Voices of Ancient Greece and Rome
Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life
Published on 12. March 2012
Book
Hardback
300 pages
978-0-313-38738-8 (ISBN)
Description
Collecting documents culled from the writings of ancient Greek and Roman authors, this book provides a glimpse of what life was like in ancient times and illustrates the relevance of these long-ago civilizations to modern life.
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.
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.
Reviews / Votes
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 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Illustrations
5 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 286 mm
Width: 221 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
1015 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-313-38738-8 (9780313387388)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2012
1st Edition
Greenwood Press
€100.09
Available for download
Person
David Matz is professor of classical languages at St. Bonaventure University, NY. He has authored six books on Greek and Roman history and culture.
Content
Preface
Chronology
Domestic Life
1. Growing Up in Sparta Was No Picnic
2. A Failure to Launch, in an Athenian Family
3. Even in Ancient Rome, the Dog Was Man's-and Woman's-Best Friend
4. A Prearranged Marriage
5. An Extremely Devoted Wife
Education
6. Plutarch's Prescription for a Child's Education
7. Socrates and Protagoras Discuss Issues in Education
8. Funding for Roman Schools
9. Spare the Rod, and Other Educational Precepts of Quintilian
Employment
10. Pay It Back! Apollodorus and His Day in Court
11. Workers Needed for Building the Parthenon
12. Cicero Advises His Son on a Right and Proper Career
13. The Sky Is No Longer the Limit: Diocletian's Cap on Wages and Prices
Food and Clothing
14. Plutarch and Friends Talk Dirty (Laundry)
15. After a Long Day of Marching or Fighting, What Did the Homeric Heroes Eat?
16. Spinning Thread and Making Clothing
17. Controlling Appetite and Curbing Weight Gain
Health Care
18. Hippocrates and the Ethics of the Medical Profession
19. A Medical Miracle Man Who Declined to Give an Encore Performance
20. How to Obtain Good Health, and Keep It
21. How the Mind Can Heal the Body
Housing
22. Vitruvius's Description of an Elegant Home
23. A Husband and Wife Discuss Their Domicile: A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
24. You Take Your Life in Your Hands if You Live in Rome
25. Ah! At Last I Can Live Like a Human Being!
Intellectual Life
26. An Intellectual on Trial
27. An Intellectual Who Invented Many Ingenious Devices
28. An Intellectual Defends the Study of Literature
29. An Intellectual Pays Tribute to His Uncle's Literary Output
Politics
30. Out with Him! An Athenian Method of Ridding the City of Tiresome Politicians
31. Women in Politics? In Ancient Athens?
32. Homegrown Terrorism?
33. The Women of Rome Refuse to Back Down
Religion
34. Squabbling among the Gods Was a Major Headache for Zeus
35. King Croesus Consults-and Bribes?-the Delphic Oracle
36. Julius Caesar Becomes a God
37. Job Description for a Vestal Virgin
Safety
38. A Case of Assault and Battery
39. Women? Taking Over the Acropolis?
40. A Tribune Speaks, a Riot Ensues
41. Everybody Talks about the Weather, but No One Does Anything about It
Sports and Games
42. The Goddess Was on His Side
43. The (Ancient) World's Greatest Athlete
44. "Put Me In, Coach": A Famous Athletic Trainer
45. The Resume of Ancient Rome's Superstar Charioteer
Biographical Sketches of Important Individuals Mentioned in Text
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Chronology
Domestic Life
1. Growing Up in Sparta Was No Picnic
2. A Failure to Launch, in an Athenian Family
3. Even in Ancient Rome, the Dog Was Man's-and Woman's-Best Friend
4. A Prearranged Marriage
5. An Extremely Devoted Wife
Education
6. Plutarch's Prescription for a Child's Education
7. Socrates and Protagoras Discuss Issues in Education
8. Funding for Roman Schools
9. Spare the Rod, and Other Educational Precepts of Quintilian
Employment
10. Pay It Back! Apollodorus and His Day in Court
11. Workers Needed for Building the Parthenon
12. Cicero Advises His Son on a Right and Proper Career
13. The Sky Is No Longer the Limit: Diocletian's Cap on Wages and Prices
Food and Clothing
14. Plutarch and Friends Talk Dirty (Laundry)
15. After a Long Day of Marching or Fighting, What Did the Homeric Heroes Eat?
16. Spinning Thread and Making Clothing
17. Controlling Appetite and Curbing Weight Gain
Health Care
18. Hippocrates and the Ethics of the Medical Profession
19. A Medical Miracle Man Who Declined to Give an Encore Performance
20. How to Obtain Good Health, and Keep It
21. How the Mind Can Heal the Body
Housing
22. Vitruvius's Description of an Elegant Home
23. A Husband and Wife Discuss Their Domicile: A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
24. You Take Your Life in Your Hands if You Live in Rome
25. Ah! At Last I Can Live Like a Human Being!
Intellectual Life
26. An Intellectual on Trial
27. An Intellectual Who Invented Many Ingenious Devices
28. An Intellectual Defends the Study of Literature
29. An Intellectual Pays Tribute to His Uncle's Literary Output
Politics
30. Out with Him! An Athenian Method of Ridding the City of Tiresome Politicians
31. Women in Politics? In Ancient Athens?
32. Homegrown Terrorism?
33. The Women of Rome Refuse to Back Down
Religion
34. Squabbling among the Gods Was a Major Headache for Zeus
35. King Croesus Consults-and Bribes?-the Delphic Oracle
36. Julius Caesar Becomes a God
37. Job Description for a Vestal Virgin
Safety
38. A Case of Assault and Battery
39. Women? Taking Over the Acropolis?
40. A Tribune Speaks, a Riot Ensues
41. Everybody Talks about the Weather, but No One Does Anything about It
Sports and Games
42. The Goddess Was on His Side
43. The (Ancient) World's Greatest Athlete
44. "Put Me In, Coach": A Famous Athletic Trainer
45. The Resume of Ancient Rome's Superstar Charioteer
Biographical Sketches of Important Individuals Mentioned in Text
Glossary
Bibliography
Index