David Stuttard is a British theatre director and classical scholar, primarily authoring historical works on the ancient world. His writing bridges deep knowledge of classical texts with engaging narrative. Stuttard offers a unique perspective on ancient history and culture, bringing past civilizations to life for modern readers. His approach is rooted in meticulous study and a passion for understanding the human experience across ages.
"Fifty years before its golden age, Athens was just another city-state in Sparta's shadow. David Stuttard tells the story of the father and son who lifted Athens. Miltiades defeated the Persians at Marathon; Cimon drove them from Greece, revitalized the war-torn city, and moderated its foreign policy, creating the conditions for Athenian greatness"-- Provided by publisher
The political leaders, writers, artists and philosophers of ancient Greece turned a small group of city states into a pan-Mediterranean civilization, whose legacy can be found everywhere today. But who were these people, what do we know of their lives and how did they interact with one another? In this original new approach to telling the Greek story, David Stuttard weaves together the lives of fifty movers and shakers of the Greek world into a continuous, chronologically organized narrative, from the early tyrant rulers Peisistratus and Polycrates, through the stirrings of democracy under Cleisthenes to the rise of Macedon under Philip II and Alexander the Great and the eventual decline of the Greek world as Rome rose. With 29 illustrations, 25 in colour
The perfect companion to the Roman myths and the landscapes and ideas that shaped them.
Alcibiades was one of the most dazzling figures of Athens' Golden Age. A friend of Socrates, he was spectacularly rich, bewitchingly handsome and charismatic, a skilled general, and a ruthless politician. He was also a serial traitor. David Stuttard tells a spellbinding story of Alcibiades' life and the turbulent world he set out to conquer.
Roman Britain was created not by impersonal historical forces, but by men and women, each driven by ambition, aspiration and passion. This book explores the narrative of Britannia through the lives of its emperors, commanders, governors, officials and rebels. It reminds us of the truly epic nature of the history of Britannia.
The Greek myths have a universal appeal, reaching far beyond the time and physical place in which they were created. In this book, the reader is taken on a tour of 22 destinations in Greece and Turkey, from Mount Olympus to Homer's Hades, recounting the tales from Greek mythology and the history associated with each.
The first book to tell the Greek story through the interconnecting lives of the men and women who shaped its politics and literature, its science and philosophy, its art and sport.
The Parthenon is one of the world's most iconic buildings: today, its silhouette symbolizes Greece. Built on the rocky acropolis of Athens in the aftermath of the devastating invasion of Xerxes, the Parthenon was part temple to Athene, part war memorial, part treasure trove of some of the most outstanding art of its age. Parthenon: Power and Politics on the Acropolis takes the reader through the dramatic story of the conception and creation of the Parthenon, setting it against a turbule nt historical background and rooting the building firmly in the real and mythological landscape of Athens. Written as a pacy, narrative history, the text features a cast of memorable characters, including Themistocles, the general whose decision to eva cuat e Athens led to the Persian sack of the acropolis; Pericl es, visionary statesman and mastermind of the Athens' building project; and Pheidi as, who created the cult statue of Athene, and narrowly escaped impeachment for embezzlement. Beautifully illustrated with evocative site photography, details from the Parthenon sculptures and other related artworks from the superb collection of the British Museum, this book explores the Parthenon as the spiritual heart of a network of commanding buildings, de vised by Pericles and continued by his successors to promote the power of Athens as leader of the Greek world.
On 2 September 31 BC, two superpowers, Egypt and Rome, met head-on for the first and last time in history. The outcome was the Battle of Actium, which would change the course of history and lead directly to the foundation of the Roman Empire. In a compelling new chronicle, brought vividly to life with expressive anecdotes and moving eye-witness accounts, 31 BC explores the chain of events that culminated in the fall of Egypt. A sequel to the popular AD 410: the Year that Shook Rome, 31 BC reveals the tragic romance between Antony and Cleopatra, boldly characterising the central charismatic personalities of the time. Illustrated with evocative locations and iconic objects from the British Museum and elsewhere, 31 BC: Antony, Cleopatra and the Fall of Egypt is a dramatic story of a defining moment in history, retold with excitement and vigour from the Egyptian standpoint.
Power; the power of the gods; the power of Greek cities; the power of the human body: all these were celebrated at the ancient Olympic Games. Ancient Olympia symbolized excellence and supremacy in every sense of the word, not only athletic, but also political. Every four years, this international festival carefully timed to coincide with the August full moon drew the strongest and fastest athletic champions, hoping to win glory for their city-state. With them came the ruling elite, equally intent on displaying their city's power and prestige by excelling at the Games. After the athletic contests, Olympia also served as the ideal forum for political parleys and alliances. This absorbing narrative, told from a spectators viewpoint, revolves around the Games of 416 BC a turning point in Greek politics when a cold war between Athens and other major cities was about to erupt into bloody fighting. The reader vividly experiences what it was like to be there, to witness the rituals, official banquets, bloody contests, victory celebrations and subsequent political parleys.
