Athens, Thrace, and the Shaping of Athenian Leadership. Matthew A. Sears

From the mid-sixth to the mid-fourth century BCE a nexus of connections to Thrace defined the careers of several of Athens' most prominent figures, including Pisistratus, Miltiades, Alcibiades, and Iphicrates. This book explores the importance of Thrace to these individuals and its resulting significance in the political, cultural, and social history of Athens. Thrace was vitally important for Athens thanks to its natural resources and access to strategic waterways, which were essential to a maritime empire, and connections to the area conferred wealth and military influence on certain Athenians and offered them a refuge if they faced political persecution at home. However, Thrace's importance to prominent individuals transcended politics: its culture was also an important draw. Thrace was a world free of Athenian political, social, and cultural constraints - one that bore a striking resemblance to the world of Homeric epic.

Author: Matthew A. Sears
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 03/25/2013
Pages: 341
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.50lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.20w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781107030534

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2013

About the Author
Sears, Matthew A.: - Matthew A. Sears is Theodore Bedrick Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. His articles have appeared in Classical World, Hesperia and Mouseion.