The Harvest of Hellenism: A History of the Near East from Alexander the Great to the Triumph of Christianity

by F.E. Peters

Book Overview

This 1996 Barnes & Noble hardback edition is in solid condition. Some of the 800 pages have pencil underling. The hard cover is in very good shape, while the dust cover shows some shelving wear. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760701296
• ISBN13: 9780760701294
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Books
• Length: 800 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Legacy of Alexander The Great's Successors

In the "good old days" before intifadas, etc. one could browse in English-language book shops on Saladin St. in Jerusalem (now called "East Jerusalem; back then it was one city)and come across amazing bargains. This is where I found "The Harvest of Hellenism", and I remember reading the first chapters in a coffee house in the Moslem Quarter of the Old City, drinking Turkish coffee and eating baklawa. Alas, all that is in the past--as is Hellenism. Although, as Peters demonstrates with knowledge and humor, it was not the Greek culture of the Hellenes themselves, but the Hellenistic culture of their descendants, that changed the Middle East forever--and later, the Roman and Byzantine cultures too. Immensely informative, never dull, often written with an eye for the absurd and humorous, the book describes both the history and the cultural phenomena from the death of Alexander the Great to Constantine. Chapters of history alternate with chapters on various philosophies. The rise of Christianity is delineated without bias--which I found very pleasant, as I am not a Christian enthusiast. The various conflicts of the early Christian sects are well-explained, as is the incredibly complicated politics of the entire region, and for the first time, I found Greek philosophical movements like the Epicurians and the Pythagoreans understandable. In the past quarter century, I must have reread the book half a dozen times.

Harvest this book!

This massive history serves as a superb general synopsis of the phenomenon of Hellenization. It is not only extremely interesting but also very readable. It covers all major historical events as well as major schools of thoughts and important personalities. In addition, special attention is given to how Hellenization affected people's everyday life and how the political systems functioned. If you know nothing of Hellinization, this is the place to start.