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Greece Against Rome

The Fall of the Hellenistic Kingdoms 250-31 BC

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About this listen

The acclaimed ancient world historian examines the centuries-long decline of Greek powers in the face of the growing Roman threat.

Towards the middle of the third century BC, the Hellenistic kingdoms were near their peak. In terms of population, economy, and military power, each was vastly superior to Rome, not to mention in fields such as medicine, architecture, science, philosophy, and literature. But over the next two and a half centuries, Rome would eventually conquer these kingdoms while adopting so much of Hellenistic culture that the resultant hybrid is known as "Graeco-Roman."

In Greece Against Rome, Philip Matyszak relates this epic tale from the Hellenistic perspective. At first, the Romans appear to be little more than another small state in the barbarian west as the Hellenistic powers are consumed by war amongst themselves. It is a time of assassinations, double crosses, dynastic incest, and warfare. By the time they turn their attention to Rome, it is already too late.

©2020 Philip Matyszak (P)2022 Tantor Ancient Europe Greece Military Rome Royalty Ancient History Ancient Greece
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This was a very good introduction to a period I don’t know that well - one of those gaps in my historical knowledge that I’ve somehow never got around to filling. Effectively a take on the rise of the Roman Empire from the perspective of the people being conquered - showing how it was largely down to political division and military incompetence / bad luck among the heirs to Alexander the Great - this was extremely helpful to contextualise shifts I knew had happened, but not exactly why.

Ancient Greece? I’m no expert, but have a grasp - have read Thucydides, Herodotus, a bunch of the classic philosophical texts. But the period post-Alexander had been a bit of a blank spot. One moment Athens is the birthplace of the Western intellectual tradition and Hellenic armies are conquering the known world, then… Oh, the Roman Empire’s taken over everything, somehow…

Ancient Rome? Similar story. I’ve read chunks of Livy, several more recent books on Rome, and am even still halfway through Gibbon (I must go back to that) - but it’s mostly been from Caesar onwards. The Republic and the rise of the empire before the emperors - bar a bit of knowledge about the Punic Wars? I couldn’t previously have told you.

Given almost everyone involved has the same name - Seleucus, Ptolemy, Cleopatra, Antiochus, Antigonus, Phillip - it can be tricky to keep track of who’s who, but it does at least make it easy to keep track of which part of the world is being discussed. “Reading” this as an audiobook while walking the dog also meant I didn’t have the ability to check maps and chronologies and dynastic tables, which would have been handy.

But this was still a remarkably clear introduction to a pretty confusing period. Liked it.

Great introduction

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I really enjoyed this! I've listened to a lot of books on this era from the more Roman perspective and it was really great to learn more about the other kingdoms, politics and events that were happening during the time. This covers a lot of time and space for a relatively short read/listen! The narrator really captures the humorous elements too. Would 100% recommend.

Interesting material, wonderfully read!

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Fantastically interesting period of history between eras of Classical Greece and Imperial Rome - this story fills in so many blanks for this period: the fall-out from Alexander the Great's death, the fate of Hannibal/Carthage, the destruction of Corinth to name just a few! A compelling insight into regional 'geopolitics' in an era before hegemonic control. Nice to hear how Sparta finally got 'theirs' also!

Totally recommended.

Read with relish and occasional laugh out loud twists of fate!

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The story is not flexible. It can’t be because it’s history. We have to stick to the facts.

But as some have remarked “history spoiled fiction for me”. And so it is here.

How the Greeks with their endless internal squabbles gave away their power to the new coming Romans is a story we can still learn from today.

Truly a story for the ages.

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