Greeks And BarbariansHow did the Greeks view foreign peoples? This book considers what the Greeks thought of foreigners and their religions, cultures and politics, and what these beliefs and opinions reveal about the Greeks. The Greeks were occasionally intrigued by the customs and religions of the many different peoples with whom they came into contact; more often they were disdainful or dismissive, tending to regard non-Greeks as at best inferior, and at worst as candidates for conquest and enslavement. Facing up to this less attractive aspect of the classical tradition is vital, Thomas Harrison argues, to seeing both what the ancient world was really like and the full nature of its legacy in the modern. In this book he brings together outstanding European and American scholarship to show the difference and complexity of Greek representations of foreign peoples - or barbarians, as the Greeks called them - and how these representations changed over time.The book looks first at the main sources: the Histories of Herodotus, Greek tragedy, and Athenian art. Part II examines how the Greeks distinguished themselves from barbarians through myth, language and religion. Part III considers Greek representations of two different barbarian peoples - the allegedly decadent and effeminate Persians, and the Egyptians, proverbial for their religious wisdom. In part IV three chapters trace the development of the Greek-barbarian antithesis in later history: in nineteenth-century scholarship, in Byzantine and modern Greece, and in western intellectual history.Of the twelve chapters six are published in English for the first time. The editor has provided an extensive general introduction, as well as introductions to the parts. The book contains two maps, a guide to further reading and an intellectual chronology. All passages of ancient languages are translated, and difficult terms are explained. |
From inside the book
Page xv
... Bisitun Sidon R Tigris Ecbatana Cyprus Babylon Tyre PHOENICIA Susa D 이 Alexandria PERSIA Persepolis Cyrene Siwa Ascalon Naucratis Memphis P Euphrates LIBYA ARABIA EGYPT R Nile RED SEA ETHIOPIA a 0 500 1000 1500 2000 Kilometres.
... Bisitun Sidon R Tigris Ecbatana Cyprus Babylon Tyre PHOENICIA Susa D 이 Alexandria PERSIA Persepolis Cyrene Siwa Ascalon Naucratis Memphis P Euphrates LIBYA ARABIA EGYPT R Nile RED SEA ETHIOPIA a 0 500 1000 1500 2000 Kilometres.
Page 2
... conquests of Egypt and the Near East) was the relationship of Greeks and native peoples unequivocally that of ruler and ruled. ... Greeks served in Egypt or the kingdoms of the Near East as craftsmen, administrators and mercenaries.
... conquests of Egypt and the Near East) was the relationship of Greeks and native peoples unequivocally that of ruler and ruled. ... Greeks served in Egypt or the kingdoms of the Near East as craftsmen, administrators and mercenaries.
Page 5
... mocking the Greeks, for example, as children in their knowledge of the gods by comparison with the Egyptians;27 his account of the Persian Wars envisages Greek victory as in large part the result of consistent Persian mistakes.
... mocking the Greeks, for example, as children in their knowledge of the gods by comparison with the Egyptians;27 his account of the Persian Wars envisages Greek victory as in large part the result of consistent Persian mistakes.
Page 7
Egyptian customs often present a mirror image of those of the Greeks: Egyptian women, for instance, urinate standing, ... how knowledge of the gods came from Egypt to Greece (e.g. 2.49–50) or homosexuality from Greece to Persia (1.135).
Egyptian customs often present a mirror image of those of the Greeks: Egyptian women, for instance, urinate standing, ... how knowledge of the gods came from Egypt to Greece (e.g. 2.49–50) or homosexuality from Greece to Persia (1.135).
Page 8
He also ascribes a Greek-style ethnocentrism to both Persians and Egyptians: the Egyptians, he claims, call all those who do not speak their language 'barbarians' (2.158; cf. 1.134).46 Other authors similarly confound any simple ...
He also ascribes a Greek-style ethnocentrism to both Persians and Egyptians: the Egyptians, he claims, call all those who do not speak their language 'barbarians' (2.158; cf. 1.134).46 Other authors similarly confound any simple ...
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Contents
1 | |
15 | |
PART II THEMES | 125 |
PART III PEOPLES | 187 |
PART IV OVERVIEWS | 229 |
Intellectual Chronology | 311 |
Guide to Further Reading | 313 |
Bibliography | 314 |
Index | 328 |
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Common terms and phrases
according Aeschylus ancient appears argument Asia Athenian Athens authors Barbarian become Cadmus called century classical common concept context contrast course culture customs dialect discussion divine early Egypt Egyptian empire especially ethnic Euripides evidence example existence fact fifth foreign further give gods Greece Greek Hall hand Hellenic Herodotus human idea identity important instance interest interpretation Isocrates Italy king land language later less linguistic matriarchy means mentioned myth nature never nomoi opposition oriental origin Paris particular period Persian Persian Wars Phoenician Plato play political possible present problem question reason refer regard relations religion Roman rule Scythians seems seen shows society sources speak speech story theory thought tradition tragedy turn University various whole women writing