Thermopylae

November 1, 2006
Thermopylae has long been thought of as a pivotal battle in the development of Western culture. With the threat of Persian despotism hanging over the Greek city-states, a select few Spartans fought with the Greeks at Thermapylae against the might of the empire to the east, helping to inspire the Greeks to a later victory over Xerxes at Marathon. Cartledge (Greek history, Univ. of Cambridge; "The Spartans") delves into a cultural profile of the major players, details how the battle progressed, and examines postbattle analysis, both ancient and modern. Those looking for a closer examination of the military aspects of the battle should read Ernle Bradford's classic "Thermopylae: The Battle for the West". This engaging and extensively researched text is eminently accessible to lay readers. Recommended for all libraries.Sean Fleming, Lebanon P.L., NH

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2006
The stand by 300 Spartans at the pass of Thermopylae in northern Greece is one of the most revered foundation stories of Western civilization. In 480 BCE, the Spartans heroically delayed the advance of a massive Persian invading force. Thus, so the story goes, the blossoming culture of a "free" Greece was rescued from the domination of oriental despotism and "barbarism." Cartledge, a Cambridge professor of Greek history, reveals a far more complex story. Much of mainland Greece refused to embrace the emerging free and democratic culture associated with Athens. Persians were hardly barbaric, and their imperial control generally left subject peoples, including the Ionian Greeks, considerable latitude. Still, as this beautifully written and stirring saga asserts, the history of Western civilization would almost certainly have been fundamentally different had the Persians prevailed. When describing the actual military conflict, Cartledge's account has a special urgency and poignancy. An outstanding retelling of one of the seminal events in world history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)