Reviews (21)

Good Biography
I enjoyed reading "Alexander the Great" by Paul Cartledge, Greek History Professor at Cambridge University. Alexander the Great is among (if not) the greatest soldier in recorded history He achieved stunning military and political success in his short life. The book is structured thematically, which I found interesting and has good illustrations of battle lines, maps, glossary, bibliography, among other things.
What the movie doesn't tell you...
An overview of the military conquests of Alexander the Great whose campaigns spread the influence of Greek culture into modern civilization. This is more of the story that wasn't shown in the 2004 movie. Once you learn more of the real Alexander you will truly wonder why Colin Farrell was cast as him.

Would You Serve in the Phalanx for Alexander?
I read this book just before seeing Oliver Stone's film Alexander. This is a highly readable book, as are all of Paul Cartlegde's works. Most of the criticism I've seen of this book is off the mark, I think. What is most valuable about this biography is that the professor is extremely rigorous in sifting the historical record, which is mainly secondary, and the archaeological record in searching for the great Macedonian king. This is neither a hatchet job nor a paean to Alexander's virtues--Cartledge offers a balanced analysis of the source material and an examination of the authors from which they sprang.That is why he does not take a chronological path in this excavation of the historical record; his project is not to tell a story but to examine the record and hypothesize a psychological profile of the conqueror.For rigor alone this book gets five stars.
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Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. Alexander,    3. Ancient - Greece    4. Ancient World History    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Generals    10. Greece    11. Historical - General    12. History    13. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    14. the Great,    15. History / Ancient / Greece   

Reviews (14)

Seminal Work on Alexander the Great Military Logistics
This is a very illuminating book on the supply and logistical challenges that Alexander the Great had to overcome in his numerous brilliant and successful campaigns. Donald Engels's book is unique in that it focuses on an area that many authors either takes for granted or pay scant attention to, yet it is an integral and critical part of any successful military campaign.
The Definitive Book On The Logistics Of Alexander The Great
Donald W. Engels book is chock full of logistical details that any serious student of Alexander The Great would need, to undertake an in-depth study of the logistical needs of this great general.Personally, I believe Alexander The Great was the greatest commander on the battlefield and his success is due in no small part to his exceptional understanding of the logistics necessary for his army to conquer the ancient world.He learned his craft under the able tutelage of his father, Philip of Macedon.Philip saw in his son the genius he had for organization and entrusted his logistical planning to his son while he was in his late teens.I guess a classical education provided by Aristotle didn't hurt him!
Unique study in the logistics of Alexander's campaigns
This is an excellent, indeed unique, book on the logistical (and inter-related geographical and climatological issues) faced by Alexander in procuring and distributing the massive amounts of food, water and animal fodder needed to maintain the tens of thousands of combatants, support staff, camp followers and animals of the Macedonian army 'on any given day' --- armies (men and animals) quickly deteriorate and die without adequate food, water and fodder.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. History - General History    3. Military - Strategy    4. Ancient Greece    5. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    6. History / Ancient / General    7. Land forces & warfare   

Reviews (5)

Ruler by 20 ...Conqueror by 26 ...Alexander the Great
Pupil of Aristotle, ruler at 20, commander of armies when modern men are only just legally eligible to drink in America, and conqueror of half of the entire known world by age 26 .... the historical accounts of Alexander the Great's imperial military campaigns ... and its enduring legacy centuries later. A man who truly belongs to history.

Alexander the Great
As with all history, one never knows all, one can only assume, because, one was never there, or so we think.

The "GREATEST" OF THE "GREAT"
Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history.To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher.The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him.Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33.Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord.Some other called him civilizer and even God!All of them yet, called him "The Great".He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"!Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.
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Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. Alexander,    3. Ancient - Greece    4. Ancient - Rome    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Early works to 1800    8. Generals    9. Greece    10. Historical - General    11. History    12. History: World    13. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    14. the Great,    15. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (2)

Excellent - if you can handle Heckel's academic approach
Due to the high price of this work, I had been hesitant to buy it. But it is worth every dollar. Heckel is accurate, academic, informative. His stories about the lives of Krateros, Perdikkas, Ptolemy etc. continue from the point where most Alexander biographies have stopped. Don't expect something that is easy to digest: a normal page in Heckel is half narrative, half annotations. Must have for serious Alexander historians
Whether you're a professional or an amateur, if you pursue Alexander history, this book is a must-have (despite it's forbidding cost).It's the first recent prosopographical study of Alexander's court, and the only onein English.Heckel uses both textual and epigraphic evidence to presentthorough studies of key figures in Alexander's administration: Parmention,Krateros, Hephaistion, Leonnatos, Ptolemy, Antipatros . . . just to name afew. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. 356-323 B.C.    3. Alexander,    4. Ancient - General    5. Ancient World History    6. Biography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Friends and associates    9. General    10. Generals    11. History: World    12. Macedonia    13. the Great,    14. Alexander    15. Ancient Greece    16. Biography: historical    17. History / Ancient / General    18. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C.    2. Alexander,    3. Ancient - Rome    4. Biography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Dictionaries    7. Friends and associates    8. Greece    9. History    10. History: World    11. Iran    12. Macedonian Conquest, 334-325 B.C.    13. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323    14. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C.    15. Reference    16. the Great,    17. ALEXANDER, THE GREAT, 356-323 B.C.    18. Ancient Greece    19. Biography: historical    20. Dictionaries of biography (Who's Who)    21. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    22. History / Ancient / General    23. IRAN_HISTORY_TO 640    24. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    25. MACEDONIA_HISTORY   

Reviews (5)

Greek or Macedonian?..................
"It is a lovely thing to live with courage,and die leaving an everlasting fame". These are Alexander's words. Whether he was Greek or Macedonian, it does make a difference of course, but it does not change who the man was.The pictures, in this book are gorgeous.Having read so much and still reading about Alexander'slife, I strongly feel that Greece and Macedonia were entertwined together,and it shall be so regardless of what we human say about old Macedonia and Greece.After all we are all God's creatures.
PROPAGANDA!!!
Another pseudo history book claiming Alexander was not Greek..
ignore it!
facts:
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Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. Alexander,    3. Ancient - Greece    4. Ancient - Rome    5. Ancient Greece - History    6. Biography    7. Generals    8. Greece    9. Historical - General    10. History    11. History - General History    12. History: World    13. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    14. the Great,    15. Ancient Greece    16. Biography: historical    17. European history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Reviews (5)

The History of Alexander
Another book written on Alexander the Great,but different from the others. So many have written books about Alexander and yet in this book so many things I read for the first time.The book is very easy to read, ofcourse it is about the wars,conquers,of Alexander.The details that are not written in Arrian for example and Plutarch are several.I will give a few examples.
The "GREATEST" OF THE "GREAT"
Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history.To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher.The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him.Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33.Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord.Some other called him civilizer and even God!All of them yet, called him "The Great".He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"!Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.
Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy is much better
I recently read a slew of books about Alexander the Great in anticipation of the movie. I have to admit that hile this academic text might be required reading of many college and high school history classes, I found Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy much more engaging, insightful, and fun to read. The battle descriptions in the this book are phenomenal. One feels like one is right in the middle of a battle. Rufus doesn't do such a great job. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. 356-323 B.C.    3. Alexander,    4. Biography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Early works to 1800    7. General    8. Generals    9. Greece    10. History    11. History - General History    12. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    13. the Great,    14. Alexander    15. Ancient Greece    16. Biography: historical    17. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    18. History / Military / General   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. Europe - Greece    3. Greece    4. Hellenism    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Macedonian Hegemony, 323-281 B.C    9. Mediterranean Region    10. To 476    11. History / General   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. History - General History    3. Ancient Greece    4. History   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Ancient - Greece    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Greece--History--Macedonian Hegemony, 323-281 B.C.--Sources    7. History / Ancient / General    8. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (1)

Not what I expected
I was very much looking forward to this Heckel/Yardley effort, but the actual book turned out to be something other than I was expecting. Unfortunately, although I suspect it will be extremely popular with undergraduates eager to find a source of citations for their term papers (and too lazy to do their own research), I'd have to say that it fell considerably short of my expectations.
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Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. Alexander,    3. Ancient - Greece    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Generals    9. Greece    10. Historical - General    11. History    12. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C.    13. Military    14. Sources    15. the Great,    16. ALEXANDER, THE GREAT, 356-323 B.C.    17. Ancient Greece    18. Ancient World    19. BCE to c 500 CE    20. Biography & Autobiography / Military    21. Biography: historical    22. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    23. GENERALS_BIOGRAPHY    24. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Reviews (12)

Where are my human rights?
Where are our human rights as Hellenic makedonians who lived in the region before the 6th and 8th century?
Exelent Book!!
I was amaized to find(and read) book like MS Karakasidou's.It is not so offten that book is writen without prejudice and with bearing the facts of the existence of the Macedonian minority in Republic of Greece. Not Slavophonic Greeks, but Slavic Macedonians, natives to the Northen Greece, the teritory of Makedonia. WELL researched an UNBIASED
It is interesting to see what other write for reviews based solely on their OWN BIAS and a even mentioned that the author is of Turkish origin . . .NEWS FLASH the war has been over YEARS ago! This book is very much the truth. It is hard understand the views of those who are RACIST, BIASED, and want to have us take their opinion when their do not look from the outside. I have reseached this FOR YEARS, from INSIDE and OUT and I will have to agree with this book, though some parts I do not, very few. SO if your looking to learn more about this "territory" read this and more. And yes I AM Greek! Proud of it everyday as I walk the streets of Athens. But "Pride" here goes TOO far whith more of a definition of BIAS, RACISM . . . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Ancient - Greece    4. Assiros Region    5. Assiros Region (Greece)    6. Ethnic Issues    7. Ethnic Studies - General    8. Ethnohistory    9. Europe - Greece    10. Greece    11. History    12. Macedonia    13. Nationalism    14. Social Science    15. Sociology    16. Ethnic studies    17. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    18. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    19. Social Science / Ethnic Studies    20. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 1878-1912    2. Anthropology - General    3. Eastern Europe - Balkan Republics    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Krusevo (Krusevo, Macedonia)    7. Kruésevo (Kruésevo, Macedonia)    8. Macedonia    9. Nationalism    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Uprising of 1903    13. 20th century    14. Anthropology    15. European History    16. European history: from c 1900 -    17. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (2)

In-depth on Hellenistic history, not a good intro, however
I got this book from the remainders section at my local bookstore. It illuminates a neglected period of ancient history, that is often seen as a period of decline, even though it produced some of the pinnacles of Greek thought like Euclid. An Excellent Introduction to the Hellenistic World
Graham Shipley has written an excellent book for students and others encountering the Hellenistic age (the three tumultous centures between Alexander's death and Octavian's victory at Actium) for the first time.Broadly there are two ways of looking at the history of Eastern mediterranean in this period.One is the `degeneration' framework which sees this period in general terms as a sad falling-off from the classical apogee of Greek achievement.The other is that which sees this as a period of rapid change when the civilization of near east and western mediterranean were drawn together through the rubric provided by the Hellenistic culture.This book falls firmlyin the second group.An important aspect is that this book eschews the functionalist approach.Indeed the author warns through out against anachronisms and retrojecting analysis derived from the experience ofmodern capitalism,Imperialisam or christian descourse to understand the period. The book opens with a chapter revewing the approaches and sources and next traces Alexander and his successors to 276 BCE.The next chapter is a important one on kings and cities and examines the consequeness of the political changes of the period 338 - 276 for the old city states and details the ways which Citiesand Kingsfound of co existing.It questions the received wisdom that the polis met its end at Chaironeia in 338 and shows how the Ptolemaic and Antigouid power relied on keeping cities contented. There are chapters on Macedonia and Greece, the Seleukid Kindom and Pergamon and Ptolemaic Egypt.These are comprehensive and the chapter on Ptolemaic Egypt draws a lot on papyrological evidence and re examines the conclusions reached by conventional wisdom on Ptolemaic Egypt viz that it had a highly interventionist administration or had a very bereaucratic and rational stateeconomy .It also guards against temptations to interpret difficulties in late Ptolemaic Egypt in context of reinterpretation of 20th Century empire by Said and others as a result of `native resistance'. Other chapters are on religion and philosophy, literature and social identity and on Greek'Science' after Aristotle.The book concludes with the coming of the colossus of north - Rome. The book has large number of maps and line diagrams and the text is supported by copious amount of notes and bibliography (150 pages to 400 of text) Overall the approach is refreshingly non-judgemental and allows the diversity of cultures, social forms, and landscapes to emerge.The important topic of Religion and Philosophy though is very summarily treated but that is a minor quibble.It's other competitiors in this fieldviz Peter Greens `Alexander to Actium - The historical evolution of theHellenustic Age' falls firmly in the `degenerate' camp and doesn't take into account the recent scholarship.The `Hellenstic World' by F.W. Walbank is dated. All in all this book will be a standard introduction to the Hellenistic Age for quite some time to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. Greece    3. Hellenism    4. Historiography    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Macedonian Hegemony, 323-281 B.C.    9. To 146 B.C    10. To 146 B.C.    11. Ancient Greece    12. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    13. History / General    14. Social history   

Features

• Bargain Price

Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. Alexander,    3. Ancient - Greece    4. Ancient - Rome    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Early works to 1800    8. Generals    9. Greece    10. Historical - General    11. History    12. History: World    13. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    14. the Great,    15. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    16. Bargain   

Reviews (2)

The "GREATEST" OF THE "GREAT"
Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history. To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher. The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him. Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33. Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord. Some other called him civilizer and even God! All of them yet, called him "The Great". He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"! Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.
Abbreviated Journey w/ the Ancient Chroniclers
In what can only be described as historic irony, the short and tumultuous career of Alexander I of Macedonia marked the start of the slow decline of direct Greek participation within the scope of ancient-world politics; but it also ushered in the period of that civilization's most profound cultural influence. In just a dozen years, the Mediterranean world had changed forever, the political landscape reshuffled and its known boundaries expanded. But just as pioneers in any field are beholden to those who came before, the world's first great conqueror displayed many values of the ancient society from which he sprang and paid homage to several ideals that pervaded the culture of ancient Greece from its prehistory to his own time. This work is an annotated journey through Alexander's life as recounted by the ancient chroniclers Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quitus Curtius. It is not modernized, or summarized. It is a true historian's read, not a popular manifestation of Alexander's story. Like reading Herodotus or Thucydides, it is history written by historians who are, themselves, a part of history. That being said, everything we know (or think we know) about Alexander was recorded by these chroniclers. This is the historical basis of the popular image of Alexander.
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Subjects:  1. 356-323 B.C    2. Alexander,    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Europe - Greece    6. General    7. Generals    8. Greece    9. History    10. History: World    11. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    12. the Great,    13. Humanities   

Reviews (3)

Mighty Fine By Me.
After reading an initial review of this book on this site I was a bit hesitant to waste my $15 but I went for it anyway. I am sure glad that I took a chance.The book is excellent.Very little has been written about Alexander's foot soldiers (cavalry was his specialty) and what exists from 2000+ years ago is plagued with contradictions and inaccuracies. It is nice to see a modern text try to explain/sort out some of the confusion.I wish the book would have been longer- maybe a future project for the author?
oppossing opinions
For many of us who are fans of the Osprey series books, Angus Mcbride's uninspired illustrations in the previous Macedonian books are thankfully updated in this volume on the subject. Contray to earlier criticisms, Christa Hook's illustrations give a realistic feel to the images drawn. They are very life like, and are exactly what I was hoping for in the illustrations on the Macedonian imfantry.
Osprey standards are truly slipping
I've just received this book today, and while not having the chance to read it yet, have to comment upon the abominable illustrations contained inside. First, I'm a professional illustrator and also a collector of Osprey books since the 1970s. The prime reason why I've always delighted in adding new volumes to my collection has been the wide range of accomplished illustrators for the series. The fine paintings enhanced the text and photos, transporting you back in time to the era chosen in the volume.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - General    6. Ancient Greece    7. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    8. History / Military / General    9. Special & elite forces   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. Greece    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Interior Design - General    7. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323    8. Macedonian Expansion, 359-323 B.C    9. Spartan and Theban Supremacies    10. Spartan and Theban Supremacies, 404-362 B.C    11. Ancient Greece    12. BCE to c 500 CE    13. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    14. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    15. Warfare & Defence   

Subjects:  1. History / Ancient / General    2. Rome,Greece,Sparta,Troy,Solon,Pericles,Mycenae,Macedonia,Ancient History,Peloponnesiaca,Morea   

Reviews (18)

A mess and a lack of research
Who are the Macedonians?
I will tell you
Firstly, I would like to tell you all that I am an 87 year-old man, now living in Australia and my young great-grandson is writing whatI say.