The Long Shadow of Antiquity: What Have the Greeks and Romans Done for Us

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A vivid exploration of the many ways the classical world remains relevant today, this is a passionate justification of why we continue to read about and study the lives and works of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Challenging the way the phrase 'That's just ancient history' is used to dismiss something as being irrelevant, Greg and Alicia Aldrete demonstrate just how much ancient Greece and Rome have influenced and shaped our world today in ways both large and small. From the more commonly known influences on politics, law, literature and timekeeping through to the everyday rituals and routines we take for granted when we exercise, dine, marry and dress, we are rooted in the ancient world. Even the political upheaval, celebrity obsession and blurring of public and private boundaries that we see in current news betray ancient characteristics - now brought to the fore here in a new final chapter. If you have ever wondered how far exactly we still walk in the footsteps of the ancients or wanted to understand how study of the classical world can inform and explain our lives today, this is the book for you.

Reviews

This is an engaging, well-written and well-informed text, written accessibly, which gives a succinct overview of the ancient world. It serves as a perfect introduction for anyone needing to be persuaded why we should still study the classical world. * Classics for All *
[The authors'] aim here is to make the ancient world seem relevant today, a task in which they have certainly succeeded ... Friendly and easy to read, it is a fulsome response to John Cleese in The Life of Brian, when he asked: 'What have the Romans ever done for us' * Minerva *
Interesting, informative, and fast-paced ... There is an excellent bibliography that provides ample scope for further research and its synthesis of many ancient sources will help to build a clear understanding of how they were received at the time, and their enduring importance. * The Journal of Classics Teaching *

Author Bio

Gregory S. Aldrete is Professor of History and Humanistic Studies at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, USA. His publications include Daily Life in the Roman City (2008) and Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome (2007) and he is a popular author of video courses for The Teaching Company/The Great Courses. A course tying in with The Long Shadow of Antiquity is planned for 2019. Alicia Aldrete has advanced degrees from Princeton and the University of Michigan. She is the co-author with Gregory of Reconstructing and Testing Ancient Linen Armor (2013).