This book collects documents culled from the writings of ancient Greek and Roman authors to provide a glimpse of what life was like in ancient times, and to illustrate the relevance of these long-ago civilizations to modern life.
Did the ancient Greeks actually run competitive footraces naked? Did ancient Romans really wear white togas? How did people live, what did they do for work, and what did they eat and drink? Through the limited documents available from over two millennia earlier, we can piece together an image of daily life during one of the earliest periods in western civilization.
Voices of Ancient Greece and Rome: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life sheds light on various aspects of Greek and Roman daily life by examining excerpts from the works of ancient authors who wrote about these topics. Written to help readers truly understand what life within an ancient civilization was like, each entry is preceded by background information and followed by thought-provoking questions.
This book covers fascinating topics such as domestic life, employment, housing, food and clothing, sports and games, public safety, education, health care, politics, and religion. Each chapter contains several relevant documents excerpted from the writings of ancient authors accompanied by background information, reading and thought questions, bibliographical data, and suggestions for further reading. An introductory essay to the volume, a guide for evaluating original sources, and bio-notes on the ancient authors are also included.
As with other volumes in the Greenwood Voices of an Era series, this book contains much more than just a series of documents: it provides the information and tools that will promote critical thinking and support the research process.
Features
• Over 40 documents, excerpted from the writings of ancient Greek and Roman authors, such as Plutarch's description of the banishment from Athens of a just man
• A timeline of the ancient Greco-Roman world provides a chronology of important events
• A glossary containing descriptions/definitions of many Greek and Roman words and terms, such as "strategos"
Highlights
• Supplies an approachable, readable reference for student use, especially in the preparation of term papers
• Presents original documents drawn from a wide variety of literary genres: biographies, histories, poems, plays, satires, philosophical essays, and scientific and medical treatises
• Supports the current movement toward document-based teaching of history
• Offers a myriad of additional sources of information, including non-print and electronic sources
David Matz is professor of classical languages at St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY. His published works include Greenwood's Daily Life of the Ancient Romans and Daily Life through World History in Primary Documents, as well as other books on Greek and Roman history and culture.
Reviews
"This volume, using excerpts from ancient primary documents, brings the people of ancient Greece and Rome to life."—Library Media Connection
"This volume will well serve students taking introductory classics courses. It will be a fun addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in Greek and Roman history."—Library Journal
