Polis Histories, Collective Memories and the Greek World

Rosalind Thomas author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:23rd Jun '22

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Polis Histories, Collective Memories and the Greek World cover

Re-assesses the phenomenon of Greek 'local history-writing' and its role in creating political and cultural identity in a changing world.

The first comprehensive re-assessment of the phenomenon of Greek 'local history-writing', which emerged as a popular and important form of history in the late classical and early Hellenistic periods. Argues that these works were central to creating political and cultural identity in a changing and expanding Greek world.Greek 'local histories', better called polis and island histories, have usually been seen as the poor relation of mainstream 'great' Greek historiography, and yet they were demonstrably popular and extremely numerous from the late Classical period into the Hellenistic. The extensive fragments and testimonia were collected by Felix Jacoby and have been supplemented since with recent finds and inscriptions. Yet while the Athenian histories have received considerable attention, those of other cities have not: this is the first book to consider the polis and island histories as a whole, and as an important cultural and political phenomenon. It challenges the common label of 'antiquarianism' and argues that their role in helping to create 'imagined communities' must be seen partly as a response to fragile and changing status in a changing and expanding Greek world. Important themes are discussed alongside case studies of particular places (including Samos, Miletus, Erythrai, Megara, Athens).

'… a vital addition to the canon of ancient Greek historical prose and essential reading for all scholars.' J. Tucci, Choice
'An important read for those studying Classical Antiquity, this may also be of interest to those interested in military history, for the insights it gives into how usually suspect works such as local histories can be used with profit.' Albert Nofi, The NYMAS Review

ISBN: 9781316644737

Dimensions: 228mm x 150mm x 27mm

Weight: 720g

502 pages