Corinthian War

[PraetorMaximus]

Hello all,

I wonder if anyone knows of any good literature about the period from the end of The Peloponnesian War till the Rise of Macedon. I have looked but there seems to be very little information about this period. I have read Xenophon and Plutarchus and they provide some information but it's not a lot. Also Diodorus has a bit but overall the material is very scarce. Does anyone know about a good book or some good books that have been written about this period? Preferably a book by a modern author although anything will do at this point. I would like to learn more about this period, but maybe this is just all there is. I hope not though :lol:

Greetings,

Eddi van Steijn
Dutch History Student

[Jona Lendering]

Have you read the chapters in Simon Hornblower's Greek World?

[PraetorMaximus]

Not yet. Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.

[Jona Lendering]

It is a really, really good book, which also uses those Athenian orators, inscriptions, et cetera, which help to give "flesh" to the "bones" of Xenophon's Hellenica, Plutarch's Agesilaus, and Diodorus.

[Marcvs75]

i'm also interested in the period after the Pelop. war. I read Hellenica, which gives a rather good view of the Spartan military power. I will also check out that book from Hornblower.
But Jona, are there any books of modern scholars about this period ?

kind regards,
Marc

[Jona Lendering]

i'm also interested in the period after the Pelop. war. ... I will also check out that book from Hornblower.
But Jona, are there any books of modern scholars about this period ?

Read Donald Kagan, The Peloponnesian War; and add Hornblower. That's really a good start.

[PraetorMaximus]

I read Donald Kagan's Pelop. War. Both his single volume and his four volume works. And I've read the Hellenica as well. But I haven't read Hornblower, I'll check him out.

[hacon]

Try to find a copy of Charles Hamilton's "Sparta's Bitter Victories"
Its difficult to find and pricey but it goes into some detail concerning the politics and diplomacy of the Corinthian War.

[PraetorMaximus]

I'll look into it. Thank you

[qcarr]

Hi Eddi,

I too am very interested in the Corinthian War. I believe that it is the critical period in the decline of the Greek poleis.

I know of two outstanding modern books that cover the period, although both are difficult to find and expensive: Charles Hamilton's Sparta's Bitter Victories: Politics and Diplomacy in the Corinthian War and J. K. Anderson's Military Theory & Practice in the Age of Xenophon.

You may also be interested in a couple of works that detail the character and career of Agesilaus II of Sparta: Agesilaos and the Crisis of Sparta by Paul Cartledge and Agesilaus and the Failure of Spartan Hegemony by Charles Hamilton.

Good luck and enjoy!

[PraetorMaximus]

Thank you very much. I will certainly check them out.