συγκρατείς τα ονόματα των επιπλέον πρωταγωνιστών και λίγα είναι αυτά που σου μένουν. Δεν έχει τόσο μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον η Αθήνα της εποχής, και δεν καταφέρνει να σε πείσει για κάτι τέτοιο. Η δεύτερη, (προσωπική άποψη ίσως) είναι ότι ένα βιβλίο που απευθύνεται σε ευρύ κι όχι εξειδικευμένο κοινό, δεν είναι ανάγκη να αναλύει τόσο πολύ τους προβληματισμούς σχετικά με ημερομηνιες, διατάγματα κτλ. Κοινώς, η άποψη του συγγραφέα και μονο θα μου αρκούσε. Δεν μπορώ να μην αναγνωρίσω τη μεγάλη έρευνα που έχει κάνει όμως και είναι εμφανές ότι αγαπάει το αντικείμενο του έργου του.

[Panagiotis Gioxas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Άμεσο και κατανοητό για τον μέσο αναγνώστη με πλούσιες πληροφορίες, ειδικά για τη ρωμαϊκή περίοδο των αυτοκρατορικών χρόνων

[Σταματία Τσελίκου · Rating 5 out of 5]

Εξαιρετική μελέτη για μια περίοδο της ιστορίας της Αθήνας σχετικά άγνωστη.

[Paul Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good book in that it covers a neglected period of ancient history; and although it is well researched, I just can't love this book. For my simple mind, I think I need some more flesh on the bones: the odd background anecdote, some pertinent and better quality maps, just a little more peripheral explanations etc.....it's almost as if AI wrote this book (and others by the same author)- just fact after fact....sometimes better context is required.