The civilization that fought off the Persian invasion of 480 BC, tore itself apart in the long Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta in the late fifth century, and was overpowered by Macedon in the latter part of the fourth century is the subject of this book. In this survey, Professor Andrewes defines the basic and distinctive features of Greek society during the late archaic and classical eras. His central chapters are devoted to a survey of the Greek world according to its functional and occupational categories, and he examines in turn the tribes, landowners, peasants, colonists, traders, craftsmen, slaves, soldiers and sailors who composed one of the greatest civilizations in history.
