Easy reading, lacks depth. ( )

"The Ancient Greeks" is a brief overview of the history of Greece from the year 1600 BC to 30 BC- ending shortly before the birth of Christ. The book covers a variety of topics: geography, government and politics, economics, religion, the arts, and philosophy.

Following the timeline from Mycenaean control through the Dark Ages, the Age of Expansion, the Classical and Hellenistic Periods, Chester Starr describes the social and cultural climate of the Greeks, their education system, the advances in medical technology and science, and their focus on physical prowess with the beginning of Olympic competition.

"The Ancient Greeks" includes details about geography and the changing boundaries of Athens, Sparta, and Thebes over the course of 1000 years, touching on Greece’s relationship with surrounding powers: the Persians, Macedonia, Egypt, and India. Stories of the power struggles- Greece’s heros and enemies: the Persian War, the Peloponnesian War, and the War against King Philip and his son Alexander The Great.

And of course, it would not be complete without mention of the lives and philosophical thoughts of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and an introduction to Homer’s "Iliad" and "The Odyssey".

For a stimulating reading experience, Starr includes maps and photos of historical sights, and artwork including mosaics, statues, pottery, and paintings, pictures of old coins and portions of written essays by Thucydides and Plato.

It’s an excellent reference book for someone unfamiliar with Greece and merely looking for a general outline of history, or anyone looking to refresh their memory about the sequence of events and profound impact Greece had on western civilization. But trying to fit over 1000 years of history into a 200 page book is no easy task. For a more complete, detailed, comprehensive book, I suggest Will Durant’s "The Life of Greece". In praise of Durant, he can take any era of history in any country and turn dry mundane facts into an interesting, enthralling story. His book "The Life of Greece" is rich in content, and easy reading. A review on "The Life of Greece" is forthcoming. However, if you prefer not to get mired down in nearly 700 pages of historical data, Chester Star’s "The Ancient Greeks" may be the ideal selection. ( )