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
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Page 263
Several less familiar versions of the theory are to be found in the first book of
Dionysius of Halicarnassus ' Roman Antiquities , which was written expressly to
demonstrate that the founders of Rome were Greek . It has often been pointed out
...
Several less familiar versions of the theory are to be found in the first book of
Dionysius of Halicarnassus ' Roman Antiquities , which was written expressly to
demonstrate that the founders of Rome were Greek . It has often been pointed out
...
Page 264
With the stabilisation of Roman power , the end of the Roman civil wars , and the
establishment of the Principate , accommodation becomes the rule on both sides
. Yet there continued to be great tension and uncertainty in Greek communities .
With the stabilisation of Roman power , the end of the Roman civil wars , and the
establishment of the Principate , accommodation becomes the rule on both sides
. Yet there continued to be great tension and uncertainty in Greek communities .
Page 266
The Romans , he says , did not refuse to give their citizenship to others : ' on the
contrary , you sought its extension as a worthy aim , and you have caused the
word Roman to be the label , not of membership in a city , but of some common ...
The Romans , he says , did not refuse to give their citizenship to others : ' on the
contrary , you sought its extension as a worthy aim , and you have caused the
word Roman to be the label , not of membership in a city , but of some common ...
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Contents
General Introduction | 1 |
3 the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden fig 4 the Museum | 3 |
of Fine Arts Boston fig 5 the Archaeological Institute of | 10 |
Copyright | |
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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 observed opposition oriental origin Paris particular period Persian Persian Wars Phoenician Plato play political possible practice 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