Greeks & Barbarians

Thomson, J. A. K. (James Alexander Kerr), 1879-195Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 331K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Greeks & Barbarians by J. A. K. Thomson. Author: Thomson, J. A. K. (James Alexander Kerr), 1879-1959. Language: English. Class: DF: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Greece. Release Date: Oct 22, 2017

Editor's review

J. A. K. Thomson was a British classicist. Written in English, this book discusses how the ancient Greeks defined the boundary between themselves and "barbarians." It is not a chronicle but a cultural history centered on Greek self-identity and the Greek imagination of and attitude toward foreigners, touching on how Greek perceptions of peoples such as the Persians shifted around the time of the Persian Wars. As a free Project Gutenberg eBook, its value lies in presenting a classic question in relatively short compass: how the self-portrait of Greek civilization took shape through contrast with the Other. The book cites classical sources but is addressed to educated general readers, and its prose is not unduly difficult. It suits use as supplementary reading in classics or ancient Western history courses, and readers interested in cultural identity. It is best read alongside selections from Herodotus, Thucydides, and other primary texts so that one can form an independent judgment of the author's arguments. Note that the book was written long ago and some of its views bear the mark of their time.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Undergraduates and enthusiasts studying ancient Greek history or classics
Readers interested in cultural identity and the imagining of the Other
Students who need English supplementary material for chapters on Herodotus
Readers curious about the style of British classical scholarship in the first half of the twentieth century

Not a good fit for

Researchers seeking the latest scholarly surveys and new archaeological evidence
Beginner readers who struggle with English and do not want to consult a dictionary
Military-history enthusiasts expecting a systematic chronology or details of battles

Reading tips

Read the relevant selections on Persia and Greece in Herodotus's Histories first, then the corresponding chapters of this book
Note as you read how the author analyzes the use of the word "barbarian" and trace the thread of his argument
Read in comparison with modern research on Greek identity, bearing in mind the book's historical limitations
After each chapter, summarize the author's claims in your own words, then return to the text to check the evidence

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book about the Greek-Persian Wars?

It is not a straightforward military history. The book focuses on how the Greeks defined the boundary between themselves and "barbarians" and how this idea appears in classical texts. The wars are one backdrop, but the author is more concerned with cultural identity and the Greek imagination of and attitude toward foreigners. It is a discussion in cultural and intellectual history, not a narrative of campaigns.

Can I understand it without a background in classics?

Yes. The book is addressed to educated general readers and its prose is not unduly difficult, but it cites classical sources and Greek terms. It helps to know the basic outline of the Persian Wars and to be ready to look up names and places; if you have no acquaintance at all with ancient Greek history, it is best read alongside an introductory general history.

Are the book's views outdated?

The book was written long ago, and some of its claims bear the mark of classical scholarship of its time; later research has advanced in both materials and methods. But its central question—how Greek identity took shape through contrast with the Other—remains a classic topic of scholarly discussion. It still has value as an introduction and a point of reference, though it should not be taken as the latest word.

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About the author

Thomson, J. A. K. (James Alexander Kerr), 1879-195 Author

J. A. K. Thomson (full name James Alexander Kerr Thomson, 1879–1959) was a British classical scholar. Publicly available information is limited, so the details of his life cannot be described at length. Judging from the one work held in the collection, Greeks & Barbarians, his interests lay in the relationship between ancient Greek civilization and the neighbouring peoples, and in how the Greeks defined the boundary between themselves and the "barbarians" and how that notion was reflected in literature and thought. Written for a general readership, the book is clear in style and balances scholarship with readability, showing the author's familiarity with classical texts and his interest in questions of cultural identity. His writing does not pursue elaborate textual argument but rather traces the development of ideas, making it a useful reference for readers who wish to understand the cultural outlook of ancient Greece.