John R. Hale Book order

The epic true story of Themistocles and the Battle of Salamis, and a rousing history of the world's first dominant navy and the towering empire it built The Athenian Navy was one of the finest fighting forces in the history of the world. It engineered a civilization, empowered the world's first democracy, and led a band of ordinary citizens on a voyage of discovery that altered the course of history. With Lords of the Sea, renowned archaeologist John R. Hale presents, for the first time, the definitive history of the epic battles, the fearsome ships, and the men-from extraordinary leaders to seductive rogues-that established Athens's supremacy. With a scholar's insight and a storyteller's flair, Hale takes us on an unforgettable voyage with these heroes, their turbulent careers, and far-flung expeditions, bringing back to light a forgotten maritime empire and its majestic legacy.

A portrait of Europe and its civilization at a moment when Europe first became an entity in the minds of its inhabitants. The book does not simply survey high culture, but builds up a picture of the age, enlivened by a multiplicity of themes, people and ideas. It contains descriptions of painting, sculpture, poetry, architecture and music; but Hale is not simply concerned with the arts: he examines the changes during the period in religion, politics, economics and global discoveries.