Its been a fast news day!
No sooner had I set the record straight from the article in the Independent on Sunday but the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail come out with equally extreme versions of the Indy's argument!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6259500/Ancient-myths-threatened-by-new-book.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218082/How-Alexander-mummys-boy.html#
My book doesnt "threaten" ancient myths and I am not "shattering" ancient legends - my point is to explore them! From reading these articles you would feel that I was single-handedly bringing down ancient Greece and grinding it into the dust under my heel! Nothing could be further from the truth - by writing about it, I want to build up its reputation and importance, not destroy it!
Thankfully there seem to be some level-headed commentators out there who have added their voices to the on-line articles - with perhaps the best comment being this: "lets reserve judgement on what the book really says till we read the book" I couldn't agree more - read the book and you will see the esteem in which I hold the ancient world!
Hopefully that came across also in my discussion of the book on this morning's radio 4 Today Programme:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mztyd/Today_05_10_2009/
Simon Jenkins, Guardian columnist and I were discussing the arguments in the book - particularly thinking about the relevance the example of 4th century Athens has for the 21st century.
Was very happy to see that people were taking the on-line commentators' advice to read the book: at close of play it had risen to 195th bestselling book on amazon.co.uk!
Lets put the ancient Greeks where they deserve to be: front and centre of our attentions!
Monday, 5 October 2009
Sunday, 4 October 2009
This sunday (4th October) we had a news piece in the Independent on Sunday focusing on the myth-busting aspects of From Democrats to Kings http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/myth-of-ancient-greeces-heroes-blown-away-1797473.html
I was thrilled of course that the book was picked up and that the ancient world made it on to page 15 of the Indy - especially in conference party season! The tenor of the article was myth-busting. The Spartans were accused of being "thugs". My book does not call them such. Following the ancient sources, as well as several other respected scholars, I make the point solely that the Spartans were not very diplomatic in exerting their control of Greece at the beginning of the 4th century BC (100 years or so after the 300 at Thermopylae) and that many other Greek cities resented their un-diplomatic approaches.
The article went on to look at the reputation of Alexander the Great. Here I fear the journalist may have beefed up the text with some hype - while I think there is a case to be made for Alexander having a close relationship with his mother, that doesnt take away from his achievements in his own right. He certainly is not "dismissed" from my narrative as a result - 3-4 chapters are all about the first family of Macedon in my book! Nor were his successes "merely opportunistic exploitation of...his father". Sure again I think the role of Alexander's father, Philip, in making Macedon such a powerful force to be reckoned with has been understated BUT it takes two to tango! Alexander could not have launched such a campaign if Philip had not put the Macedonian house in order and equally Philip's re-organisation of Macedon and conquests of Greece would have gone nowhere after his death if it had not been for the ambition and skill of his son.
Isocrates doesnt "suffer under scrutiny" - in fact he has been suffering from not enough scrutiny in recent years! After all, who amongst the wider general audience (as opposed to academic specialists) has heard of Isocrates - and YET he was an incredibly important figure who wrote about the changing world around him and sums up the change from Democrats to Kings - a very painful transition for a man so in love with his home city Athens!
Last but not least, I would never "kick" Athens - ancient or modern! What I wanted to do was show how it was not direct confrontational war that kills Athenian democracy, its the strains and stresses of a fast changing century that make its system implode and force it, eventually, to accept a dictator. Equally I do think that the golden reputation of Athens as a place of peaceful philosophical dialogue and ever clean togas (or rather chitons) needs to be tarnished with a bit more mud and blood - Athens could be a very unpleasant place to be - just ask the number of politicains executed by the ancient Athenian assembly!
The story of D2K offers an example of a world in fast, brutal change - an example we could do well to think about some more in our own turbulent times!
I was thrilled of course that the book was picked up and that the ancient world made it on to page 15 of the Indy - especially in conference party season! The tenor of the article was myth-busting. The Spartans were accused of being "thugs". My book does not call them such. Following the ancient sources, as well as several other respected scholars, I make the point solely that the Spartans were not very diplomatic in exerting their control of Greece at the beginning of the 4th century BC (100 years or so after the 300 at Thermopylae) and that many other Greek cities resented their un-diplomatic approaches.
The article went on to look at the reputation of Alexander the Great. Here I fear the journalist may have beefed up the text with some hype - while I think there is a case to be made for Alexander having a close relationship with his mother, that doesnt take away from his achievements in his own right. He certainly is not "dismissed" from my narrative as a result - 3-4 chapters are all about the first family of Macedon in my book! Nor were his successes "merely opportunistic exploitation of...his father". Sure again I think the role of Alexander's father, Philip, in making Macedon such a powerful force to be reckoned with has been understated BUT it takes two to tango! Alexander could not have launched such a campaign if Philip had not put the Macedonian house in order and equally Philip's re-organisation of Macedon and conquests of Greece would have gone nowhere after his death if it had not been for the ambition and skill of his son.
Isocrates doesnt "suffer under scrutiny" - in fact he has been suffering from not enough scrutiny in recent years! After all, who amongst the wider general audience (as opposed to academic specialists) has heard of Isocrates - and YET he was an incredibly important figure who wrote about the changing world around him and sums up the change from Democrats to Kings - a very painful transition for a man so in love with his home city Athens!
Last but not least, I would never "kick" Athens - ancient or modern! What I wanted to do was show how it was not direct confrontational war that kills Athenian democracy, its the strains and stresses of a fast changing century that make its system implode and force it, eventually, to accept a dictator. Equally I do think that the golden reputation of Athens as a place of peaceful philosophical dialogue and ever clean togas (or rather chitons) needs to be tarnished with a bit more mud and blood - Athens could be a very unpleasant place to be - just ask the number of politicains executed by the ancient Athenian assembly!
The story of D2K offers an example of a world in fast, brutal change - an example we could do well to think about some more in our own turbulent times!
Saturday, 3 October 2009
D2K is launched! At Daunts books in Holland Park on Thursday 1st, 150 people gathered to witness the official unveiling of From Democrats to Kings.
Daunts is a fantastic bookshop with a wonderful atmosphere - just the right place to celebrate the publication of this new history into one of the most turbulent periods of the ancient world.
There were school students, university students, bankers, lawyers, artists, tv execs and writers standing alongside lecturers, diplomats and speech therapists among a host of others to drink some fine wine, to get hold of their copy and to hear speeches by Simon Flynn, senior editor at Icon and the author.
For me - it was a great pleasure to welcome so many people and to take the opportunity to get across my message of not just how fascinating the ancient world is, but also how important it is for our world and for our future. As we stand in the midst of a series of elections around the world (Irish referendum on Lisbon treaty 2nd October; Greek elections Sunday 4th October; UK next year etc..) which will set the world agenda for the next 5 years at least, I firmly believe that we should take some time to reflect on what this tale of word change 2500 years ago can illuminate about our own situation, choices and outlook today.
The party continued until Daunts forced shut the doors (with happy smiles on their faces due to the number of sales) and the book-carrying revelers spilled out into the wilds of London to continue the celebrations.
Look out for the next book talk by Michael at Heffers, Cambridge on 21st October 6.30pm. Tickets strictly limited and available from Heffers.
See some photos from the launch here! Enjoy!
Monday, 28 September 2009
BBC History Magazine - Greece's golden age
This week my article in BBC History Magazine hits the stands in the run up to the launch of my book From Democrats to Kings.
The article, entitled "Greece's Golden Century" examines why scholars have always been fascinated by the golden 5th century BC - the era of the Parthenon - and in doing so, what they have missed out on. I argue that the 4th century BC, the period from the fall of democratic Athens to the rise and fall of Alexander the Great - the period which I focus on in my book - is a hidden treasure trove which gives us unparalleled insights into the workings and make-up of the ancient Greek world. It is after all, when individuals, cities, countries and worlds are under most pressure that they often reveal their true colours - and the same is true for ancient Greece. It was in the 4th century, battling changing political, military and economic crises, at a time of increased globalisation and social anxiety, when the stakes were at their highest, and democracy was at its most threatened, that the Greeks really thought hard about what they had, what they wanted and how best to go about getting it. The resultant thinking, discoveries, actions and debates show the fascinating complexity and ingenuity of the ancients - and remind us, once again, just how much we owe of our own culture to them.
Check out my podcast for BBC History Magazine - where I talk about issues raised in the article, as well as about studying ancient worlds and about where to go and what to do in Greece, on the BBC History magazine website from 12th October!
http://www.bbchistorymagazine.com/
Enjoy!
Look out for my next blog on the launch event for From Democrats to Kings later this week!
The article, entitled "Greece's Golden Century" examines why scholars have always been fascinated by the golden 5th century BC - the era of the Parthenon - and in doing so, what they have missed out on. I argue that the 4th century BC, the period from the fall of democratic Athens to the rise and fall of Alexander the Great - the period which I focus on in my book - is a hidden treasure trove which gives us unparalleled insights into the workings and make-up of the ancient Greek world. It is after all, when individuals, cities, countries and worlds are under most pressure that they often reveal their true colours - and the same is true for ancient Greece. It was in the 4th century, battling changing political, military and economic crises, at a time of increased globalisation and social anxiety, when the stakes were at their highest, and democracy was at its most threatened, that the Greeks really thought hard about what they had, what they wanted and how best to go about getting it. The resultant thinking, discoveries, actions and debates show the fascinating complexity and ingenuity of the ancients - and remind us, once again, just how much we owe of our own culture to them.
Check out my podcast for BBC History Magazine - where I talk about issues raised in the article, as well as about studying ancient worlds and about where to go and what to do in Greece, on the BBC History magazine website from 12th October!
http://www.bbchistorymagazine.com/
Enjoy!
Look out for my next blog on the launch event for From Democrats to Kings later this week!
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Welcome to From Democrats to Kings
Welcome to the new blog to promote my first book, 'From Democrats to Kings' which will be launched on the 1 October 2009.
Extract: "Everyone has heard about Athenian democracy, the height of liberty in the ancient world. Everyone has heard about Alexander the Great, the most powerful despot to rule the planet. But no book – academic or popular history – has told the story about how the world of Athenian democracy morphed into the world of King Alexander. In less than 100 years, the Greek world was turned on its head and changed completely forever. This book is about that 100 years of world change. It tells the story of how a way of life which the modern western world has held up as its progenitor and ideal so quickly evolved into its antithesis. Democrats to Kings – how and why did it happen and, more importantly, why is it a story that matters for us today?"
Review: Prof. Paul Cartledge, A.G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, University of Cambridge has reviewed the book and had this to say:
“Dr Michael Scott, a research fellow at Cambridge, is making a big splash with his first book – it is on a major historical theme and the storyline is handles with verve and original insights. The treatment is accessible and punchy, and a wide readership cannot fail to be entertained as well as instructed about a world that is both familiar and alien, modern as well as ancient"
Please get in touch and let me know what you think about the book.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Share this
Posts
