Hellenism and Empire: Language, Classicism, and Power in the Greek World, AD 50-250 - Softcover

Swain, Simon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198152310 ISBN 13: 9780198152316

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1998

Synopsis

Hellenism and Empire explores identity, politics, and culture in the Greek world of the first three centuries AD, the period known as the second sophistic. The sources of this identity were the words and deeds of classical Greece, and the emphasis placed on Greekness and Greek heritage was far greater then than at any other time. Yet this period is often seen as a time of happy consensualism between the Greek and Roman halves of the Roman Empire. The first part of the book shows that Greek identity came before any loyalty to Rome (and was indeed partly a reaction to Rome), while the views of the major authors of the period, which are studied in the second part, confirm and restate the prior claims of Hellenism.

About this title

Review

Swain has plotted a cautious and helpful path through the lexical maze, while never losing sight of the larger view. (Times Literary Supplement)

This volume is a scholarly discussion of the attitudes of Greek intellectuals in the Roman Empire...From this meticulous examination of second sophistic literati Swain draws two broad conclusions that challenge traditional opinion...This book is a must for anyone interested in the evolution of Greek culture and the second sophistic. (Richard M. Berhold, History.)

About the Author

Simon Swain is at All Souls College, Oxford.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198152310
• ISBN 13: 9780198152316
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512