Roman and Greek History

Essays for Students and Seekers

Why does history fascinate us and why, in particular, does ancient Greek and Roman history seem to have such a powerful hold on our modern psyches? Is it the huge and heroic characters, like Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, who strut across the stage with such ruthless aplomb or is it the fact that nearly all of our laws and institutions are derived from these Greek and Roman civilisations? In my own experience, I find, that the more you delve into the histories of these incredible societies, and individuals, the greater the understanding you have of your own time and governments. Words and institutions, like senates and republics, begin to resonate more deeply and you can see more clearly what it is we have, and we are striving for, in our democratic processes today. History puts us in touch with the never-ending journey toward good governance and progress, a journey that so many groups and nations have embarked upon – not always with great results.

In this collection of essays I hope to share my love of ancient Greek and Roman history. As a student of history I enjoy the essay format as a means of presenting information within a defined structure, answering a question that may shine light upon many more questions yet to be posed or attempted to answer. Beginning here with Alexander the Great, about whom, there are, apparently, more books written than just about anyone else in history. His story is fascinating, born to be king of Macedon after his father Philip, and perhaps inheritor of a Greek destiny to invade Persia and thus go on to conquer the greatest portion of the known world. Alexander was a game changer, in the sense that after him the spread of Hellenism would envelope territories throughout  Asia. Greek influence would spread around the globe and writers ever since have asked whether this was Alexander’s intention at the outset or merely a by-product of his insatiable desire to conquer the universe? Alexander: hero, god, governor-general, homosexual, explorer, Lord of Asia…