What the Greeks Did for Us

An enjoyable, accessible exploration of the legacy of ancient Greece today, across our daily lives and all forms of popular cultureOur contemporary world is inescapably Greek. Whether in a word like "pandemic," a Freudian state of mind like the "Oedipus complex," or a replica of the Parthenon in a Chinese theme park, ancient Greek culture shapes the contours of our lives. Ever since the first Roman imitators, we have been continually falling under the Greeks' spell.But how did ancient Greece spread its influence so far and wide? And how has this influence changed us?Tony Spawforth explores our classical heritage, wherever it's to be found. He reveals its legacy in everything from religion to popular culture, and unearths the darker side of Greek influence-from the Nazis' obsession with Spartan "racial purity" to the elitism of classical education. Paying attention to the huge breadth and variety of Hellenic influence, this book paints an essential portrait of the ancient world's living legacy-considering to whom it matters, and why.

Product details

• Authors: Tony Spawforth, Spawforth Tony
• Publisher: Yale University Press Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.09.2024
• EAN: 9780300278699
• ISBN: 978-0-300-27869-9
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 198 mm x 28 mm
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; European History, HISTORY / Europe / General, Ancient Greece, HISTORY / World, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / Ancient / Greece, General & world history, Social and cultural history, Ancient History, General and world history, Ancient history: to c 500 CE